Tag: Comcast Cable

  • Comcast snaps up ad tech company Visible World

    Comcast snaps up ad tech company Visible World

    NEW DELHI: As predicted by several media experts almost a decade earlier, the era of mergers and acquisitions has picked up pace with the big fish often either eating the small fish or letting it co-exist in partnership.

     

    An interesting aspect of this is that large players in the information technology and broadcasting field who can develop technologies of their own find it cheaper to enter into agreements with other companies for this. And this trend is not just confined to India, but globally.

     

    Visible World, a specialist in the addressable and programmatic advertising business, has been bought over by Comcast Cable.

     

    Visible World will operate as an independent company and will continue to develop new services for existing companies and grow its customer base.

     

    “For more than a decade, we have been focused on developing a portfolio of solutions that offer a wide variety of services to a wide range of customers. Comcast’s investment in our business will accelerate our ability to deliver on our vision and provide more open and efficient systems that will encourage more valuable and collaborative relationships across the TV ecosystem,” said Visible World CEO Seth Haberman.

     

    “Visible World is a dynamic company and a real complement to our existing advanced advertising initiatives. Visible World offers a diverse spectrum of services that serve a variety of needs across the television advertising landscape,” added Comcast Cable Executive vice president and chief network officer John Schanz. 

     

    “This partnership reflects the business and technology trends we are seeing in the television industry today. We look forward to helping the talented Visible World team expand and accelerate their business and create more value for distributors, advertisers, agencies, programmers and affiliates,” Schanz added.

     

    The terms of the deal were not disclosed. Earlier this year, Comcast acquired Freewheel, a company that personalizes and inserts video ads for a number of media companies, for $360 million. 

  • Comcast Cable and Time Warner Cable join to manage software in STBs

    Comcast Cable and Time Warner Cable join to manage software in STBs

    NEW DELHI: Comcast Cable and Time Warner Cable have joined hands to manage the Reference Design Kit (RDK) software being used in set-top boxes (STBs).

    The new venture RDK Management will manage the RDK licensing, community support and training, as well as code management.

    Comcast will contribute RDK components into the new entity, including the RDK code and specifications, related intellectual property rights, associated contracts and licenses which will be transitioned to the RDK Management.

    The RDK is a pre-integrated software bundle, developed and licensed by Comcast to create a common framework for powering tru2way, IP or hybrid STBs and gateway devices and accelerate the deployment of video services.

    RDK works with the CableLabs OCAP Reference Implementation software along with other open source components.

    The new entity will provide continuity with the existing licensing program and continue to offer a licensing program similar to the existing program. In addition, the new entity will set up an expanded support program to provide technical support to RDK licensees as operators more broadly deploy the RDK solution.

    Since its introduction in early 2012, more than 100 licensees have joined the RDK community, including OEMs, systems integrators, SOCs and software vendors as well as MVPDs to create a community of innovators focused on bringing rich, multi-screen TV home entertainment experiences to consumers faster.

  • Taffy Ent. unveils multi-platform kids’ service ‘Kabillion’ in US

    Taffy Ent. unveils multi-platform kids’ service ‘Kabillion’ in US

     MUMBAI: Taffy Entertainment has announced the launch of Kabillion, a multi-platform, kids’ program service, available both as a free online broadband site (www.Kabillion.com) and a free video on-demand (VOD) channel.

    According to an official release issued by the company, the new service, developed in conjunction with Remix Entertainment Ventures, offers high-quality animated and live-action kids’ series entertainment on both the online and VOD platforms. The VOD platform is now available to digital cable subscribers in the US on Comcast Cable systems, with additional systems to be added in the near future. Future plans also call for offering mobile, gaming and wireless platforms.

    Kabillion’s initial programming lineup includes a variety of options, in keeping with the channel’s “On Demand/Viewer’s Choice” philosophy. From the CGI comedy show Pet Alien, to anime trading card-themed Mix Master: King of Cards original series.

    The On-Demand channel will allow viewers to choose the episodes they want, when they want it and in some cases, the language they want, as Kabillion will offer multi-lingual versions of many titles.

    Instead of being designed from a traditional linear programming service perspective, Kabillion has been conceived and developed around the role that emerging digital media is playing in the lives of kids. To help guide viewers through the new service, Kabillion will also offer “Kablab,” a comedic, live-action Preview show, intended to not only entertain, but to inform kids about some of the other available programming and content choices, adds the release.

    “Kabillion will transform how kids experience media, allowing them to engage in a more interactive and dynamic way, across a range of platforms. Taffy Entertainment will supply first class, award-winning programming through its global production pipelines at both Moonscoop and Mike Young Productions,” explains Taffy Entertainment co-CEO Bill Schultz. “Key acquisitions will also play an important role and we anticipate some important announcements to that effect very soon.”

    The network is advertiser-supported and already has signed key sponsors. Kabillion’s infra-structure will transform traditional approaches to advertising with the innovation that is currently sweeping the older demographic’s advertising models.