Imagine Communications Acquired by Lumine Group

NAB
(Image credit: Imagine Communications)

TORONTO—Lumine Group said it has acquired Imagine Communications Holdings Inc. for an undisclosed amount. Dallas-based Imagine Communications is a global provider of video connectivity solutions, channel origination software and hardware, and AI-enabled advanced advertising solutions. Lumine Group, with a market capitalization of $3.89 billion, is a publicly traded Canadian company that specializes in acquiring and growing vertical market software companies specifically within the communications and media sector.

“Imagine Communications is an important addition to Lumine’s growing Media ecosystem,” said Tony Garcia, chief operating officer at Lumine Group. “The business will provide origination to our already extensive video processing capabilities, while complementing and expanding TV monetization with its Landmark Sales AI-enabled advertising product, among others.

“Consistent with Lumine’s decentralized operating approach, Imagine Communications will continue to operate as an independent business, and as a buy-and-hold forever owner, we are committed to giving them the stability to keep building on their depth of expertise in the industry,“ Garcia added. “We look forward to welcoming this global team and its customers to Lumine, to share our best practices and to learn from their decades of industry insight.”

Steve Reynolds, current Imagine CEO will continue to lead the division.

Steve Reynolds

Steve Reynolds (Image credit: AIMS)

“We are excited to become part of the Lumine Group global media ecosystem,” Reynolds said. “Lumine Group’s acquisition approach and buy-and-hold philosophy provide us with a solid foundation on which we can continue to innovate, while providing certainty to our customers and employees. Operating as an autonomous business within Lumine Group, we have a clear path and excellent support to achieve our vision and serve our customers’ most critical needs.”

Imagine was born amid the ashes of the broadcast division of Harris Corp., created when the company spun off its transmission business, rebranded as GatesAir (acquired by Thomson Broadcast in 2022) and its software and networking division, which assumed the new name “Imagine Communications” in 2014.

This acquisition follows Lumine’s purchase of the video network business of U.K.-based Synamedia, a provider of video software technology to broadcasters and media production companies.

Tom Butts

Tom has covered the broadcast technology market for the past 25 years, including three years handling member communications for the National Association of Broadcasters followed by a year as editor of Video Technology News and DTV Business executive newsletters for Phillips Publishing. In 1999 he launched digitalbroadcasting.com for internet B2B portal Verticalnet. He is also a charter member of the CTA's Academy of Digital TV Pioneers. Since 2001, he has been editor-in-chief of TV Tech (www.tvtech.com), the leading source of news and information on broadcast and related media technology and is a frequent contributor and moderator to the brand’s Tech Leadership events.