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    The Escape Pod buys a stake in Digital Studio ORA Interactive

    By Roberta GrieferUpdated:No Comments3115 Views
    Norm Bilow, Managing Director, The Escape Pod
    CHICAGO --

    The Escape Pod, an independent advertising agency in Chicago, today announced that it has purchased a stake in ORA Interactive, a digital experience studio headquartered in the city’s West Loop neighborhood. The expansion of The Escape Pod’s full-service offering will accelerate the agency’s speed to ideas while driving cost-efficiencies for clients.

    “We bring our clients’ brands to life in the most powerful manner possible—whether through broadcast, digital, social or experiential. By bringing ORA’s digital firepower in-house to enhance our full suite of services, we now have the ability to concept, produce, program and build anything we can dream up, faster and at a better cost for our clients,” said Norm Bilow, Managing Director, The Escape Pod. 

    The strategic partnership between the two agencies is a natural fit based on similar cultures and complementary offerings. “The Escape Pod is known for bringing a sense of energy and excitement to help clients break through the clutter in their category,” said Mike Kelly, Founder and CEO, ORA Interactive. “Similarly, with digital experiences, people have high expectations. If you don’t create a great experience, they’ll drop off or switch brands. By joining forces, we’re fusing the best creative ideas with technology that can power richer brand experiences for clients,” Kelly added. 

    Founded in 2009, ORA Interactive specializes in Interface/UX design, application development, web development and identity design. The Studio has created apps, dynamic websites, virtual reality and connected devices for a broad range of clients, from start-ups such as Dryv and Fooda to mid-sized and Fortune 500 companies, including Interpark, Allstate, Baxter and more. 

    In August, the agency’s full team of designers, developers and managers will move to The Escape Pod’s Fulton Market headquarters in Chicago.

    Tags:Mike KellyNorm BilowORA InteractiveThe Escape Pod



    DirecTV calls off acquisition of rival Dish, possibly ending a yearslong pursuit

    Friday, November 22, 2024
    Dish Network satellite dishes are shown at an apartment complex in Palo Alto, Calif., Feb. 23, 2011. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, File)

    DirecTV is calling off its planned acquisition of rival Dish after the offer was rejected by bond holders at that company.

    The deal was reliant on Dish bond holders agreeing to trade in the debt they held for debt in the new company, a swap that would have cost them about $1.6 billion, collectively.

    The retreat by DirecTV this week may end a years-long effort by the company to acquire both Dish and Sling after it announced the bid in September.

    DirecTV was looking to acquire Dish TV and Sling TV from its owner EchoStar in a debt exchange transaction that included a payment of $1, plus the assumption of approximately $9.8 billion in debt. The deal was contingent on several factors, including regulatory approvals and bondholders writing off debt related to Dish.

    "While we believed a combination of DirecTV and Dish would have benefited all stakeholders, we have terminated the transaction because the proposed exchange terms were necessary to protect DirecTV's balance sheet and our operational flexibility," DirecTV CEO Bill Morrow said in a statement.

    The prospect of a DirecTV-Dish combo has long been rumored, and reported talks resurfaced over the years. And the two almost merged more than two decades ago — but the Federal Communications Commission blocked the deal valued at the time at $18.5 billion deal, citing antitrust concerns.

    The pay-for-TV market has shifted significantly since. As more and more consumers tune into online streaming platforms, demand for more traditional satellite entertainment continues to shrink.

    DirecTV says that it will continue to invest in next-generation streaming platforms and offer new packaging options while integrating content from live TV alongside direct-to-consumer... Read More

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