Pharos - The Post Group
Pharos - The Post Group is Germany's largest post-production house, providing color grading, visual effects, sound, mastering, digital cinema distribution, and film restoration services to film production companies, filmmakers, and distributors across the DACH region from eight German locations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersMünchen, Germany
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Pharos - The Post Group does
Pharos - The Post Group (legal entity: Media Services GmbH) is Germany's largest post-production house, headquartered in Munich with approximately 120 employees across eight locations in Munich, Berlin, Cologne, Potsdam, Ismaning, and Halle. Founded in 1984 as part of the ARRI Group and rebranded to PHAROS in 2019 following acquisition by SL Unternehmensbeteiligungsgesellschaft, the company provides comprehensive post-production services for national and international film and series productions, including onset services and dailies, color grading (DaVinci Resolve Studio), sound mixing (7.1/Dolby Atmos), visual effects and title design, mastering and versioning (DCP 2K/4K/HDR/HFR), digital cinema distribution, and film restoration and preservation.
The company's technology stack combines industry-standard tools (ARRISCAN film scanning up to 6K, DVS Clipster and Cinecert Lihue for DCP quality control, HS Art Diamond and Pixel Farm PF Clean for restoration) with proprietary assets including the Webgate.io cloud collaboration platform and the recently launched CineBridge e-Delivery solution (powered by Unique X MovieTransit technology). Through its Fusion Network Portal, Pharos provides DCP and KDM order management for cinema operators in DACH regions. Its service ecosystem is reinforced by sister companies under SL Unternehmensbeteiligungsgesellschaft: The Playmaker Munich (world sales and co-production), The Rental Group including Ludwig Kameraverleih and MBF Filmtechnik (camera rental), and Webgate.io (cloud platform).
Pharos operates a B2B professional services model with quote-based pricing, serving film production companies, independent filmmakers, and film distributors as primary segments, with secondary segments in international brand content management (anchored by a long-term Audi AG Content Hub contract since 2017) and cultural film archives. Revenue streams derive from project-based professional service fees across post-production, digital cinema distribution (up to 1,000 DCP drives per day), restoration, and managed data storage services (€100/TB/month after 6-month free period). The company maintains major presence at German film festivals (Berlinale, FILMFEST MÜNCHEN, DOK.fest München, Hof Film Festival) and runs the annual PHAROS Production Award with HFF Munich to support emerging filmmakers.
Pharos - The Post Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Pharos - The Post Group
- Legal name
- Media Services GmbH
- Website
- https://www.pharos.de
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Pharos - The Post Group is Germany's largest post-production house, providing color grading, visual effects, sound, mastering, digital cinema distribution, and film restoration services to film production companies, filmmakers, and distributors across the DACH region from eight German locations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Pharos - The Post Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Post-Production Services
- NAICS
- Postproduction Services and Other Motion Picture and Video Industries (51219), Sound Recording Studios (512240)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Allied To Motion Picture Distribution (7829)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Post-Production Facilities & Suites (Edit/Color/Sound Stages) (MPADAGAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Picture Editing (Offline/Online, Conform) (MPADAGAA), Sound Design (Creative/Design-Heavy FX, World-Building) (MPAHAEAE)
Keywords
Where Pharos - The Post Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- München
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices8 records
Markets served
Pharos - The Post Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Post-Production Services: Comprehensive post-production services including onset services/dailies, color grading, sound, visual effects, title design, mastering & versioning, and digital cinema distribution. Revenue from professional service fees based on project scope, time, and materials.
- Digital Cinema Distribution: DCP creation, duplication (up to 1000 DCP drives per day), KDM management, and electronic delivery services for cinema distribution.
- Restoration & Preservation: Film restoration services including material research, film repair, scanning, digital restoration, and archival preservation.
- Content Hub Services: Advertising content management, distribution to social media/TV/cinema, rights management, monitoring, and archiving services for international brands.
