Ericsson is buying Azuki Systems, which specializes in multi-screen delivery. The purchase price was not disclosed.
Ericsson said it “will gain additional key functionality related to the deployment of TV Anywhere services, including adaptive bit rate and content protection technologies.”
Azuki has a customer list that includes HBO, Showtime, CenturyLink, and Buckeye Cablesystem. The diversity of the client list – programmers, IPTV, wireless, and cable – no doubt made Azuki attractive to Ericsson, which has a similarly diverse clientele.
The Azuki Media Platform manages both live and on-demand content for multi-screen delivery, complete with ad insertion. The company touts the Media Platform’s ability to control and switch programs and services on the fly, while providing DRM, policy enforcement, and metrics. The delivery platform is paired with Azuki client software.
Ericsson said Azuki’s technology complements another recent addition: Mediaroom, which was purchased from Microsoft.
Per Borgklint, senior vice president and head of business unit support solutions at Ericsson said, “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.”
Azuki Systems was founded in 2008. The company declined to comment further. The acquisition is expected to close before the end of February.
