Broadcast Video Inc., Miami (BVI) and Manhattan Transfer-Miami (MT) have merged into BVI-Miami, with BVI as the managing partner. Liberty Livewire retains a 40% stake in MT, and both former competitors continue to operate seperately for the time being.

Says BVI co-founder and now VP of BVI-Miami, George O'Neill: "This combination allows us to further our mission to offer increasingly diverse, world-class, creative talent, a broader scope of services, leading technology and continued high levels of customer service."

Alan Olem, MT director of sales adds, "Clients still have a choice: we operate different equipment and staff is not overlapping. Right now, Manhattan Transfer equipment and talent are very much intact. We offer smoke for editing, BVI offers the DS. For film transfer we have Cintel Rascal while BVI run Sony Vialta.

"I have worked at both companies and been in this market for 12 years. The marketplace has changed drastically, the agencies and the type of work has changed. There is no need for huge facilities any longer. Now we're walking on the same side of the street but still keeping our separate ways."

Webfiles:
Broadcast Video> http://www.bvinet.com
Manhatten Transfer-Miami> http://www.mtmiami.com