- Data Storage & Archiving: LTO tape archiving, data storage services with computerized warehouse management. Data storage fees after free retention period (EUR 100 per TB per month after 6 months).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Usage-based | Monthly | Data Storage Fee |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Multi-year contract | Cancellation Fees (Reservation) |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Multi-year contract | Contract Cancellation Fees |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Multi-year contract | Collaborative Rescheduling Fees |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Workforce Rates |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
Pharos - The Post Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
PHAROS provides comprehensive post-production services for film and series productions, covering onset services/dailies, color grading, sound mixing (up to 7.1 and Dolby Atmos), visual effects and title design, mastering and versioning, and digital cinema distribution (DCP creation, KDM management, electronic delivery). The company also operates film restoration and preservation services, the Webgate.io cloud collaboration platform, and Content Hub services for advertising content management. Customers include national and international production companies, filmmakers, distributors, film archives, and international brands across the DACH region.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Onset Services / Dailies / Editing On-location and daily-shot post-production support including editing and dailies processing for film and series productions, available from script to screen.
- Color Grading Color grading services performed in Grading Cinema 1 (now 7.1-ready) in Munich using DaVinci Resolve Studio with Blackmagic Advanced Panel, supporting HDR and theatrical finishing workflows.
- Sound (Mixing / Post-Production Audio) Sound mixing and post-production audio services including up to 7.1 surround and Dolby Atmos for theatrical releases and series productions.
- Visual Effects / Title Design Visual effects and title design services supporting film and series productions from script consultation through final delivery.
- Mastering & Versioning Mastering and versioning services for 120+ motion picture films per year, supporting 40+ distribution companies with IMF (UHD, Rec. 2020, HDR) workflows.
- Digital Cinema Distribution Services End-to-end digital cinema distribution including DCP creation (2K/4K/3D/HDR/HFR/5.1/7.1/Dolby Atmos), KDM management, duplication (up to 1000 DCP drives per day), and electronic delivery to cinemas across the DACH region.
- Media Asset Management Media asset management services supporting post-production and Content Hub workflows with computerized warehouse management and archival storage.
- Restoration & Preservation Film restoration and preservation services including material research, film repair, ARRISCAN scanning (up to 6K with wet gate option, handling shrinkage up to 3.5% and missing perforations), and digital restoration using Diamond and PF Clean software.
- Webgate.io Cloud Services Cloud platform for dailies and post-production workflows, offering video collaboration, project presentation, communication, streaming, distribution, file management, role-based permissions, and white-label options for production companies and filmmakers.
- Content Hub Services Advertising content management, distribution to social media, TV, and cinema, rights management, monitoring, and archiving services for international brands such as AUDI AG (client since 2017).
- CineBridge e-Delivery Solution Smart electronic DCP delivery solution combining internet connectivity with specialized CineBridge hardware (8TB storage server) and MovieTransit technology from Unique X, enabling cinema operators to receive DCPs electronically rather than via physical drives.
Quantifiable outcome
- DCP duplication capacity up to 1000 drives per day
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Pharos - The Post Group
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Pharos - The Post Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration10 records
Feature6 records
Pharos - The Post Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.
- HFF MunichmajorUniversity of Television and Film Munich partnership for annual PHAROS Production Award supporting graduation film projects with equipment and post-production services.
- LUDWIG Camera RentalmajorCamera rental company (part of THE RENTAL GROUP) providing €50,000 equipment loan for PHAROS Production Award winners alongside PHAROS post-production services.
- THE PLAYMAKER MUNICH (formerly ARRI Media International)coreSister company and world sales/co-production company based in Munich specializing in family entertainment, drama, and genre films. Part of SL Unternehmensbeteiligungsgesellschaft group.
- THE RENTAL GROUPcoreSister company including Ludwig Kameraverleih and MBF Filmtechnik for camera rental and film technology. Part of SL Unternehmensbeteiligungsgesellschaft group providing equipment alongside PHAROS post-production.
- WEBGATE.iocoreSister company and proven cloud platform for dailies and post-production. Provides video collaboration, project management, and secure file delivery services.
- Unique X (MovieTransit)majorProvider of MovieTransit technology powering CineBridge e-Delivery solution for electronic DCP delivery to cinemas.
- MUSCLEBEAVERminorMotion design partner for DOK.fest München 2026 trailer production.
- ECHO ROOMSminorCreative direction partner for FILMFEST MÜNCHEN trailer production, responsible for editing and music under direction of Benedikt Haas.
