BlackArrow, the dynamic ad insertion company being acquired by Cross MediaWorks, will look to hit more targets in Europe via a strategic partnership with Telestream, a maker of video transcoding and workflow automation platforms.
The agreement, they said, aims to simplify the process for pay TV providers and broadcasters in Europe and other international markets to monetize VOD programming. Telestream recently launched VOD producer DAI, which prepares VOD assets and metadata info, including ad-breaks. Those functions will be tied to BlackArrow’s Advanced Advertising System for pre-, post- and mid-roll VOD ad insertion.
Across the pond, BlackArrow is already working with Virgin Media, the U.K.-based operator now owned by Liberty Global. BlackArrow, which set up shop in London about a year ago, also works with Time Warner Cable, Comcast, Charter Communications, Bright House Networks, and Rogers Communications.
“There is an increasing interest from pay TV providers and broadcasters in Europe to monetize time-shifted and multiscreen content,” said Chris Hock, SVP, business development and strategic partnerships at BlackArrow, in a statement. “By connecting the BlackArrow and Telestream solutions, we are able to significantly streamline the operational processes for broadcasters to prepare VOD content and dynamically insert ads in it as it plays back on a pay TV provider’s service.”
