Verizon Digital Media Services acquires upLynk, a multiscreen video specialist.

Alan Breznick, Cable/Video Practice Leader, Light Reading

November 14, 2013

2 Min Read
Verizon Beefs Up TVE Unit

Already a leader in the TV Everywhere space, Verizon is getting even more serious about the multiscreen video business.

The US telco announced Wednesday that Verizon Digital Media Services (VDMS), its cloud-based video services unit, is buying upLynk for an undisclosed sum. A three-year-old startup based in Los Angeles, upLynx powers video streaming for the Watch ABC and Walt Disney TV Everywhere apps.

VDMS, formed recently by Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ), pitches a raft of capabilities to service and content providers looking to play in the multiscreen video space. The Verizon unit already offers "end-to-end video solutions" -- including content ingestion, transmission, management, hosting, and delivery -- for media publishers seeking to beam live, linear TV channels and on-demand video programming to TVs, tablets, smartphones, and other mobile devices. Its initial, in-house clients include Verizon FiOS and Redbox Instant by Verizon.

VDMS officials said the deal will add upLynk's exclusive technology for streamlining the uploading and encoding of multiscreen video to its portfolio. A cloud-based specialist, upLynk uses a single adaptive streaming format to encode and deliver video content to all devices, rather than multiple streaming formats. As a result, the company claims, it can simplify video encoding, storage, playback, ad insertion, and analytics and improve video workflows for providers.

"Simply put, this acquisition provides intelligent, scalable, and more flexible ways of streaming video for our customers," said VDMS President Bob Toohey in a prepared statement. All of upLynk's dozen or so employees are expected to join the Verizon division.

With the deal behind it, Verizon is also looking to expand its multiscreen horizons beyond its own video units and content providers. Chris Carey, chief product officer for VDMS, told Multichannel News that his operation is aiming to extend its services to cable operators and other service providers with TV Everywhere ambitions.

— Alan Breznick, Cable/Video Practice Leader, Light Reading

About the Author(s)

Alan Breznick

Cable/Video Practice Leader, Light Reading

Alan Breznick is a business editor and research analyst who has tracked the cable, broadband and video markets like an over-bred bloodhound for more than 20 years.

As a senior analyst at Light Reading's research arm, Heavy Reading, for six years, Alan authored numerous reports, columns, white papers and case studies, moderated dozens of webinars, and organized and hosted more than 15 -- count 'em --regional conferences on cable, broadband and IPTV technology topics. And all this while maintaining a summer job as an ostrich wrangler.

Before that, he was the founding editor of Light Reading Cable, transforming a monthly newsletter into a daily website. Prior to joining Light Reading, Alan was a broadband analyst for Kinetic Strategies and a contributing analyst for One Touch Intelligence.

He is based in the Toronto area, though is New York born and bred. Just ask, and he will take you on a power-walking tour of Manhattan, pointing out the tourist hotspots and the places that make up his personal timeline: The bench where he smoked his first pipe; the alley where he won his first fist fight. That kind of thing.

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