A method for managing a multipoint video conference, wherein the multipoint video conference comprises a video conference bridge with a number of ports enabled to connect to media channels exchanging media data between participants in the multipoint video conference, a centralized server connected to or integrated in the video conference bridge, and one or more distributed servers each associated with a respective home area/network, characterized in that the method comprises the steps of: receiving and processing a call set up from a requesting participant, defining the requesting participant as an active or passive participant, if a Master unit does not exist, then instructing the centralized server to create and store information about a Master unit, and to establish at least one of a first media channel and/or a set of second media channels between the video conference bridge and the Master unit, if a Slave unit does not exist in the distributed server's associated home area/network in which the requesting participant is located, then instructing the distributed server to create and store information about a Slave unit, and instructing the Master unit to replicate the set of second media channels and route the replicated set of second media channels to the Slave unit, if the requesting participant is a passive participant, then instructing the Slave unit to replicate and route a selected one of the media channels of the replicated set of second media channels to the passive participant, if the requesting participant is an active participant, then instructing the Master unit to route the first media channel to the Slave unit and instructing the Slave unit to route the first media channel to the requesting participant. receiving and processing a call set up from a requesting participant, defining the requesting participant as an active or passive participant, if a Master unit does not exist, then instructing the centralized server to create and store information about a Master unit, and to establish at least one of a first media channel and/or a set of second media channels between the video conference bridge and the Master unit, instructing the centralized server to create and store information about a Master unit, and to establish at least one of a first media channel and/or a set of second media channels between the video conference bridge and the Master unit, if a Slave unit does not exist in the distributed server's associated home area/network in which the requesting participant is located, then instructing the distributed server to create and store information about a Slave unit, and instructing the Master unit to replicate the set of second media channels and route the replicated set of second media channels to the Slave unit, instructing the distributed server to create and store information about a Slave unit, and instructing the Master unit to replicate the set of second media channels and route the replicated set of second media channels to the Slave unit, if the requesting participant is a passive participant, then instructing the Slave unit to replicate and route a selected one of the media channels of the replicated set of second media channels to the passive participant, if the requesting participant is an active participant, then instructing the Master unit to route the first media channel to the Slave unit and instructing the Slave unit to route the first media channel to the requesting participant.