Irish television software firm Emuse Technologies has raised €6m in venture capital funding from a consortium of international investors. The news follows the signing of a major long-term deal with Welsh broadcaster S4C.
Emuse Technologies, which was established by serial entrepreneurs Patrick Rainsford and Peter Conlon, enables broadcasters to make interactive programming. The company’s customers include ITV and Channel 5.
The company employs 70 people and has a worldwide team of software, media, business and technology experts with offices in Dublin, London, Los Angeles and Tokyo.
Some €5m of the funding came from clients of the Isle of Man financial services firm IFG with the remainder coming from investors in the UK, Ireland, Liechtenstein and Bermuda.
In terms of the deal with S4C, Emuse will work with S4C to enable interactive content. From creation to deployment, Emuse will employ its Modelstream software to enhance S4C’s programme schedule.
“We are very pleased to be involved with S4C through the entire interactive process,” says Patrick Rainsford, CEO of Emuse Technologies. “Emuse is already working with many of the major UK broadcasters and this deal with S4C is a clear indication to the market that interactive content is growing and here to stay.”
The deal includes the supply of the full Modelstream software suite, the creation of interactive applications from digital text, subtitles, a content management system to enable complex synchronised voting applications and a full support structure. Viewers will be able to launch such services through an Emuse-developed interactive service menu.
“S4C is committed to producing a full range of high-quality Welsh-language programming. We’re delighted to be working with Emuse, that has a strong track record of deploying interactive applications across the UK,” says Arshad Rasul, director of engineering and technology. “The S4C total offering will now be in line with the most advanced broadcasters in the world and this is something of which we are proud.”
By John Kennedy
