Thomson has gained instant entry into the world of PC-based independent feature film and corporate/industrial editing by signing an agreement to acquire the assets of Canopus, a Japan-based manufacturer of high-definition desktop video editing software. The value of the transaction is approximately $109 million.
The deal puts Thomson in competition with such NLE systems as Avid Technlogy’s Xpress, Adobe’s Premiere, Leitch’s Velocity and Sony’s Vegas software. Grass Valley, a business unit within Thomson, now offers its NewsEdit NLE system for digital news production.
Designed to strengthen Thomson’s Grass Valley product offering, the acquisition provides the company with a new PC-based, multi-format digital and HD video editing system offering, called Edius. Canopus also offers video encoding/decoding technology, and has a multichannel, multi-location video delivery solution that uses standard IP networks and display devices in enterprise-type applications such as digital signage for advertising and VOD applications for in-house video systems.
Thomson said IPTV and Mobile TV are two technology trends that are driving its growth and the Canopus acquisition in particular. The Canopus brand will be maintained on most products.
