Hauppauge, N.Y.-based MultiDyne Fiber Optic Solutions added another strategic layer to its growing business by acquiring Niagara Video Corp. The latter is a supplier of compression, streaming and IPTV solutions for the broadcast and commercial AV markets. The acquisition strengthens MultiDyne’s value proposition for software-defined video transport. Moreover, it positions the company as a full-service provider of hardware and software solutions for moving high-quality video over any distance or network architecture.
Black Pearl Management Group facilitated the acquisition process on behalf of both companies. That firm is, of course, owned and operated by broadcast industry veteran Bob McAlpine.
“The MultiDyne brand has long been associated with fiberoptics,” Frank Jachetta, CEO of MultiDyne, says. “But, as a company, we excel at processing and moving media.”
Niagara Acquisition is Additive
Jachetta states that the Niagara Video business adds “proven hardware and pure software solutions to our in-house hardware portfolio.” Thus, he adds, it will help the company proliferate media-transport opportunities for its customers. That includes moving media from server-based engines and over more diverse network topologies, while ensuring seamless interoperability with a mix of industry protocols (HEVC, HLS, RTMP, SRT and more).
“We have expanded beyond dark fiber to moving content across the internet in different ways,” Jachetta explains. He cites one example in particular: “How we can now reliably take video over the top (OTT), using open-protocol SRT transport for perfect video delivery. It’s about delivering broadcast-quality video over challenging networks for our customers.”
Jesse Foster, MultiDyne’s vice president of products, cites the growing esports market as a business strength of Niagara Video. Moreover, he says, Niagara is robust in AV business verticals, such as corporate and education. Thus, he says, this move will expand MultiDyne’s customer base. Foster also sees a natural expansion of its core broadcast and live-production business into the REMI production space, as well as an opportunity to offer complete solutions for worship facilities.
“This really opens MultiDyne to new verticals,” Foster notes. Saying that compression is a necessary technology for remote connectivity, he explains, “Niagara’s portable GoStream encoders and decoders will provide our customers with the low-latency streaming and backhaul solutions they need for REMI production and live-entertainment events.” According to Foster, “We see strong integration opportunities for MultiDyne fiber products with Niagara’s IPTV solutions, used widely today in the enterprise, corporate, government and hospitality markets. And we can now help our worship customers easily extend their signals from the sanctuary to external locations, thanks to clean integration between our fiber camera adapters, our fiber throwdowns and Niagara’s livestreaming solutions.”
Niagara Talent Coming Aboard
Naturally, Mike Galli, CEO of Niagara Video Corp., points to the infusion of technology and in-house talent. However, he adds, the company broadens MultiDyne’s channel-partner network through its own distributors and resellers worldwide. Galli will join the company as vice president of streaming products. Importantly, MultiDyne will retain Niagara’s existing staff.
“We have built a network of channel partners with strong reputations that will help raise MultiDyne’s visibility in areas where they have less brand representation, including parts of Asia where Niagara Video has historically seen brisk business,” said Galli. “At the end of the day, we can help MultiDyne establish a robust streaming portfolio and bring them into the compression world with greater authority. And we at Niagara have always looked for the right partner to complete our vision. MultiDyne’s global presence, business reputation, and the range of customers and applications they support are all phenomenal.”
For additional information about MultiDyne, check out Commercial Integrator’s website archives.
