SOURCE: Anystream

September 22, 2008 06:00 ET

Anystream and Voxant Merge to Create Integrated Video Distribution Powerhouse

Content Owners, Publishers and Marketers Now Have One Source to Package, Categorize, Syndicate and Monetize Video Content

DULLES, VA--(Marketwire - September 22, 2008) - Anystream® (anystream.com), the global innovator of digital media production and workflow solutions, today announced its merger with Voxant Media (voxant.com), the new media network with over 30,000 worldwide publishing partners.

The merger is an unprecedented integration of content, production and distribution, bringing together Anystream's platform with Voxant's video news and information syndication service. The combination is the largest single destination for publishers seeking relevant, licensed content that can be effortlessly packaged, categorized and monetized.

The creation of this new entity will be a driver in the adoption of online video advertising, which has lagged behind industry expectations in general due to the lack of a flexible infrastructure, as well as a dearth of premium, licensed content. Less than 15% of professionally produced content ever reaches the Internet for monetization.

"There are three things that the broadband world requires for the economics of online video to explode," said Fred Singer, Anystream CEO. "First, there must be licensed content to satisfy the needs of video-hungry publishers. Second, there must be a large syndicated affiliate site network to create meaningful monetization. Third, there must be a system for marketers to insert their message into indexed and categorized content. Only the combination of Anystream and Voxant delivers them all."

Anystream, fresh off of its support of NBC Universal's on-demand production of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, is trusted by more than 700 leading media companies in 38 countries. Voxant is a leading participant in the expansive online video category, boasting two million licensed assets from more than 400 news, entertainment and sports content partners and a network of 30,000 plus publishing affiliates worldwide. It is the second largest news and entertainment property based on video streams in the U.S. after MSNBC(1) and is second only to Google/YouTube in "views per viewer" engagement(2).

While the current marketplace is fragmented, Anystream and Voxant are blending their 12 years of experience to address the entire workflow that can satisfy the needs of the syndicated video economy. "Anystream and Voxant are leaders in their own right," said Marcien Jenckes, CEO of Voxant Media. "With this merger, media owners, distribution affiliates and advertisers are united by a single solution from content creation through consumer viewing. Only established players can combine to form such a powerful partnership."

The Anystream and Voxant entity offers media owners of all sizes unprecedented choices and pricing models to monetize their content. They can choose from enterprise, hosted and advertising solutions to ensure their broad range of professional content is delivered in a way that that lets media companies control and monetize their most valuable assets.

(1) comScore Video Matrix Report, April 2008

(2) Measured as views-per-viewer, according to Video Matrix Report, April 2008

About Anystream

Anystream provides the world's leading media companies with the tools and data they need to syndicate video on-demand across multiple outlets and devices through a single, automated platform. With over 700 media customers worldwide, Anystream's Media Lifecycle Platform enables many of the best known entertainment brands to make their video available where, when, and how it's most convenient for their viewers. For more information, log on to anystream.com.

About Voxant

Voxant is building a new kind of network that delivers unparalleled licensed content, advertising and syndication services to the millions of Web sites and niche communities that comprise the Web. Voxant's 30,000+ publisher affiliates have access to the Web's largest, most diverse selection of free, high quality, fully licensed news and information for their Web sites and blogs. Voxant provides full monetization while maintaining control over content integrity, quality and branding for more than 300 content providers. For more, log on to Voxant.com.