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Global Television and Cutting Edge merge

Outdoor broadcast companies Global Television and Cutting Edge have today announced the merger of the two companies.

The company will operate it’s OB units under the Global Television banner.

Global Television’s CEO Keith Andrews said in a statement: “Combining our resources gives us a broad range of facilities and deep pool of expertise to cover every type of event, from live sport to light entertainment and corporate events, integrating the best in broadcast technology with new digital workflows.”

Cutting Edge will however retain its post-production business, including long-form, short-form and digital operations, remaining as Cutting Edge.

“We are now a larger but even more competitive and cost-efficient company that is poised for further growth, generating benefits for our customers, staff and shareholders alike.”

Mr Andrews continued: “As testament to our capabilities, we have just delivered Australia’s three biggest annual outside broadcasts: the AFL Grand Final (Cutting Edge), NRL Grand Final and Bathurst 1000 (Global).”

Cutting Edge’s CEO Michael Burton said: “We had not been actively looking to realign our business direction, however Global TV’s offer to purchase our OB division and merge the businesses made good sense, not only from a business perspective, but also the fact that their plans aligned with our staff, culture and long term goals.”

“We had run a small OB department for many years and in 2006 saw an opportunity to expand.  Five years on, the OB department has grown from a start-up to a successful and profitable business with high profile clients from all areas of media and entertainment in Australia.”

The decision to divest the OB division was not an easy one, Mr Burton said in a statement. However, however he was confident the sale would help position the Cutting Edge Post Production business for the next decade of growth.

In the merger, Global will acquire Fox Sports Cricket, the NBL and Australian netball leagues. Cutting Edge in the past worked on Big Brother and ad hoc live reality TV broadcasts.

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