Move Networks,which delivers live and on-demand online video for broadcasters such as ABC in the United States, is to acquire Inuk Networks, a broadband video service provider based in the United Kingdom. Inuk has developed a wholesale internet protocol television platform and virtual set-top box application for Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac personal computers.
Inuk Networks currently provides its Freewire branded service to student campuses in the United Kingdom. It has pioneered its service over academic networks, which are multicast enabled, enabling the efficient delivery of live television channels.
Move Networks hopes that by adding the Inuk solution to its own online streaming system it will be able to offer broadcasters, service providers and consumers a true television experience over both the open internet and managed networks.
Inuk has been working with Move Networks for some months and believes that the adaptive technology developed by the American company will enable broadcasters and operators to offer viewers an internet television experience with high-definition video and no buffering or skipping, in a television like interface.
“The combination of Move and Inuk is a perfect marriage of technologies and business models,” said Marcus Liassides, the chief executive of Inuk Networks. “We will offer a solution that augments traditional linear-based programming allowing more consumers to experience television on their own schedules for a personalised viewing experience.”
“Inuk’s IPTV platform is well positioned to deliver these new consumer expectations and Move Networks’ proprietary adaptive streaming and video publishing platform delivers an HD viewing experience via the current internet infrastructure today,” said John Edwards, the executive chairman of Move Networks. “This means Move Networks and Inuk have the critical components in place to support commercial deployments.”
Move Networks says it is committed to developing and growing the Freewire platform, which will launch in the United States later in 2009. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.