Ericsson agreed to acquire Azuki Systems, a provider of TV Anywhere delivery platforms for service providers, content owners and broadcasters, for an undisclosed sum.
Azuki, which is based in Acton, Ma., developed a TV Anywhere platform that combines the power of over-the-top video with personalization, content protection, scalability and reliability features. It also enables multiple monetization options, beyond portals and authentication services. Azuki was founded in 2008 and has 49 employees.
Ericsson said Azuki will extend its TV and media portfolio, which includes the recent addition of Mediaroom from Microsoft. Some of the key capabilities from Azuki include adaptive bit rate and content protection technologies. In addition, the acquisition brings a team of highly skilled software engineers.
Per Borgklint, Senior Vice President and Head of Business Unit Support Solutions at Ericsson said, “We are executing on our TV&Media strategy and Azuki adds key technologies and capabilities to extend our market leadership position. Traditional TV is shifting rapidly towards TV Anywhere. Azuki Systems further positions Ericsson to help customers deliver on the Networked Society’s global demand for customized and personalized media experiences that include content on any screen, any time across any network.”
Cheng Wu, CEO and co-founder of Azuki Systems, said: “Service providers, content owners and broadcasters face a range of challenges as they race to make content available on any device. Through worldwide deployments of our proven next generation video delivery solution, we have helped accelerate deployment and monetization of TV Anywhere services. Continuing this work as part of Ericsson will ensure that customers globally will have the most advanced support as they aim to deliver the best services for their subscribers.”
In September 2013, Ericsson completed its previously announced acquisition of Microsoft’s Mediaroom business and TV solution. The deal, which was first announced in April 2013, makes Ericsson the world’s largest, by market share, and the most experienced provider of IPTV middleware technology and solutions.
The Mediaroom IPTV platform holds about a 25% share of the global IPTV market. Mediaroom-powered TV services are offered by nearly 60 of the world’s leading operators, delivering services to almost 13 million households, and close to 24 million set top boxes, throughout the world. Customers include AT&T U-verse, Entertain of Deutsche Telekom, Telefonica, TELUS Optik TV and Swisscom.
