Network-equipment giant Cisco plans to buy BNI Video, a privately held company based in Boxborough, Mass., to advance the capabilities of its Videoscape TV platform.
BNI, whose investors include Comcast and Time Warner Cable, supplies service providers with two products that offer video back-office and content-delivery network analytic capabilities. Cisco will spend $99 million in cash and retention-based incentives for BNI, assuming it gets all necessary regulatory approvals.
"Cisco is committed to working with our service provider customers to deliver next-generation IP-based video experiences across devices," said Marthin De Beer, senior vice president and general manager of Cisco's emerging business group. "Service providers globally are embracing our Videoscape vision, and today with the acquisition of BNI Video, we are augmenting our Videoscape platform and giving customers a clear migration path to Videoscape."
Videoscape allows service providers to deliver video to any IP-connected device. BNI’s technology is expected to help Cisco’s service-provider customers cut operational expenses and complexity, while expanding monetization opportunities.
The deal is expected to close in Cisco’s second fiscal quarter of 2012. BNI Video employees will be integrated into Cisco’s Service Provider Video Technology Group once the acquisition is done.
