NEW YORK and SAN MATEO, Calif.—GoPro, Inc. and Starman Optical, a privately held optical-photonics company, have announced a definitive merger agreement that will recapitalize the pioneering action camera-maker and help it expand into new markets.

GoPro has struggled financially in recent years and has said it was considering refocusing its businesses on defense tech.

The proposed transaction, which will see GoPro shareholders will receive an aggregate cash payment of $285 million, or $1.14 per share, will help recapitalize the company.

GoPro's outstanding debt of approximately $92 million will be repaid in full at closing, resulting in a clean, substantially debt-free balance sheet.

Over the past 24 years, GoPro has developed imaging solutions featuring innovative, advanced optics. It has amassed an associated IP portfolio of more than 2500 U.S. patents.

In announcing the deal, the two companies said that the merger intends to maximize the value of GoPro's IP and growth potential in consumer, commercial and defense markets by recapitalizing the company, strengthening its balance sheet, investing in growth and onshoring the manufacturing of products for strategic markets.

GoPro will remain a publicly listed company.

It also stressed that it will continue to fully support its existing consumer products and its subscription and cloud platform while investing in growth and a broader, diversified product roadmap.

Starman's U.S.-made optical transceivers are expected to be added to GoPro's portfolio, which will help the company expand into the large and rapidly growing market for AI infrastructure in optical transceivers.

The combined company also intends to leverage its IP, optics and imaging capabilities across defense, government, robotics and aerospace markets, building on demand for U.S.-made solutions.

"Advanced optics and imaging are essential to AI, national security, and the broader economy, yet much of the critical hardware supporting these technologies continues to be manufactured overseas," said Charles Tebele, CEO of Starman Holding. "The combination of GoPro's world-class optical expertise and intellectual property with Starman's advanced transceiver capabilities and U.S. manufacturing platform creates a unique opportunity. Together, we intend to bring production of these critical components back to the United States."

"We expect this merger to enable GoPro to grow across consumer, commercial and defense markets as a leading American imaging and optical solutions company, addressing important areas of national security related to cameras, optics and AI infrastructure. We're excited to combine with the Starman team to capitalize on this opportunity and play an important role in America's future," said Nicholas Woodman, founder and CEO of GoPro.

The transaction has been approved by GoPro's Board of Directors and by the Board of Starman. It is expected to close by year-end 2026, subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions, including approval by GoPro's stockholders.

Houlihan Lokey, Inc. is acting as financial advisor and provided a fairness opinion to GoPro, and Fenwick & West LLP is serving as legal counsel to GoPro.

SAN MATEO, Calif.—In a notable development for professionals using action cameras, GoPro has announced its new Hero12 Black camera, which the company says significantly raises the bar in the small, rugged, ultra-versatile action cameras sector. 

"Hero12 Black resets the bar for immersive life-capture," says GoPro CEO and Founder Nicholas Woodman. "Our new flagship camera is the culmination of GoPro's 21 years of experience and our passion for helping you capture and share your life in an immersive, dream-like way that makes you and your audience feel like you're right there again, reliving your favorite experiences in vivid detail."

The company reported that GoPro's newest flagship camera has an MSRP of $399.99 and that it features a number of improvements over the groundbreaking performance of its predecessor. Those include 2x longer runtimes thanks to a redesigned power management system, stunning high dynamic range (HDR) video in 5.3K and 4K resolution video, support for Bluetooth audio devices, including Apple AirPods and improved HyperSmooth 6.0 video stabilization, along with a number of other powerful new camera features that will make it attractive for professional sets while still affordable for consumers. 

Another noted capability is the new Max Lens Mod 2.0 accessory, which enables the market's widest 177° field of view at 4K resolution at 60 frames per second. 

Max Lens Mod 2.0 can capture video and photos in three field-of-view settings—Max Wide, Max SuperView and the all-new, hyper-immersive Max HyperView—fully exploiting Hero12 Black's extra-large 8:7 sensor to enable perspectives that are 36% wider when capturing widescreen video and 48% taller when capturing vertical video, when compared to Hero12 Black's standard lens. 

