Cisco/NDS, Google/Motorola acquisitions “upend” middleware market

Editor | 11-07-2012

They may have represented great business for the purchasers but the respective acquisitions of NDS and Motorola Home by Cisco and Google respectively have disrupted the TV middleware market, a new study note from ABI Research argues.

In the Research’s Video SW Middleware and DRM report, the analyst goes as far as to say that the TV middleware market is in a “massive state of upheaval” as Cisco’s bid for NDS waits to close, expected early August 2012, and while it says Google has yet to give a clear direction for its recently acquired Motorola Home business unit.

In addition, it argues that the two aforementioned acquisitions, together with the increasing role of traditional IPTV vendors, such as Viaccess Orca, formerly Orca Interactive, point the way to a future where the middleware provider offers an open software platform with key features, while operators can innovate experiences using common software techniques. It predicts that middleware companies will follow the system integrator model, where they look to bring in best of class technologies and focus on integration rather than innovation.

“Operators are reluctant to significantly change direction with the current uncertainty, except where they decide to bring middleware development in-house,” according to Sam Rosen, practice director, TV & video at ABI Research.

Looking forward, ABI predicts that cable operators will be upgrading middleware platforms to support the migration to IP video within the home – slowly transitioning away from legacy QAM modulation while, cable, satellite, and IPTV platform operators worldwide invest in multiscreen or TV Everywhere capabilities. “More online-savvy companies, especially Comcast-owned thePlatform, have been offering solutions, displacing spending from traditional middleware companies,” Rosen added.