SeaChange Buys Social Media Analyst Timeline Labs

In the US, multi-screen software firm SeaChange International has acquired social media analysis specialist Timeline Labs for $14m in cash, $8m in SeaChage shares, and up to $2.5m more in performance-based stock.

California-based Timeline offers local broadcasters, local and national news organizations, cable news channels and others the ability to analyze social media messages in real-time, find and broadcast trends and insights, and measure viewing audience engagement across TV, mobile and PC.

As part of the deal, which is expected to close on February 2nd 2015, all Timeline Labs employees, including CEO Malcolm CasSelle and the senior leadership team, will join SeaChange. Jay Samit (pictured), SeaChange CEO, comments: 'The Timeline Labs platform will allow us to extend the social news paradigm to multi-screen television service providers, so they can easily launch ready-made and differentiated live or on-demand content packages tailored to the interests of their subscribers.'

Last week, FOX Television Stations, Tribune Media, and Univision announced they would be collaborating with Timeline on their NewCoin local TV audience measurement venture, to address what the partners describe as 'deficiencies' in local market television audience measurement.

Web sites: www.schange.com and www.timelinelabs.com .