Civolution watermarking unit acquired by Kantar Media

Civolution has reached agreement to transfer its audio watermarking unit to audience measurement company Kantar Media.  This transaction, which is scheduled to close in Q4 2014, will enable Civolution to focus on two key growth markets — media protection and media data intelligence.

Civolution’s audio watermarking technology is is deployed in hundreds of TV channels worldwide for the purpose of audience measurement and second screen synchronisation. The watermarking unit will be transferred under the leadership of Jean-Michel Masson.
The deal will strengthen Kantar Media’s audience measurement technologies and open up new opportunities around second screen activation for the firm. The acquisition will build on Kantar Media’s global presence and activities in digital audience measurement across all media in 60+ countries.

“We have long admired the expertise and skills of Jean-Michel and his team,” commented Richard Asquith, Global CEO, Kantar Media Audiences. “In joining Kantar Media, they will strengthen our suite of technology to measure audiences for content across all devices in all formats.”
Civolution will now focus on two key strategic business areas, organised in two separate business units: NexGuard Forensic Watermarking for protecting both professional and consumer streaming and download services, and device integrations; and Teletrax TV Network Services, leveraging Civolution’s broadcast monitoring infrastructure to deliver on the promise of the fast-increasing adoption of TV synced advertisements and a wide array of data triggers and broadcast analytics services.