Business |
12 Months Ended | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dec. 31, 2016 | |||||||||||||
| Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract] | |||||||||||||
| Business |
Business
Global Eagle Entertainment Inc. (“GEE”) is a Delaware corporation headquartered in Los Angeles, California. GEE and its subsidiaries (collectively herein as the “Company”) are a leading provider of satellite-based connectivity and media to fast-growing, global mobility markets across air, land and sea. GEE offers a fully integrated suite of rich media content and seamless connectivity solutions that cover the globe. Its business is comprised of three operating segments: Media & Content, Aviation Connectivity and Maritime & Land Connectivity.
As discussed further in Note 3. Business Combinations, the Company completed the acquisition of Emerging Markets Communications (“EMC”) (the “EMC Acquisition”) on July 27, 2016 (the “EMC Acquisition Date”). EMC is a communications services provider that offers land-based sites and marine vessels globally a multimedia platform delivering communications, Internet, live television, on-demand video, voice, cellular and 3G/LTE services. EMC leverages its satellite-terrestrial-cellular broadband network with fully meshed Multiprotocol Label Switching (“MPLS”) interconnected teleports and has a portfolio of patented technologies. EMC owns and operates its own ground infrastructure and global field support centers, permitting EMC to deploy support to customers around the world. Key aspects of EMC’s services include:
See below and Note 16. Segment Information for further discussion on the Company’s reportable segments.
Media & Content
The Media & Content segment selects, manages, provides lab services and distributes wholly-owned and licensed media content, video and music programming, advertising, applications and video games to the airline, maritime and other “away from home” non-theatrical markets.
The Media & Content operations commenced on January 31, 2013, when the Company acquired 86% of the issued and outstanding shares of Advanced Inflight Alliance AG (“AIA”) in January 2013.
Prior to January 31, 2013, the Company was known as Global Eagle Acquisition Corp. (“GEAC”), which was formed in February 2011 to effect a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition or similar business combination with one or more businesses. Upon completion of the business combination with Row 44 and AIA, the Company changed its name from Global Eagle Acquisition Corp. to Global Eagle Entertainment Inc. In addition, the Company purchased substantially all the assets of Post Modern Edit, LLC and related companies (“PMG”) in July 2013 and completed the stock acquisition of the U.K. parent of the Travel Entertainment Group Equity Limited and subsidiaries (“IFES”) in October 2013. In 2013, the Company acquired additional outstanding shares of AIA to increase its ownership of AIA’s shares to 94%, and in April 2014, the Company acquired the remaining outstanding shares in AIA.
Aviation Connectivity and Maritime & Land Connectivity
The Aviation Connectivity and Maritime & Land Connectivity segments are distinguished primarily based on the type of customers they serve. These operating segments provide their customers, including their passengers and crew, with (i) Wi-Fi connectivity via X, L, C, Ka and Ku-band satellite transmissions that enable access to the Internet, live television, on-demand content, shopping and travel-related information and (ii) operational solutions that allow customers to improve the management of their internal operations.
The Aviation Connectivity segment operations commenced when the Company acquired all of the outstanding shares of common stock of Row 44, Inc. (“Row 44”) pursuant to a business combination transaction that closed on January 31, 2013 in which the Company acquired Row 44 and 86% of the issued and outstanding shares of AIA.
The Maritime & Land Connectivity segment operations commenced upon the closing of the EMC Acquisition in July 2016.
|