Posts Tagged ‘fundraising’

Harmonic Moves Transcoding Technology to the Cloud, Launches AWS-Based Service

broadcast industry technology trends | Posted by Joe Zaller
Mar 05 2013

Harmonic announced a cloud-based transcoding service for professional applications that it says will enable “content creators, service providers, and media professionals to quickly and cost-effectively convert broadcast-quality video content to virtually any standard media format.”

Dubbed ProMedia Carbon MP, Harmonic’s transcoding services runs on Amazon Web Services (AWS), and allows users to buy processing in hourly blocks, or via a monthly subscription.  Users can also access it via XML APIs to deploy scalable, cloud-based transcoding workflows.

Features and functionality includes a wide variety of image processing operations including transcoding, SD/HD conversion, PAL/NTSC conversion, logo insertion, color space conversion, color correction, and multi-format closed-captioning.  The company also says ProMedia Carbon MP supports the industry`s broadest array of acquisition, nonlinear editing, broadcast, web, and mobile formats including MXF, XDCAM® HD, QuickTime®, CableLabs®, and MP4.

Harmonic is the latest company to jump into the cloud-based transcoding world.

Earlier this year, Amazon launched the “Amazon Elastic Transcoder,” and last year at IBC Brightcove launched a cloud-based transcoding service using technology acquired in its $30m acquisition of Zencoder.

Transcoding is clearly a hot space, and the cloud-based transcoding services space just got a bit more crowded with Harmonic’s announcement.

As broadcasters and media companies scramble to deploy multi-screen services, transcoding is seen by many as a key technology.  As a result, transcoding has also attracted its fair share of financing and M&A activity.  Here’s a quick run-down of some of the recent transcoding deals and related-financial news:

 

 

  • In January 2013, Amazon unveiled its “Amazon Elastic Transcoder.” Based on the company’s Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud computing platform, the Elastic Transcoder the service provides “a highly scalable, easy to use and a cost effective way for developers and businesses to transcode video files from their source format into versions that will playback on devices like smartphones, tablets and PCs.”

 

  • In August 2012 Brightcove bought Zencoder, a 2-year old start-up with $2m in revenue for $30m, and subsequently launched a cloud based transcoding service at IBC 2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • RGB Networks bought transcoding vendor Ripcode in 2010

 

 

Related Content:

Press Release: Harmonic Launches Cloud-Based Professional Video Transcoding Service

Harmonic Blog: Cloud Transcoding with Harmonic’s ProMedia Carbon MP – includes additional resources

Harmonic ProMedia Carbon MP Site on AWS Marketplace

Elemental Technologies Says Revenue Doubled in 2012 to $21 Million as Transcoding Technology Continues to Grow

Amazon Launches Scalable Cloud-Based “Elastic Transcoder” Service – A Potential Disruptor in a “Hot” Technology Space

More Broadcast Vendor M&A: Brightcove Buys Zencoder for $30 Million in Latest Video Transcoding Deal

More Broadcast vendor M&A: Wohler Buys RadiantGrid, Latest in Series of Transcoding Deals

Envivio Files for $85 Million Goldman Sachs Led IPO

Envivio Closes $16.5 Million Fundraising Round

More Broadcast Vendor M&A: Private Equity Firm Acquires Telestream

More Broadcast Vendor M&A — Telestream Purchase of Anystream Now Official

More Broadcast Vendor M&A: Cisco to Buy Inlet Technologies for $95m

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Elemental Technologies Says Revenue Doubled in 2012 to $21 Million as Transcoding Technology Continues to Grow

broadcast industry trends, Broadcast technology vendor financials, Broadcast Vendor M&A, SEC Filings | Posted by Joe Zaller
Feb 06 2013

The revenue of video transcoding technology supplier Elemental Technologies more than doubled in 2012 versus 2011, according to information supplied to Forbes magazine by the company.

Elemental was featured in a Forbes list of the “100 Most Promising Privately-Held, High-Growth Companies in the United States,” coming in at #23 on the list. Elemental also appeared on the Forbes list last year, coming in at #54.  The 30-place jump in the Forbes rankings was the largest by any company.

Forbes says that Elemental posted full year 2012 revenue of $21 million, up 106% versus the previous year.  No other financial metrics such as profitability, gross margins, operating margins, etc., were provided.  However, in a May 2012 profile by technology website GigaOm, Elemental’s founder and CEO Sam Blackman, said that company was not yet profitable, and had revenue “in the “eight-digits” [in 2011] after having sales in the seven digits during 2009 and 2010.”

Elemental attributed its year-over-year revenue growth to continuing to satisfy the video processing needs of major media companies, double-digit growth in the OTT video market, and strong consumer adoption of tablets and other mobile video devices.

The company also said it more than doubled its customer base in 2012, and now serves 250 media and entertainment brands across nearly 40 countries.  Elemental is apparently taking on staff to meet increasing customer demand.  According to Forbes, the company currently has 102 employees, up from 70 employees in May 2012.

In May 2012, Elemental closed a $13m fundraising round led by Norwest Venture Partners, which brought the total amount of funding raised by Elemental to just under $30m.  In 2010, the company closed a $7.5 funding round, led by General Catalyst, Voyager Capital and Steamboat Ventures, who also participated in the May 2012 fundraising round.

As broadcasters and media companies scramble to deploy multi-screen services, video transcoding has become a hot space, and Elemental’s impressive year-over-year growth is certainly a testament to this phenomenon.

