The Zurich-based owner of software developer Zappware has announced the acquisition of iWedia, which provides support for Android TV.
Reinhart Interactive TV will combine the two companies into the Zappware Entertainment Group.
The transaction was made possible after Kudelski agreed to sell its 40% stake in iWedia to Reinhart. “This sale is part of the Group’s efforts to divest non-core assets and focus on our core businesses”, said Gilles Rapin, Senior Vice-President, Innovation and Business Development at the Kudelski Group.
Between them Zappware and its Lausanne counterpart iWedia hold one of the the largest TV deployment footprints in the world servicing up to 50 million households. Their joint customer base includes A1, Amplia/TSST, Bouygues Telecom, Deutsche Telekom, KDDI, NTT DoCoMo, Orange, Reliance Jio, Swisscom, SKY, Telus, Une and Unity Media.
“Zappware has been at the forefront of digital TV for 20 years now. By adding iWedia, we extend our product portfolio and strengthen our customer reach and delivery capabilities globally. We are also looking for further M&A targets,” said Ives Decraene, executive director, Zappware Entertainment Group.
“iWedia has served major tier 1 telecom operators for more than 10 years and all our customers can be assured a continuation of our services,” added iWedia CEO Hans-Jürgen Désor. “By joining forces with Zappware, we can now offer our customers a much more comprehensive portfolio of products including the ability to add award-winning user interface and tools, e-gaming and advertising.”
Désor will report directly to the Executive Directors Ives Decraene and Patrick Vos of Zappware Entertainment Group.
