PixelFish acquires Eyespot
PixelFish, a provider of video advertising solutions, has acquired Eyespot Corporation. Eyespot created web-based and mobile video applications and media libraries for publishers of all sizes that are used to personalize and virally distribute video content, powering leading brands in digital media and over 10,000 mid-to-small sized publishers. The Eyespot Personalization Suite features drag-and-drop online tools that allow users to upload content from any source, edit, manipulate and mix content with rights-cleared material and user-generated content, and export the resultant media in multiple formats for use on the web, mobile devices, or as conventional files. The acquisition enables PixelFish to accelerate the development of its market leading video advertising platform by augmenting its custom video ad creation and optimization technology with Eyespot’s advanced video publishing, online video production, transcoding and advertising-related applications. The acquisition includes the provisional patents for a number of critical online video technologies.
Announcement Date: December 19, 2008
Deal Value: Undisclosed
Meridian Audio acquires Sooloos
Meridian Audio (UK) acquired U.S.-based digital media company Sooloos. The deal is the latest move by the U.K.-based Meridian in an effort to bolster its product portfolio and broaden its scope of technological capabilities. Meridian attributes the acquisition to its desire to stay ahead of the curve as the industry migrates into the realm of digital media (Sooloos just released its high-performance $7,900 Ensemble Music System). The two companies share striking similarities in culture, product philosophy, pursuit of excellence and market approach.
Announcement Date: December 8, 2008
Deal Value: Undisclosed
The FeedRoom acquires ClearStory Systems
The FeedRoom, provider of online video solutions for media companies, corporations and government agencies, has acquired ClearStory Systems, an award-winning digital asset management software provider. ClearStory’s solutions provide advanced capabilities for managing a full range of digital marketing assets including graphics, documents, and multimedia. The combination of ClearStory Systems’ powerful open-architecture DAM platform, ActiveMedia 7.5, with The FeedRoom’s 4.0 Enterprise Video Platform (EVP) will enable the world’s largest marketing and media organizations to integrate, manage and deliver their digital media assets in a single cost-effective system.
Announcement Date: December 2, 2008
Deal Value: Undisclosed
Archer Entertainment Media Communications acquires uBroadcast
Archer Entertainment Media Communications, Inc. is acquiring www.ubroadcast.com , a revolutionary new company that enables the general public to set up their own broadcast station from their computer, wherever they may be in the world, creating a live "YouTube" capability to produce, direct and distribute their own radio and television shows via the Internet. Subscribers to ubroadcast.com will be assigned a standard station that will always belong to them, and from which they can broadcast, live, their own individual original programming to millions of viewers per day. The software is considered highly innovative. Those who produce the shows will be able to monitor exactly how many viewers they have each day and decide whether their programming could command actual sponsors who will pay them, thus generating income, just like standard radio and TV.
Announcement Date: November 25, 2008
Deal Value: Undisclosed
Adconion Media Group has acquired KTV Digital Media
Adconion Media Group, the independent global audience and content network, has acquired KTV Digital Media, a leading production studio, content distribution network and operator of video destination sites, to form its own content development and syndication arm to be called RedLever. As a wholly-owned subsidiary of Adconion Media Group, RedLever (www.red-lever.com) will develop and distribute branded video entertainment created specifically for agencies and advertisers across the Adconion.TV network. Adconion.TV was established for agencies and advertisers seeking a scalable distribution solution for branded video content with robust monetization opportunities.
Announcement Date: November 20, 2008
Deal Value: Undisclosed
Sonic to acquire CinemaNow
Sonic Solutions, provider of digital media software, is acquiring CinemaNow, a privately-held online entertainment provider. CinemaNow is at the forefront of digital video distribution, offering over 6,000 high quality Hollywood movies, TV shows and music videos to users across multiple platforms. The company has relationships with more than 250 content providers, including all major Hollywood studios, and supplies premium entertainment services to a host of PC and consumer electronics device manufacturers such as Dell, HP, Samsung, TiVo, DivX, and ARCHOS. CinemaNow will combine with Sonic's Qflix team to form a new Premium Content Group under the direction of Mark Ely, Sonic's EVP of Strategy. The group will focus on increasing the placement of CinemaNow's storefront on PCs and consumer electronics devices, and expanding the adoption of the Qflix technology platform.
Announcement Date: November 19, 2008
Deal Value: Undisclosed
IMImobile acquires DX3
Hyderabad-based IMI Mobile has acquired DX3, a London-based digital content delivery services provider. IMI says the deal is the first step in an aggressive European expansion plan designed to establish the company as one of the largest managed service providers for digital content in the region. The company first announced its European ambitions back in June. DX3 gives IMI a roster of partners including Sony BMG, Universal, EMI and Warner Music, and a library of over two million music tracks. The arrangement will bring the combined services of the enlarged group under the IMI brand and see its DaVinci platform used as part of a managed service offering.
