[Satellite TODAY 05-10-10] Harmonic signed an agreement to acquire production and playout solutions provider Omneon for an enterprise value of about $274 million in cash and Harmonic stock, the companies announced May 7.
    The acquisition combines Harmonic’s video delivery infrastructure with Omneon production technology resources as well as its management and distribution of digital media. Omneon’s customer base includes media companies such as BBC, BSkyB, CBS, Comcast, Discovery Communications, Echostar, NBC Universal, News Corp., Televisa, Turner Broadcasting System and Viacom. In 2009, Omneon’s revenues were about $105 million, of which 67 percent were outside the United States.
    According to Harmonic, the combined company would have a video-focused global research and development organization of 450 engineers, a combined global sales and service organization of 330 people and a network of over 250 global sales channel partners.
    The companies said increasing demand for video content, accessible anytime and anywhere, combined with dramatic growth in video delivery over broadband and wireless networks, drove the acquisition. Increase in demand “is blurring traditional boundaries between content producers and service providers. This proposed combination would position Harmonic to become a global leader in video infrastructure for the digital media industry,” Patrick Harshman, president and CEO of Harmonic, said in a statement.
    The acquisition is expected to close in the third quarter.