Comcast has acquired Metrological, the Dutch technology company responsible for natively integrating apps including Netflix and YouTube into the cable operator’s X1 video platform.
Comcast and Metrological haven’t formally announced the deal or disclosed any of the terms. The pact was first reported out of the IBC Show in Amsterdam by analyst Colin Dixon. The companies have since confirmed the agreement.
Comcast told Light Reading that all Metrological employees will report to Steve Heeb, Comcast's VP and GM of licensing and strategic development. Heeb is also president and GM of RDK Management LLC
Metrological has been a key partner to RDK Management, the tech consortium managed by Comcast, Liberty Global and Charter Communications. RDK’s set-top box software stack has been competing with Android TV in the market for hybrid software platforms that give pay TV operators the ability to simultaneously deliver both managed and OTT services.
For its part, RDK Management lacked the ability to offer its customers an app store, a la Google Play, until Metrological built one for it. Metrological’s app store offers more than 300 OTT apps.
Rotterdam-based Metrological was founded in 2005 and has fewer than 50 employees.