The company is billing these wide-angle perspectives as "market-leading" and said that they are ideal for capturing everything from "feels like you're there" first-person perspectives of your favorite sports and activities to dream-like immersion in natural settings when traveling or adventuring with friends and family outdoors. 

Max Lens Mod 2.0 features 2x more scratch resistant glass than its predecessor along with a durable hydrophobic lens coating that wicks water drops away.

Other key features include: 

• Wireless audio support for Apple AirPods and other Bluetooth® audio devices such as earbuds, headphones and microphones—great for vlogging, scene narration and issuing voice commands to control your Hero12 Black from a distance
• GP-Log with available LUTs for more control and color grading in post-production
• Wireless timecode sync an unlimited number of Hero12 Black cameras for easy multi-camera editing with Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premier and other leading editing apps
• Optimized encoding that delivers smaller file sizes with no compromise to image quality
• The Hero12 Black's updated user interface includes simplified controls plus a new Vertical Capture Mode that captures vertical 9:16 aspect ratio 4K video while the camera is mounted horizontally—perfect for sharing straight to vertically-oriented social channels.

GoPro is also expanding its software experience and GoPro subscriber benefits with the launch of its new Quik desktop app. 

Quik desktop will be available exclusively to GoPro subscribers at no additional charge. Quik desktop brings the speed and convenience of the Quik mobile app to desktop users, but with an expanded list of features and capabilities that take advantage of a desktop computer's processing power and screen size. Quik desktop and Quik mobile apps will sync with one another so that you can start an editing project on one app and seamlessly transition to the other for maximum convenience and flexibility. Quik desktop will be available for Mac on November 1 and Windows in Summer 2024.

Hero12 Black is available today for preorder on GoPro.com for $399.99 as well as Max Lens Mod 2.0 for $99.99, or $79.99 for GoPro subscribers. Both products will be available in stores worldwide on September 13.

LOS ANGELES—Multi-platform producer Roundtable Entertainment and the streaming company Cinedigm have announced that they are working with GoPro Inc. to develop a 24/7 free ad-supported TV GoPro Channel that is expected to start streaming in the spring of 2023.

The GoPro Channel will feature original programming curated from GoPro's extensive library of sports and lifestyle videos, including both professionally produced and user-generated content, as well as new series produced from GoPro content by Roundtable, the companies said. 

The GoPro Channel will join Cinedigm's extensive portfolio of over 30 streaming channels, which span several popular content genres dedicated to serving enthusiastic fan bases.

GoPro's catalog has generated more than 3 billion views and 10 million subscribers on YouTube. The new channel will be made available as a FAST channel across connected TV, mobile, web, and other third-party platforms.

"GoPro is known for harnessing the power of 'wow,' and this content will open up many advertising opportunities for like-minded brands,” explained Roundtable co-founder Griffin Gmelich said. 

"We're excited for Roundtable and Cinedigm to help us amplify this mission by expanding the reach of our content catalog to new audiences,” added Rick Loughery, vice president of global marketing and communications at GoPro stated.

SAN MATEO, Calif.—GoPro has introduced an Open GoPro API and updated firmware for its Hero9 camera, moves that will make it easier for third party developers to integrate Hero9 into their technologies and encourage the development of an action camera ecosystem. 

The Hero9 Black v1.6 firmware update will kick off support for Open GoPro. 

Using Open GoPro, companies will be able to develop applications that will allow users to control their GoPros via voice commands, smart watches and other platforms. 

With Open GoPro, developers have API access to such Hero9 Black features as wireless connectivity, camera command and control, camera status, camera preview, and SD card media review and transfer. 

GoPro reported that a number of companies have already incorporated Open GoPro. 

These include Amazfit smartwatches, which lets users wirelessly control the GoPro using the Amazfit watch touch display; Centurion Boats, which allows wireless control of the GoPro from the helm screen; Orqa FPV Goggles, where users can control a GoPro mounted on an FPV drone; and Pixellot sport broadcasting, which offers wirelessly control of GoPro cameras and the ability to manage the transfer of content via Pixellot’s mobile platform.

