Microsoft Acquires VideoSurf
Setting up its broader digital TV strategy, Microsoft just announced the acquisition of video discovery technology provider VideoSurf.
Per the deal, Microsoft plans to integrate the technology into its entertainment platform, including its Xbox 360 ecosystem, while evolving search and discovery of entertainment content on Xbox LIVE.
“VideoSurf’s content analytics technology will enhance the search and discovery of entertainment content across our platform,” said Alex Garden, director of Xbox LIVE for the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft.
Press reports put the acquisition price at around $70 million, but neither Microsoft or VideoSurf wished to discuss financial terms of the deal on Tuesday.
In the coming months, Microsoft plans to bring about 40 TV and entertainment providers to Xbox LIVE, including Bravo, Comcast, HBO GO, Verizon FiOS and Syfy in the United States.
Founded in 2006, the California-based startup offers a back-end “computer vision” technology, which can “see” frames inside videos for the sake of easier discovery.
The acquisition is also expected to make it easier for Microsoft’s video partners to exploit features, including voice search enabled by Kinect for Xbox 360. This holiday season, Microsoft plans to launch voice search to its entertainment partners on Xbox LIVE.
Over time, Microsoft plans to have content tagged in real-time to increase the speed and relevance of the search results. Strangely missing from Microsoft’s announcement this week was any mention of its search engine Bing, and what role it plays in the company’s video discovery efforts.
Two-year-old Bing is losing nearly a $1 billion a quarter, according to recent reports. Worse still, Microsoft has reportedly lost $5.5 billion on Bing since the search service launched in June 2009, while the software giant has never made money in its online services division.
According to comScore stats released in September, Bing is holding onto a 14.7% share of the search market, while Google continues to dominate with a 65.3% share.
Recent Online Media Daily Articles
-
Weather.com Develops Real-Time Data Ad Targeting May 17, 5:12 p.m.
Weather.com has begun using audience segmentation data from Lotame to develop real-time ad targeting services based ... -
MetroPCS Drops Challenge To Neutrality Rules May 17, 4:44 p.m.
T-Mobile's newly acquired MetroPCS withdrew its challenge to the Federal Communications Commission's net neutrality rules on ... -
'Geo-Conquesting' Drives Higher Mobile Click Rates May 17, 3:56 p.m.
The practice of conquesting -- running advertising for a brand or product near editorial content about ... -
Cox-Backed, Skyword Raises $6.7 Million To Enhance Content Creation May 17, 3:34 p.m.
Internet services and utilities will rely more on content as the industry matures. Shereta Williams, vice ... -
Ford, Jeep, Chevy Top Digital Auto Brands May 17, 1:09 p.m.
On the digital proving track, Detroit is beating out the competition. Ford, Jeep and Chevrolet were ... -
Choosing Sides: VivaKi Backs comScore; ABC Throws In With Nielsen May 17, 9:52 a.m.
In a battle to control the future of the ad industry’s currency, Nielsen and comScore each ... -
Yahoo Adds Tweets To News Feed May 16, 6:18 p.m.
Yahoo will incorporate selected tweets into the news feed on its redesigned home page through a ... -
Mozilla Puts Cookie-Blocking On Hold May 16, 6:16 p.m.
Mozilla is putting the brakes on plans to block third-party cookies by default in the upcoming ... -
Mobile Ad Results In Line With Rich Media May 16, 5:39 p.m.
Mobile display ads perform roughly on par with rich media ads in terms of click-through and ... -
Google Plans To Transition Brands Into Content-Driven Advertising May 16, 4:30 p.m.
Google wants technology to "step out of the way" as developers integrate it into everyday life. ...
Be the first to comment on "Microsoft Acquires VideoSurf"
Leave a Comment