http://www.multichannel.com/news/next-tv/comcast-snaps-technology/393079
Comcast Snaps Up This Technology
Comcast has struck a deal to acquire This Technology, a multiscreen video
company that has specialized in dynamic ad insertion and scaled IP video
back-office systems, including an alternative content delivery platform called
“SwitchStream” that enters play in TV blackout situations.
Financial terms were not announced, but This Technology CEO Jeff Sherwin
announced on his company’s Web site that its products and services will
continue to be developed, supported and sold as part of the solution portfolio
of Denver-based Comcast Wholesale, a unit that runs the company’s content
delivery network and multiscreen video services. It was not immediately how
many This Technology employees will be joining Comcast.
Update: Most of This Technology's team (it has 63 employees total) will be
joining Comcast’s Colorado-based VIPER team, and a portion will be joining
Comcast Wholesale. VIPER, an acronym for Video IP Engineering and Research, is
Comcast’s home-grown video infrastructure for IP-delivered multiscreen video
services and apps.
This Technology is headquartered in Denver, and also operates an office in
Beijing. This Technology had become an increasingly important technology
partner to Comcast and its platform will further enhance Comcast’s transition
to IP video, the MSO official added.
“We are thrilled that THIS TECHNOLOGY is becoming a part of Comcast,” Comcast
EVP and chief technology officer Tony Werner said, in a statement. “THIS
TECHNOLOGY’s innovative video infrastructure platform and dynamic team of
technologists have long played critical roles in our ongoing mission to evolve
our video delivery infrastructure. Integrating THIS TECHNOLOGY into our
advanced video group will accelerate our development cycles and strengthen our
ongoing transition to IP video.”
“THIS TECHNOLOGY has been focused on helping MVPDs and programmers navigate
changing business and technical landscapes with solutions that ensure the right
content gets to the right people on the right devices,” Sherwin said. “These
efforts align squarely with Comcast’s ongoing work to help the industry move to
an all-IP environment.”
Founded in 2006, This Technology raised a $7.5 million “A” round in 2012 led by
General Catalyst Partners. Its known customers include Comcast and its
corporate cousin, NBCUniversal, Verizon Communications and ABC.
Execs on This Technology’s advisory group and tech advisory board include
Jeffrey Binder, the CEO and co-founder of Denver-based virtual MVPD startup
Layer3 TV, and fellow Layer3 TV co-founder and CTO David Fellows.
This Technology, once a rumored acquisition target of SeaChange International,
is the latest IP and ad-tech vendor to be acquired by Comcast. Comcast recently
acquired targeted and programmatic advertising company Visible World, and
closed its purchase of online video ad-tech firm FreeWheel last May.
