Visual Data Media Services acquires Soho Digital Cinema

Visual Data Media Services has acquired digital cinema mastering and distribution specialist Soho Digital Cinema (SDC).

The acquisition comes a week after Visual Data was awarded a Queen’s Award for Enterprise, which recognises achievements in international trade.

The SDC acquisition means that Visual Data can now position itself as a one-stop-shop for all methods of digital content distribution, building out from its existing broadcast, streaming and VOD offerings to include cinema as well.

Visual Data said that customers of both companies can now use SDC’s D-Cinema services including Screenfast, its digital cinema cloud distribution platform, as well as having access to Visual Data’s range of media distribution services which are used by clients including Netflix, Amazon and iTunes.

The company will operate under the Visual Data brand, but the Screenfast platform will retain its name and will continue to be developed.

Symon Roue will continue to head up Visual Data in the UK, while SDC’s David Margolis has been appointed director of digital cinema. The SDC team will relocate to Visual Data’s UK facilities in west London.

“Visual Data and Soho Digital Cinema had worked together on several projects and we saw clear synergies between our two companies, with our complementary product and service offerings and adjacent or converging markets,” said Symon Roue, managing director of Visual Data Media Services.

Roue added: “The acquisition is a positive move for all of our customers, enabling them to master and distribute all deliverables from one place, significantly streamlining the distribution process while saving time and money.”

Financial information about the acquisition has not been disclosed.

Last week, Visual Data Media Services was awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise. The prestigious award is for British businesses and other organisations that excel at international trade, innovation or sustainable development.

Visual Data Media Service has preferred vendor status with platforms including Netflix and Amazon, which has played a major role in increasing its overseas sales. It also has international contracts with organisations such as Red Arrow Studios International.