SAN MATEO, CALIF.—The Golden State Warriors just keep on winning. The new NBA champions were among the initial pilot partners that GoPro has selected to produce content using the new Fusion 5.2K spherical camera. The team took advantage by using the camera to help capture its championship parade.

Fusion

GoPro began taking applications in April for the pilot program that would see partners receive Fusion cameras so they could demonstrate the creative potential. GoPro says that it received more than 20,000 applicants. In addition to the Warriors, initial partners include USA Today Network, Fox Sports, AccuWeather, Digital Domain, Getty Images, Legend 3D, Rapid VR, RYOT and travel vlogger Louis Cole.

“We are excited to get Fusion into the hands of creative professionals, both to see the content they create and also to receive feedback that helps us refine the overall user experience for when we launch Fusion to a broader audience later this year,” said Nicholas Woodman, founder and CEO of GoPro.

GoPro is keeping the application process for the Fusion Pilot Program open, with the expectation that more pilot partners will be added later this summer.

Fusion is expected to see a limited commercial release by the end of 2017.

See what the Golden State Warriors have already done with the Fusion camera below.

WEDEMARK, GERMANY—Sennheiser debuted its new MKE 2 elements microphone at the 2017 NAB Show along with the announcement that the microphone is fully compatible with GoPro’s Hero4 Black and Silver cameras.

Based on the Sennheiser microphone, the MKE 2 is designed to work in any element. It works in snow, wind and can be used underwater for up to 30 minutes and a depth of one meter. The mic features a windshield that can reduce wind noise even when wet, elastic suspension to suppress structure-borne noise, and back cover for the GoPro Hero4 protective case that keeps the camera hermetically sealed.

The Senneheiser MKE 2 elements mic has obtained a “Works with GoPro” verification and is part of the GoPro Developer Program. One expected development Sennheiser and GoPro are currently working on is having the Sennheiser be compatible with the GoPro Hero 5 camera, though no date was announced as to when that will be finalized.

The MKE 2 elements mic for GoPro Hero 4 cameras are now available.

SAN MATEO, CALIF.—GoPro has integrated Periscope into its first-person video cameras to enable instant live streaming to the nine-month-old platform. GoPro said its Hero4 Black and Silver users could now broadcast live to Periscope directly from their cameras. The integration allows Periscope users to toggle between broadcasting from an iPhone camera to their GoPro, directly from the phone screen, GoPro said.

GroPro likened the setup to a “production switchboard,” allowing users to flip between two different camera angles. It said GoPro will still record locally on the micro SD card while broadcasting through Periscope. GoPro said that the Periscope broadcast functionality is available only on iOS 8.2 on iPhone models 5s 6 and 6+, but viewable from “any platform.” 

The live Periscope broadcasts can be shared directly to Twitter’s home timeline, enabling GoPro users and Periscope broadcasters to expand their reach to their Twitter followers. GoPro will be highlighting the partnership at this week's X Games in Aspen, Colo.

LOS ANGELES—With GoPro cameras capturing personal action videos, Roland’s recent announcement of the new WEARPRO mic looks to provide immersive first person soundtracks. Compatible with GoPro’s HERO3, HERO3+ and HERO4 cameras, WEARPRO supports both binaural and standard stereo recording.

Roland WEARPRO Microphone with GoPro camera

WEARPRO’s binaural audio capture technique is able to accurately recreate the way we hear sounds in the environment by placing microphones at each ear. This creates a 3D audio experience with sounds coming from a 360-degree space.

To use the WEARPRO mic, the user wears the microphones like earphones and plugs the cable into the mini-USB port on the HERO camera. The mic is powered by the GoPro; no need for batteries or external power.

The WEARPRO also comes with two clip mounts to attach the mics anywhere. Two windscreens and four rubber sleeve pairs to fit kid and adult ear sizes are also included.