Liberty Media has sold the Ascent Media content distribution business to the privately held Encompass Digital Media for $113 million (€84.78). The international business includes the London facility at 1 Stephen Street and the purpose-built playout facility in Chiswick Park transferred to Discovery in February this year.
Since Discovery Holding Co, which is controlled by Liberty Media, was spun off as a publicly traded company, it has wound down its media production assets.
The Chiswick Park facility was purpose built for Discovery in 2005 and has the capability to distribute up to 60 services across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Stephen Street was acquired from the RTL Group in 2004. It has been used to distribute Channel 5, Information TV, the Virgin Media TV channels and the Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI) AXN branded channels targeting Central & East Europe.