Announcement Date: November 13, 2008
Deal Value: Undisclosed
Private Media Group to acquire GameLink
Private Media Group, Inc. (Spain) is acquiring the operations of U.S. internet video on demand and eCommerce developer, GameLink LLC, and its related companies in exchange for common stock of Private. The acquisition will create a uniquely positioned, multi-faceted, global content, distribution and development company in the adult entertainment sector. Private is a brand-driven global content provider of adult entertainment to a wide range of platforms including mobile telephone handsets via 85 network operators in 36 countries, IPTV via 35 platforms in 18 countries, broadband Internet, television broadcasting, DVDs and magazines. GameLink is the leading U.S. adult entertainment VOD and eCommerce platform through its GameLink.com website. The estimated combined pro-forma revenue of the two entities for 2007 was $53.8 million, with GameLink and its related companies representing 36%.
Announcement Date: November 11, 2008
Deal Value: Undisclosed
Point.360 acquires the assets of Video Box Studios
Point.360, provider of integrated media management services, has acquired the assets of Video Box Studios, Inc. Point.360 is a value-add service organization specializing in content creation, manipulation and distribution processes integrating complex technologies to solve problems in the life cycle of Rich Media. Video Box is a provider of 3D animation, visual effects, motion design and digital finishing services. Video Box provides Point.360 with added capabilities to meet its customers' needs for 3D and visual effects. The Video Box team will be located in Point.360’s West Los Angeles facility to expand its presence in that important market.
Announcement Date: November 3, 2008
Deal Value: Undisclosed
Front Porch Digital acquires SAMMA Systems
Front Porch Digital, provider of content storage management (CSM) for the broadcast, media, and entertainment industries, has acquired SAMMA Systems Inc., a leader in the migration and preservation of videotape to digital files. Front Porch Digital estimate there are more than 6 billion videocassettes in the world, 1 billion of them containing historic, important, and valuable content, representing more than 7,000 petabytes of high-value data stored only on videotape. An estimated five percent of this content is lost to deterioration each year, but the expense of digitizing it has proved prohibitive. While Front Porch Digital has offered broadcast customers near-line and online storage for many years, the largest collection of media in the world today is still stored on videotape. FPD’s acquisition of SAMMA is strategically planned to offer broadcasters, archiving facilities, and other content owners a new system uniquely capable of accessing all that stored content and of making it available in a cost-effective way.
Announcement Date: October 30, 2008
Deal Value: Undisclosed
Logitech to acquire SightSpeed
Logitech International is acquiring SightSpeed Inc., a provider of Internet video chat and voice calling solutions and an award-winning provider of high-quality Internet video communications services. According to its research, Logitech believes there is a large untapped market of people who want to communicate with friends and family using video. But they want it to be integrated into their family lifestyle, which means going beyond the PC. The acquisition of SightSpeed will provide Logitech with video calling technology, and a software and services development team that can be focused on future video calling initiatives that can enable cross-platform video communications with an intuitive, lifelike experience, for people sitting in front of a personal computer or with their family in a living room.
Announcement Date: October 28, 2008
Deal Value: $30 Million (Cash)
Hauppauge Computer acquires Pinnacle PCTV
Digital video editing and software firm, Avid Technology Inc, agreed to sell its Pinnacle PCTV product line and related assets to Hauppauge Digital Inc to increase its focus on software applications. Pinnacle PCTV provides content delivery and video processing solutions that facilitate watching and recording television shows on a personal computer. Hauppauge expects to continue developing and supporting both the hardware and software components of the PCTV line following the closing of thetransaction.
Announcement Date: October 27, 2008
Deal Value: Undisclosed
Aegis Group acquires IF
Aegis Group plc, the marketing communications group, announced the acquisition of IF, a Malaysian independent full service digital agency. Founded in 2002 and headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, IF specializes in creative, multimedia design and build, and online media planning. Its clients include Heineken and Discovery Networks International. Following the acquisition, the agency will become the first dedicated Malaysian office for the Isobar network, offering digital services to existing Aegis Media clients, and facilitating clients' access to other Aegis Media network services. Malaysia's media spend is still dominated by press and TV, respectively estimated to make up 54.9% and 33.1% of overall advertising expenditure for 2008. Although digital spend is predicted to be just 1.0% this year, it is growing at an estimated rate of 52.0%. As a whole, digital accounts for almost 5% of total ad spend across Asia Pacific.
