Macrovision acquires All Media Guide

Copy-protection specialist seeks to expand in digital distribution

By Ned Randolph -- Video Business, 11/6/2007

NOV. 6 | Data security specialist Macrovision has agreed to buy All Media Guide Holdings, a private company that owns content-recognition software to identify millions of songs and videos on the Internet.

The deal, which is expected to be finalized by the end of the year, is worth $82 million.

The move is part of Macrovision’s strategy to drive the shift to digital entertainment, president and CEO Fred Amoroso said today.

“AMG is a leading provider of descriptive content specifically covering music, video and games,” said Amoroso. “They have a high caliber customer list of media player providers, Web portals, retailers and consumer electronics device manufacturers and will help in further expanding our enabling middleware solutions.”

An auspicious day for Macrovision, the Santa Clara-based company also reported that its net income in the third quarter, ended Sept. 30, nearly doubled over the year to $14.1 million this year, up from $7.2 million in 2006. Revenue for the quarter was $76.8 million, up 32%.

All Media Guide, founded in 1991, has metadata on more than 11 million song tracks, 1 million unique albums, millions of compact discs, more than 500,000 cover images, 8 million streaming sound files and tens of millions of relational links.

Macrovision said AMG data also is intended to strongly appeal to its video content customers, which include Hollywood studios.

“Metadata is a critical component of media commerce, and demand for rich descriptive data such as reviews, album art, artist biographies and accompanying editorials is growing quickly,” said Karl Ryser Jr., president of AMG. “It takes years to accumulate a high-quality database of metadata, and AMG has become an essential partner for its customers. Joining together with Macrovision puts us in an even better position to help more consumer electronics manufacturers, retailers and content owners collaborate with customers to create outstanding online media experiences.”

With thousands of musicologists, film historians and game specialists contributing over the years, AMG has created one of the industry’s cleanest, most in-depth database of information and original editorial content, Macrovision said.

“In an era when consumers have many choices, cell phone manufacturers, electronics device makers and service providers want to make video and all other entertainment content quick and easy to find,” Amoroso said. “AMG plays a critical role in enhancing the overall consumers’ user experience in searching, discovering, purchasing and enjoying entertainment media.”