This is interesting. Thought that I posted this early this morning. Note the Oracle connection....
Company Press Release
SOURCE: SkyConnect
Video-On-Demand Powerhouse Created; Video Server Leader nCUBE to Acquire SkyConnect, Inc.
FOSTER CITY, Calif., March 17 /PRNewswire/ -- nCUBE, the leading supplier of interactive multimedia servers, today announced it has reached an agreement to acquire SkyConnect Inc. SkyConnect, of Louisville, CO., is the leading provider of digital video systems integration and application software.
The combined company will possess the largest installed base of video server systems in the world, with more than 21,000 broadcast quality MPEG channels installed. Worldwide, the combined company will be #1 in near video- on-demand (nVOD), #2 in digital ad insertion, and #1 in video-on-demand (VOD).
''The superior technology and market strengths of nCUBE and SkyConnect are a perfect fit,'' said nCUBE Chairman and CEO Larry Ellison. ''nCUBE provides video servers that have proven to be the most scalable and reliable in the world, while SkyConnect has an unbeatable track record in software applications. Together, we've got it all.''
The combined company will focus on providing mission critical solutions for a variety of broadcast quality digital applications, including video-on- demand, near video-on-demand, digital video advertising insertion, local origination, distance learning, multichannel advertising, and traffic and billing. These solutions will be delivered to Telecom and Cable operators in all vertical and geographic markets.
nCUBE and SkyConnect have been working together since mid-1998 on video delivery solutions for customers and have determined that, as one company, they will be better positioned to serve the growing demand for cost- effective, reliable, end-to-end solutions. The goal of the combined company will be to make it as effortless as possible to deploy video-on-demand.
nCUBE offers proven superiority in interactive and on-demand multimedia applications for the consumer, business, hospitality, and broadcast markets. nCUBE's video servers are unsurpassed in scalability, with the only proven systems that are configurable to deliver in excess of 20,000 broadcast quality MPEG video streams with a single system. There simply isn't a more powerful solution for video-on-demand applications. Product features include support for the major network architectures of the video market, including QAM, DVB- ASI, ATM, ADSL, and Ethernet.
SkyConnect's expertise includes video server systems integration, application software and user interfaces, its understanding of CATV operating and business requirements, on-site installation service and support, and customer training and technical support.
''We're excited about what this means for our customers. On top of our expertise, we will now offer the efficiency, economy and convenience of a single source for the total solution in video delivery,'' said SkyConnect CEO and President Mike Pohl. ''As the rapid expansion of digital video management continues, we'll be better equipped than anyone to meet the needs of broadband system operators.''
The combined company's executive management team will include the following officers: nCUBE Chairman and CEO, Larry Ellison; nCUBE Chief Operating Officer, Ian Johnstone; nCUBE Chief Financial Officer, Mary Beth Myrdal; and SkyConnect CEO and President, Mike Pohl.
While financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed, it is expected to be finalized within 60 days.
Founded in 1983, nCUBE specializes in broadcast-quality video delivery systems. nCUBE's expertise and unique system scalability has made it the video server of choice in the world's leading video-on-demand trials and deployments. nCUBE's MediaCube(TM) is the only VOD platform proven to scale in real world deployments. As an Oracle Business Alliance (sm) Partner, nCUBE is solidly positioned to meet the demands of a rapidly expanding interactive multimedia marketplace. The company is headquartered in Foster City, Calif., and maintains a manufacturing and development center in Beaverton, Or., along with sales offices in Reston, Va.; Munich, Germany; London, England; Tokyo, Japan; Nice, France and Singapore. ncube.com.
Founded in 1992, SkyConnect provides digital ad insertion solutions and offers video management applications in the cable ad insertion, Near-Video-on- Demand and Video-on-Demand industries. SkyConnect's state-of-the-art technology includes digital ad insertion hardware and software, traffic and billing software, and Pay-Per-View software. Headquartered in Louisville, Colo. SkyConnect is a Business Alliance Partner of Oracle and a Priority Partner of for Enterprise Solutions of Compaq. skyconnect.com
Note to Editors: nCUBE is a registered trademark, and MediaCube(TM) is a trademark of nCUBE. Oracle Alliance is a trademark or registered trademark of Oracle Corporation (Nasdaq: ORCL - news). All other brand or product names are trademarks of their respective holders.
SOURCE: SkyConnect
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