Cisco buys BNI Video in TV Everywhere play

In a deal that could help it sell TV Everywhere video products to cable operators, Cisco (Nasdaq: CSCO) agreed to acquire Boxborough, Mass.-based BNI Video for $99 million in cash.

BNI makes video products that offer back-office and content delivery network capabilities. Cisco said it'll use BNI to improve the capabilities of its Videoscape TV platform, which allows cable MSOs to deliver video to any device connected to an IP network, including set-tops, mobile phones and tablet computers.

Considering BNI's investors include Comcast's (Nasdaq: CMCSA) Comcast Ventures subsidiary and Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC), it's a safe bet that Cisco will see BNI's products deployed by the nation's two largest cable MSOs.

"Time Warner Cable invested early in BNI Video, as it brought a unique software platform to market that addresses the back-office complexities of delivering TV Everywhere services," Time Warner Cable CTO Mike LaJoie said in Thursday's announcement from Cisco. "Combining forces with Cisco presents an opportunity to take video service providers to the next level with Internet video, helping to manage networks more efficiently to deliver advanced TV entertainment experiences to consumers."

Cisco's acquisition of BNI follows recent deals it struck to acquire ExtendMedia and Inlet Technologies, which were also focused on expanding its Videoscape portfolio. Cisco said it plans to integrate BNI employees into its Service Provider Technology Group after the deal closes.

For more:
- See Cisco release

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