AIMS and MNA merging to co-promote IP in media

The Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS) is combining with the Media Networking Alliance (MNA) to form a single trade association for promoting IP in the media and entertainment industry.

The new joint organization will retain the AIMS name and will be governed by the existing AIMS bylaws, according to a news release.

AIMS and MNA have already been working together to promote AES67 technology and the groups will continue to support common standards.

Full members of both organizations voted to approve the merger on Dec. 13.

“Now, with the merging of the two organizations, we have a larger voice and a single place for technical and marketing discussions amongst a larger group of industry leaders. As AIMS, we will be able to provide a much more compelling message to the industry, assuring true industrywide audio/video IP interoperability across the broadcast, installed systems and live sound markets. We are excited to be a part of this major step forward in standards-based IP interoperability,” said Rich Zwiebel, chairman of Media Networking Alliance, in a statement.

“After careful deliberation, both the AIMS and MNA boards reached the conclusion that merging our organizations was the natural thing to do, and our members agreed. By combining membership, the bigger, stronger AIMS can reach a greater section of the media and entertainment market. We're excited about the potential of this merger to fulfill our mission more quickly,” said Michael Cronk, AIMS board chair, in a statement.

RELATED: AIMS, NABA form IP interoperability pact

The merger follows the AIMS announcement last week that it had formed an alliance with the North American Broadcasters Association (NABA).

"NABA has been working on MoIP for a couple of years, defining our needs and trying to understand what the transition means to us. We shared our task force report with AIMS over a year ago and have been talking ever since. This partnership was just the logical next step," said Michael McEwen, general director of NABA, in a statement. "It's important to have discussions so that AIMS members know what NABA constituents need, and now that we've formalized a partnership, those discussions will be easier to have. NABA will also encourage broadcasters to participate in the IP interoperability demos put on by AIMS, SMPTE and others to learn about and understand the technology. We look forward to an exciting, symbiotic relationship."