Accenture has acquired the software and skills of Nokia Siemens Networks IPTV business. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

The newly-acquired IPTV software, assets and capabilities will be integrated with the Accenture Video Solution – a software product and a suite of services that enables companies to launch new over-the-top TV and services quickly and economically while reducing the initial costs of IT and infrastructure set-up – to create the industry’s most comprehensive, feature-rich video software and services platform currently available for video service providers and their subscribers.

The acquisition adds key IPTV skills and experience to Accenture’s existing over-the-top video capabilities, enabling Accenture to provide end-to-end technology integration services to any vendor for any video platform. Accenture will be able to help clients provide end users with a dynamic and interactive video experience with virtually any video content, in any format, across every network, on any device – from smart phones and tablets to personal computers and television sets.

Regency Resources announces the signing of a binding Letter of Intent outlining plans to seek a merger with Digitally Distributed Acquisition Corporation in order to develop a media based business offering an in-depth portfolio of content for Internet TV distribution.

Martin W. Greenwald, former CEO of Image Entertainment and the CEO of DDAC, signed the binding letter of intent with Regency Resources aimed at merging the two companies. The business combination will target the distribution of content in the rapidly expanding internet broadcast TV market. Greenwald has been a pioneer in the media distribution sector for over 30 years and believes that a move to internet television is a perfect culmination of a career spent bringing media to a viewing public in the most advanced way possible.

Loton has signed a non-binding letter of intent to acquire the FilmOn.TV Networks, which holds a License and Franchise Agreement for The Americas from FilmOn.com, the internet-based, high-definition television IPTV service provider with properties in the U.S. and Europe. The letter of intent is subject to due diligence and negotiation of a definitive acquisition agreement, and certain other conditions, and is exclusive to Loton for 60 days. If the transaction is completed, Loton will merge with FilmOn.

FilmOn delivers high-quality subscription-based television services to IP-enabled devices including TVs, set-top boxes, PCs, mobile phones, and tablets across a proprietary delivery platform connected to datacenters in London, Amsterdam, Geneva, New York and Los Angeles.

DISH Network announced that it was selected as the winning bidder in the bankruptcy court auction for substantially all of the assets of Blockbuster, Inc. DISH Network's winning bid was valued at approximately $320 million. After certain adjustments are made at closing of the transaction, including adjustments for available cash and inventory, DISH Network expects to pay approximately $228 million in cash to acquire Blockbuster at the closing which is expected to occur in the second quarter of 2011.

Motorola Mobility announces that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Dreampark, a leading IPTV software provider based in Norrkoping, Sweden. The acquisition is expected to close in the second quarter of 2011. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Dreampark's software portfolio maximizes operator flexibility and performance by taking advantage of the powers of open standards, such as HTML and scalable vector graphics, which, when combined with comprehensive software development kits, allows operators to obtain full control of their television portals for complete customization. The Dreampark portfolio is expected to be integrated into the Motorola Medios service management software suite.

Open IPTV Forum and Broadcast Mobile Convergence Forum are delighted to announce the plans to join forces and merge the activities of bmcoforum into the OIPF.

This will result in a strong single entity with broad representation and influence across the fixed and mobile broadband industries, as the two bodies have each established a leading position in their respective spheres of activity. The merged activities will combine and optimize the resources and efforts of the leading organizations engaged in an effective standardization of mass market services and devices.

EchoStar has acquired assets of Utah-based Move Networks, the technology innovator delivering advanced solutions for large scale streaming of quality video on the Internet.

"We're pleased to bring aboard the talents and proficiencies in adaptive streaming and IPTV from Move Networks which will enable us to expand our portfolio of advanced television technologies serving cable, satellite, telcos and IPTV video providers," said Mike Dugan, president and CEO of EchoStar Corporation.

UTStarcom has closed a previously announced transaction with Stage Smart Limited. Under the terms of the transaction, UTStarcom acquired a 75% interest in Stage Smart for US$ 30 million. The total consideration UTStarcom paid has two parts: 1) US$20 million in cash to Stage Smart in exchange for preferred stock. These funds will be used as working capital by Stage Smart. 2) 4,473,272 shares of UTStarcom's common stock issued to Smart Frontier Holdings Limited, Stage Smart's sole shareholder. In exchange for this two part consideration, UTStarcom owns a majority of the outstanding ordinary shares and all of the preferred stock of Stage Smart.

