Avail-TVN has purchased SeaChange International’s On Demand Group (ODG) for $27 million.
Separately, SeaChange acknowledged that its Nucleus Soft Box Gateway software is an element of Comcast’s Reference Development Kit (RDK). The company will also be a systems integrator for projects based on the RDK. The Comcast RDK is an integrated software bundle that powers set-top boxes (tru2way, IP or hybrid). No other details were forthcoming.
Avail-TVN was flush after having just received a $100 million infusion of cash from a set of investors led by the Carlyle Group and including Columbia Capital, Valhalla Partners, Novak Biddle and Pioneer Ventures. The transaction was described as cash-free and debt-free.
Avail TVN picks up an operation that provides video-on-demand (VOD) services in several European countries, and it comes with a deep set of contracts with European programmers. The deal enables the company to extend its reach in the global market.
SeaChange, meanwhile, completes another step in its strategy to transform into a pure-play software company, while setting up Avail-TVN and its new acquisition as a “significant new customer opportunity,” according to SeaChange CEO Raghu Rau.
SeaChange now concentrates on its next-generation multi-screen video software solutions to cable, IPTV and mobile operators worldwide.
As an example of that, SeaChange also recently announced it is working with Civolution, using the latter’s watermarking technology to track and protect VOD content.
SeaChange CTO Steven Davi explained that “integrating Civolution’s watermarking software into our end-to-end solution for content ingest, management, monetization and delivery gives cable operators a new tool in their arsenal for content protection and enables access to earlier-release-window movies.”