Harris buys Imagine Communications; beefs up OTT offering

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HarrisHarris Broadcast says it has completed its buy of Imagine Communications, provider of digital video solutions that deliver bandwidth-efficient services with optimum video quality. The acquisition enhances Harris Broadcast’s solutions portfolio as the company builds the first true MultiService SDN (Software Defined Network), integrating sales, scheduling, automation, playout and delivery throughout both linear and non-linear content distribution networks.


It also brings advanced transcoding technology utilizing cutting edge software breakthroughs that run in high density, low power commercial-off-the-shelf and blade-server environments, consistent with Harris Broadcast’s vision of software-centric, virtualized operations.

“TV Everywhere is the future of our industry, and our customers are vigorously pursuing this path to expand their business models and improve the monetization of content across any screen,” said Charlie Vogt, CEO of Harris Broadcast. “The advanced Adaptive Bit Rate technology (ABR) created by Imagine combines quality, density and a small footprint to greatly leapfrog anything else on the market today and improves transcoding economics up to a factor of 10 over competing alternatives. Our content creator and content distribution customers, including cable, MSO and telecommunications service providers, will benefit significantly from end-to-end portfolio integration that establishes a clear pathway to linear and non-linear viewing parity across every screen.”

The acquisition expands Harris Broadcast’s current R&D and innovation initiatives and increases the company’s total global addressable market. Imagine has invested more than 8 years in developing industry-leading technologies and its R&D team’s competencies in ABR, OTT and TV Everywhere bring a lot to the table in Harris offerings to the industry.