Global Crossing has acquired global video services provider Genesis Networks, an innovator in high-performance, rich-media and video-based solutions serving the world's major broadcasters, producers and aggregators of specialized programming. Global Crossing paid aggregate consideration of approximately $27 million, including $15 million in connection with the repayment of existing debt.

The market for these services is growing. Industry research firm Infonetics Research forecasts that worldwide revenue for video services, including IPTV, cable video and satellite video services, will top $250 billion in 2014. And, according to the Visual Networking Index, an industry benchmark report produced by Cisco, 3D and HD Internet video will comprise 46 percent of consumer Internet video traffic by 2014.

KIT digital has acquired privately-held Brickbox Digital Media along with its international subsidiaries and affiliates. All currency figures below are in U.S. dollars. Brickbox Digital Media is one of Europe's leading providers of traditional and next-generation digital video asset management solutions. The company serves as an intermediary between content owners and distributors, offering products and services that include mezzanine file management, localization, digital cinema mastering, and authoring of media for replication. Brickbox uses order scale across regions to realize cost efficiencies for a global client base, which also requires outsourced replication, packaging, and distribution to the physical point of sale. Brickbox primarily serves European distributors out of its Prague headquarters and back-office operations in Sofia, Bulgaria, with sales and account management offices in Los Angeles, London and several locations in Central and Eastern Europe. Brickbox manages its business through international subsidiaries and affiliates, such as International Digital Management in the U.S., in order to comply with local employment and content rights regulations.

Concurrent is accelerating its multi-screen video delivery and monetization strategy through the acquisition of key technology assets from TellyTopia, one of the world's first companies to bring user-generated and Internet hosted video directly to TV over service providers' existing network infrastructures. TellyTopia's patent-pending, cloud-based, online video platform becomes part of Concurrent's multi-screen portfolio and further extends the company's leadership in multi-screen video delivery, advertising and media data management.

BCE has agreed to acquire 100% of CTV, the Canadian leader in specialty television, digital media, conventional TV and radio broadcasting. The transaction gives Bell full ownership of Canada's best media assets to enhance the growth of Bell's TV, wireless and online services for years to come.

Bell currently owns a 15% equity position in CTV and will acquire the remaining 85% for $1.3 billion in equity value from The Woodbridge Company Limited, the Toronto-based holding company of the Thomson family; Ontario Teachers Pension Plan; and Torstar Corporation. Including the value of Bell's present stake, the transaction has an equity value of $1.5 billion. Together with $1.7 billion in proportionate debt, the total transaction value is $3.2 billion. The purchase price represents a multiple of 10x proportionate EBITDA, comparable with similar recent media-industry transactions. In a separate transaction, Woodbridge will acquire ownership of the Globe and Mail, in which Bell will continue to retain a 15% equity position.

Pace and 2Wire announce that the companies have reached an agreement under which Pace proposes to acquire 2Wire for cash consideration of $475 million. The consideration includes 2Wire's balance sheet cash at closing, expected to be approximately $55 million.

Neil Gaydon, Chief Executive Officer of Pace plc, commented:

"This acquisition will strengthen our Americas business, extending Pace's US market coverage with entry into the tier one telco market. We have built a strong position in the US with cable and satellite operators and 2Wire, with its expertise in the broadband residential gateway market, will enable us to address a full range of US operator requirements. 2Wire's software and gateway expertise will further drive development of our home entertainment convergence strategy. The transaction introduces deep client relationships with important customers including AT&T and further develops our platform to deliver ongoing sustainable growth."

Frontier Communication announces that its pending acquisition of local Verizon Communications operations in 14 states has received approval from the Federal Communications Commission. The transaction has now received all necessary regulatory approvals, including regulatory approval in nine states and approval to transfer control of local cable TV franchises to Frontier for the FiOS markets in Oregon and Washington. Frontier and Verizon are completing the other conditions to closing and expect the transaction to close on July 1, 2010.

KIT digital has executed a definitive agreement to acquire privately-held Benchmark Broadcast Systems based in Singapore. (All currency figures below are reported in U.S. dollars.)

“Benchmark was a choice acquisition for us in a number of ways, and one which we have been working on for some time,” said KIT digital’s chairman and CEO, Kaleil Isaza Tuzman. “This acquisition demonstrates our commitment to the Asian markets and our determination to be the leader in video asset management in the BRIC markets. It also represents an extension to our existing IPTV systems integration capabilities—which support our larger-scale software implementations with broadcasters and network operators.”