Announcement Date: October 27, 2008
Deal Value: $162,000
Autodesk to acquire Softimage
Autodesk, Inc. will acquire substantially all of the assets of Avid's Softimage business unit. Softimage was founded in 1986 and is headquartered in Montreal, Canada. Softimage develops 3D technology for the film, television and games markets. Its flagship product is SOFTIMAGE|XSI, an extensible 3D animation software solution used by leading media and entertainment companies, including Digital Domain, Ubisoft, SEGA Corporation, CAPCOM, Animal Logic and The Mill. Autodesk Media & Entertainment provides animation, visual effects, editing/finishing and color grading solutions for the 3D market, including entertainment and design industries. Autodesk will be adding Softimage technology and products to its portfolio, and welcoming one of the most talented teams in the industry to Autodesk Media & Entertainment.
Announcement Date: October 23, 2008
Deal Value: $35 Million (Cash)
Getty Images to acquire Jupiterimages
Getty Images, Inc., the leading creator and distributor of visual content and other digital media, is acquiring Jupiterimages, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Jupitermedia. The acquisition will benefit existing and potential customers by making even more digital content easily accessible. Jupiterimages' customers already appreciate its value-based offerings, and through this acquisition they will be able to offer more content, better technology, more customer service and additional local content. Combining Jupiterimages' product with Getty Images' extensive media assets and global distribution will further enhance Getty Images' offerings and provide more relevant content to both companies' customers while extending the presence of the Jupiterimages brand to customers around the world.
Announcement Date: October 23, 2008
Deal Value: $96 Million (Cash)
Riedel Communications acquires Media Numerics
Riedel Communications, German manufacturer and supplier of market leading communication systems for the broadcast, theater and event industries, acquired digital audio specialist Media Numerics. Riedel was founded in 1987 and today employs over 170 people spread over 8 locations in Europe, Australia, Asia and North America. Media Numerics has developed the real-time audio network, RockNet. With RockNet, Riedel has a new product line which really complements its existing portfolio. The acquisition also strengthens Riedel’s development expertise in the field of professional audio products.
Announcement Date: October 21, 2008
Deal Value: Undisclosed
ITmedia acquired zoome
ITmedia Inc, a majority owned unit of SOFTBANK Media Marketing Holdings Corp, agreed to acquire the entire share capital of zoome Co Ltd, an operator of video share website, from its wholly owned parent, ACCA Networks Co Ltd.
Announcement Date: October 17, 2008
Deal Value: Undisclosed
Automated Resources Group acquires Zendition
Automated Resources Group Inc. has acquired digital publishing company Zendition. Zendition provides technology solutions to transform traditional print media into online, interactive, and eco-friendly digital assets, thus enabling publishers to maximize the profitability of their products and services. Automate Resources believes that Zendition, with its strong foundation in digital publishing services, will strategically position it as a leading provider within this very exciting and growing segment of the publishing industry. Through Zendition’s digital publishing services, publishers can create an easy-to-use, completely interactive experience for their readers, while providing additional value-added services for their advertisers.
Announcement Date: October 8, 2008
Deal Value: Undisclosed
Comcast to acquire Radiance Technologies
Comcast Media Center, the video delivery unit of Comcast Cable, has bought all of the assets of Radiance Technologies, a provider of asset-delivery systems for distributing and managing large digital video files. Radiance's technology helps move digital video files for the advertising and enterprise sectors. Radiance, based in Sunnyvale, CA and founded in 2000, had investors such as Sutter Hill Ventures, Vanguard Ventures, Levensohn Venture Partners, ChevronTexaco Venture Equities and Net Partners, though this sale seems to be more of a fire sale. The company had raised at least $26 million and possibly more over the years.
Announcement Date: October 7, 2008
Deal Value: $5 Million (Cash)
News Corp. acquires Remaining Shares of Jamba (Jamster)
News Corp. has acquired the rest of Jamba, a mobile entertainment company, from joint venture partner Verisign. News Corp. previously acquired a controlling interest in the company -- known as Jamster in English-speaking countries -- in 2007 (51%, $188 million), and combined it with its Fox Mobile Entertainment unit.
Announcement Date: October 7, 2008
Deal Value: $200 million
KIT digital acquires Visual Connection
KIT digital, a provider of IPTV enablement technology and video-centric interactive marketing solutions, has acquired Czech Republic's privately-held Visual Connection, a digital media and IPTV solutions provider for media outlets in Europe and the Middle East. Visual Connection offers content digitization, localization and IP-based editing, storage, video players and content streaming, as well as set up of digital network operations centers (NOCs) for television broadcasters, government entities, healthcare providers and telecommunications companies.
Announcement Date: October 7, 2008
Deal Value: $2.5 million in cash (KIT will pay an additional $7.5 million in KIT digital common shares or cash (or a combination thereof) at KIT's sole election, over a 24-month period)