As a result of the growth in this technology area, transcoding has also attracted its fair share of financing and M&A activity.  Here’s a quick run-down of some of the recent transcoding deals:

 

  • In January 2013, Amazon unveiled its “Amazon Elastic Transcoder.” Based on the company’s Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud computing platform, the Elastic Transcoder the service provides “a highly scalable, easy to use and a cost effective way for developers and businesses to transcode video files from their source format into versions that will playback on devices like smartphones, tablets and PCs.”

 

  • In August 2012 Brightcove bought Zencoder, a 2-year old start-up with $2m in revenue for $30m, and subsequently launched a cloud based transcoding service at IBC 2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • RGB Networks bought transcoding vendor Ripcode in 2010

 

 

Related Content:

Forbes: Americas Most Promising

Elemental Closes $13 Million Funding Round, Latest in Series of Transcoding Deals

GigaOm Article: Elemental gets $13M to sell arms in the online video fight

Press Release: Elemental Secures $13M to Ignite Business Expansion

Elemental Technologies: SEC Filing Disclosing 2010 Fundraising Round

Amazon Launches Scalable Cloud-Based “Elastic Transcoder” Service – A Potential Disruptor in a “Hot” Technology Space

More Broadcast Vendor M&A: Brightcove Buys Zencoder for $30 Million in Latest Video Transcoding Deal

More Broadcast vendor M&A: Wohler Buys RadiantGrid, Latest in Series of Transcoding Deals

Envivio Files for $85 Million Goldman Sachs Led IPO

Envivio Closes $16.5 Million Fundraising Round

More Broadcast Vendor M&A: Private Equity Firm Acquires Telestream

More Broadcast Vendor M&A — Telestream Purchase of Anystream Now Official

More Broadcast Vendor M&A: Cisco to Buy Inlet Technologies for $95m

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Latest Funding Round Nets $300,000 for Broadcast Pix

Broadcast technology vendor financials | Posted by Joe Zaller
Feb 04 2013

Boston-based production switcher vendor Broadcast Pix disclosed in a regulatory filing with securities regulators that it recently raised $300,000 in a fundraising round.

According to the filing, the company had sought to raise as much as $2 million.  It is not clear whether the company is continuing to look for additional funding.

According to regulatory filings, the company has raised money several times over the past few years.  This includes $1.542 million in July 2012, and $1.092 million in March 2011.

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Related Content:

January 31, 2013: Broadcast Pix – Notice of Exempt Securities Offering

July 26, 2012: Broadcast Pix – Notice of Exempt Securities Offering

March 14, 2011: Broadcast Pix – Notice of Exempt Securities Offering

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LiveU Raises $27 Million to Fund Bonded Cellular Growth

broadcast industry technology trends, broadcast industry trends, broadcast technology market research, Broadcast technology vendor financials | Posted by Joe Zaller
Nov 14 2012

Bonded cellular technology provider LiveU reported that it has closed a $27m funding round, bringing the total amount raised by the company to approximately $50m.

The round was led by new investor Lightspeed Venture Partners, with participation by existing investors: Canaan Partners, Carmel Ventures and Pitango Venture Capital.

The company says it will use the funding to expedite its product development and global expansion, as it moves “from being a product-based to solutions-based company.”

LiveU has did not disclose the terms of the deal, nor did it reveal other financial metrics such as revenue, profitability, growth, and margin performance.  However, CEO Sam Wasserman said his company’s “year-on-year growth is a testament to our technological leadership and the fast-growing demand for cellular-based live video transmission in the broadcasting and online media markets. This substantial investment will enable us to expand our mobile offerings, continue our technological innovation and extend our geographical presence.”

LiveU is one of a number of bonded cellular vendors whose technology multiplexes multiple 3G, 4G or Wi-Fi data channels in order to create a constant link with sufficient bandwidth to send SD or HD images back to the studio.  These vendors are hoping to disrupt the broadcast ENG and contribution markets.

Proponents of the technology say that it brings radical change to ENG applications because it’s quick to set-up, and does not require broadcasters to deploy an expensive (and time-consuming to set-up) ENG van to cover breaking events.

However, the technology comes with a major potential downside.  Broadcasters relying on bonded cellular are not always able to control the availability of wireless network bandwidth. In a crowded area, like a stadium, courtroom, or breaking news location, it may be difficult to gain access to sufficient bandwidth, resulting in severe image degradation. Several news organizations have experienced that problem at recent news events in Chicago and Denver.

To overcome these issues, some vendors, including LiveU, offer their products as part of a service bundle, which may also included dedicated cellular or WiFi bandwith.  This helps users remove the risk and complexity associated with data roaming and crowded spectrum.  It also benefits users by giving them the option of moving their technology costs from CapEx to OpEx.

Bonded cellular systems were used extensively to cover the 2012 Olympics, the recent US presidential election, and Hurricane Sandy, which devastated parts of the east coast of the US earlier this month.

This technology is here to stay, and is likely to have a significant impact on the broadcast ENG and contribution markets  -  areas that Devoncroft will be covering in detail in a market research report to be published in November 2012.

With this investment, LiveU is gearing up to position itself as one of the leaders in this fast-growing space.

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Related Content:

Press Release: LiveU Closes $27M Funding Round to Drive Growth

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Envivio Closes $16.5 Million Fundraising Round

Broadcast technology vendor financials | Posted by Joe Zaller
Jan 23 2012

Video encoding and transcoding specialist Envivio said in a filing that it has recently raised $16.5m in financing through the sale preferred stock.  This brings the total amount raised by Envivio since being founded in 2000 to $95.1m.

Envivio file for an IPO in April of 2011, but has not yet become a public company.

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Related Content:

Envivio D/A Filing: Disclosed newly raised funds

TechCrunch Article: On-Demand Video Services Company Envivio Files To Go Public

Previous year: Envivio Says it Doubled Revenue in Fiscal 2011

 

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