Ascent Media announced it has signed an agreement to sell its subtitling business, Visiontext, to SDI Media, the world's leading subtitling and language dubbing provider, by the end of this month. This deal will mark the start of a long-term strategic relationship between the two companies.

Acquired by Ascent Media in 2000, Visiontext, which operates from offices in the United Kingdom and Los Angeles, is a leading provider of subtitling, closed-captioning and other services for feature films and television programming worldwide. Visiontext is also the leading supplier of subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing in the UK commercials market. After the acquisition, SDI will continue to service Visiontext's existing customer base.

"As a thriving brand, Visiontext will strengthen SDI Media's position as market leader," said Maggie Nuttall, Managing Director, Visiontext. "Our clients will also benefit tremendously from this move to SDI Media and their extended relationship with Ascent Media."

SDI Media, owned by private equity firm Elevation Partners, is the world's leading provider of subtitling and language dubbing services to the entertainment industry. With major operations in Europe, Asia and North America, SDI has the capability to provide any language version for all distribution formats (e.g. DVD, Broadcast, Theatrical, Interactive Games, and the Internet).

Santa Monica, California-based Ascent Media Group is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ascent Media Corporation, which provides creative and technical services to the media and entertainment industries through more than 40 facilities in regions of Southern California, New York, Atlanta, London and Singapore. The SDI Media Group is headquartered in Los Angeles and operates in 32 countries worldwide.

Story filed 22.09.08