Harris Broadcast has announced that it has completed the acquisition of Imagine Communications, a digital video solutions provider. Charlie Vogt, CEO of Harris Broadcast said: TV Everywhere is the future of our industry, and our customers are vigorously pursuing this path to expand their business models and improve the monetisation of content across any screen. […]
Harris Broadcast has announced that it has completed the acquisition of Imagine Communications, a digital video solutions provider.
Charlie Vogt, CEO of Harris Broadcast said: TV Everywhere is the future of our industry, and our customers are vigorously pursuing this path to expand their business models and improve the monetisation of content across any screen.
The advanced Adaptive Bit Rate (ABR) technology created by Imagine combines quality, density and a small footprint to greatly leapfrog anything else on the market today and improves transcoding economics up to a factor of 10 over competing alternatives. Our content creator and content distribution customers, including cable, MSO and telecommunications service providers, will benefit significantly from end-to-end portfolio integration that establishes a clear pathway to linear and non-linear viewing parity across every screen.
Harris Broadcast had announced a definitive agreement to acquire Imagine Communications in December last year. The acquisition enhances Harris Broadcasts already robust solutions portfolio as the company builds the first true MultiService SDN (Software Defined Network), integrating sales, scheduling, automation, playout and delivery throughout both linear and non-linear content distribution networks. It also brings advanced transcoding technology utilising cutting edge software breakthroughs that run in high density, low power commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) and blade-server environments, consistent with Harris Broadcasts vision of software-centric, virtualized operations.
Harris Broadcast is a recognised leader and innovator in the broadcast and media industry, and Imagine Communications is well-established as our key technology partner, enabling statistical multiplexing and switched digital video transcoding in our high quality cable distribution network, said Kevin Cuffling, Senior Director Video Engineering, Cogeco.
We are pleased that these great companies have come together and look forward to the integration advantages and innovation that will enable us to more effectively manage and distribute the highest quality content possible across any network and any device.
The acquisition expands Harris Broadcasts current R&D and innovation initiatives and increases the companys total global addressable market. Imagine Communications has invested more than eight years in developing industry-leading technologies and its seasoned R&D teams competencies in ABR, OTT and TV Everywhere bring significant value to Harris Broadcast.
In addition to fully supporting the existing Imagine ICE Broadcast System customers and penetrating this attractive global market opportunity, we will leverage the quality and innovation in both companies to build next generation solutions around ABR, cloud PVR and Content Delivery Networks, said Steve Reynolds, Chief Technology Officer, Harris Broadcast.
Our combined portfolio today offers the most robust compression and processing solution in the industry. Imagines advancements and transcoding expertise in high availability, IP-centric, Linux-based environments complements existing advancements underway at Harris Broadcast and opens the door to an array of development and integration opportunities.
