IBM acquires Ustream to enhance cloud-based video services
IBM announced the acquisition of cloud-based video streaming service Ustream, Inc., with an eye towards extending the IBM Cloud platform to help enterprise clients take advantage of the rapidly expanding value of video. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Founded in 2007, San Francisco-based Ustream is considered one of the earliest companies offering live streaming but, over the years, has expanded its online video and hosting services. It currently delivers live and on-demand video for a host of customers including NASA, Samsung, Facebook, Nike and The Discovery Channel.
"Video is the most powerful and emotional medium," said Brad Hunstable, CEO, Ustream. "Increasingly it is becoming the favored form of communication, not just for entertainment, but also for business. We've built a video platform that is easy-to-use, yet incredibly scalable, secure and powerful and it is these qualities that made us an ideal addition to IBM's portfolio.”
Ustream joins recent acquisition Clearleap in the newly-formed IBM Cloud Video Services unit, which will target the IBM-estimated $105b opportunity in cloud-based video services and software. Clearleap offers cloud streaming services to companies such as HBO, the NFL, Sony Movie Channel, Time Warner Cable and Verizon. The unit will be led by general manager Braxton Jarratt, former Clearleap CEO.
"Through this latest acquisition and the creation of a new cloud business unit, IBM will provide an end-to-end suite of digital video solutions for the first time under one roof," said Jarratt. "As a result, clients will be able to take advantage of every stage of the video life cycle through advances in customization, digital access, visual analytics and more, all to enable the consistent delivery of video content globally."
The unit will combine assets from IBM's R&D labs and strategic acquisitions including storage company Cleversafe and high-speed cloud data transfer company Aspera. IBM has been a longtime developer of video and digital technologies and has been awarded over 1,000 patents in areas including visual analytics and indexing, and searching large collections of videos and digital images. It has also won four Emmy Awards for video-centric innovations.