- The Playmaker MunichmajorJoint initiative with PHAROS for PHAROS Shiver Screen Award at Hof Film Festival, including option on worldwide distribution rights for winning film.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Pharos - The Post Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Deluxe Media: Global post-production and content distribution services company offering localization, mastering and digital cinema delivery — directly comparable to Pharos's end-to-end post and DCP distribution capabilities, though at significantly larger global scale.
- Studio Babelsberg: Germany's largest film studio complex, also offering post-production, VFX and sound services. The closest direct peer in the German market, competing for the same major film and series productions.
- Cine Plus Media Service: German post-production and digital cinema distribution company offering DCP mastering, KDM management and electronic delivery to cinemas — directly overlapping with Pharos's core DCI compliance and distribution services.
- Molinare (now part of Picture Shop): UK-based film and television post-production house offering picture, sound, VFX and mastering services. Comparable end-to-end service model for feature film and high-end TV clients.
- TvN Group (Hamburg): Leading German post-production house for TV and streaming content, providing picture, sound, color grading and mastering services — a direct competitor for German broadcaster and streaming post-production contracts.
- Hiventy (formerly Dubbing Brothers / Vectracom): European post-production and localization services company offering dubbing, subtitling, picture post and content services to global streamers — competing for the same international series post-production budgets.
Broad incumbents
- Technicolor (Millimages / post-production business): Historic incumbent in VFX, post-production and content services for film and broadcast. Comparable service portfolio across picture, sound, VFX and distribution but globally diversified across many more verticals.
- ARRI Media (historical) / ARRI Group: Former parent of Pharos (then ARRI Media) before 2019 spin-out. ARRI continues to provide camera and lighting systems used in conjunction with post-production, making it a partial incumbent and ecosystem partner in the same DACH value chain.
Regional players
- Roundabout Entertainment: Austrian post-production house offering picture, sound and mastering services primarily to DACH productions. Comparable service mix but smaller scale and geographically adjacent.
Others
- Telepool / Tobis Film (DCP distribution): Major German film distribution and rights trading company using Pharos's mastering services. While a customer rather than direct competitor, it represents the German distribution ecosystem in which Pharos's DCP business operates.
Market position
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Pharos - The Post Group social profiles
Digital presencePharos - The Post Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Pharos - The Post Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Pharos - The Post Group subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
Pharos - The Post Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Pharos - The Post Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Pharos - The Post Group
What does Pharos - The Post Group do?
PHAROS provides comprehensive post-production services for film and series productions, covering onset services/dailies, color grading, sound mixing (up to 7.1 and Dolby Atmos), visual effects and title design, mastering and versioning, and digital cinema distribution (DCP creation, KDM management, electronic delivery). The company also operates film restoration and preservation services, the Webgate.io cloud collaboration platform, and Content Hub services for advertising content management. Customers include national and international production companies, filmmakers, distributors, film archives, and international brands across the DACH region.
Is Pharos - The Post Group a public or private company?
Pharos - The Post Group is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Pharos - The Post Group founded?
Pharos - The Post Group was founded in -1. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Pharos - The Post Group based?
Pharos - The Post Group is headquartered in München, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Pharos - The Post Group make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Post-Production Services are the primary driver. The others are digital Cinema Distribution, restoration & Preservation, content Hub Services and data Storage & Archiving.
Who are Pharos - The Post Group's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Deluxe Media, Studio Babelsberg, Cine Plus Media Service, Molinare (now part of Picture Shop), TvN Group (Hamburg) and Hiventy (formerly Dubbing Brothers / Vectracom). Broad incumbents are Technicolor (Millimages / post-production business) and ARRI Media (historical) / ARRI Group. Roundabout Entertainment is listed as a regional player. Telepool / Tobis Film (DCP distribution) is listed as an others.
Does Pharos - The Post Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for Pharos - The Post Group.
What industry is Pharos - The Post Group in?
Pharos - The Post Group's product category is Post-Production Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPADAGAI, Post-Production Facilities & Suites (Edit/Color/Sound Stages), with a secondary code of MPADAGAA, Picture Editing (Offline/Online, Conform). Its NAICS code is 51219 and its SIC code is 7812.