Oracle has inked an agreement to acquire content storage systems developer Front Porch Digital. The deal is expected to close within 60 days; terms were not disclosed.
Front Porch COO and GM Rino Petricola (pictured) said Oracle has a keen interest, in particular, in its DIVArchive long term storage systems, which are largely targeted at the broadcast industry with clients including Discovery Communications and the BBC (and also have a legacy link to Oracle’s StorageTek line).
But this is a market that appears poised for massive growth. “Our products can be used to address industries such as government, defence and medical,” Petricola said. “We expect that with this acquisition we’ll be able to reach these other rich markets.”
While much is not yet determined, Petricola confirmed that plans are for Front Porch to continue to operate independently though Oracle is interested in integrating these assets into its larger business.
“It is clear this world is becoming more of an IT market,” he said. “Oracle has a number of soft applications – for example a DRM app and an audience analysis app – and could bring better solutions into the broadcast market.”
