NEW DELHI: Broadcast services expert Vision247 has acquired interactive TV application and services specialist Synapse TV.
Vision247’s Connected Freeview services, including the VisionTV multi-channel portal, are operated by Synapse TV. The two organisations have been working closely for some time now.
Synapse – previously a subsidiary of Strategy & Technology (S&T) – has developed a sophisticated suite of technologies that allows interactive TV applications to be deployed quickly and cost-effectively. The majority of Synapse’s TV applications have been for MHEG-based platforms such as UK Freeview, but Synapse also now provides solutions for browser-based technologies such as HbbTV that are used in a growing number of markets worldwide.
Vision247 CEO Petra Oblak said, “We took a lead in OTT delivery of linear content via Connected Freeview over three years ago, so we fully understand the unique opportunity this provides broadcasters to deliver their services via Freeview – the UK’s largest TV platform – at a fraction of the cost associated with traditional over-the-air (OTA) broadcasting. Knowing the class-leading technology, unwavering customer focus, supreme professionalism and unique expertise within Synapse, it was a natural move to bring the company under the Vision247 umbrella.”
Synapse will operate as an independent business and continue under the leadership of Mike Alexander, who has been named managing director of Synapse TV.
The existing Synapse engineering team will be based at Vision247’s brand new facility at Chiswick Park, London. In addition to his Synapse role, Mike Alexander will also take up the position of commercial director at Vision247.
Alexander said, “I’m hugely excited by the combined opportunities resulting from this acquisition. Not only will we continue to provide broadcasters and media owners with the ability to deliver content to many millions of Connected Freeview homes in the UK, together we can provide a complete, fully-integrated end-to-end service and are ideally placed to serve the growing market for delivery of content to TVs and mobile devices.”
S&T will maintain a minority interest in Synapse while continuing to focus on its world renowned carousel generation solutions as well as its well established business supplying MHEG engines to digital TV receiver manufacturers around the world.
S&T co-founder and MD David Cutts said, “Vison247 and Synapse are service-orientated operations with significant synergies and complimentary offerings. I know that the TV application business we have built up over recent years will flourish under Vision247’s ownership.”
Synapse-operated services on Freeview currently include VuTV (channel 238), TVPlayer (241), VisionTV (244) and Planet Knowledge (245) with a number of additional services in the pipeline and scheduled to launch over the coming months.
