Sony Creative Software Announces Acquisition of NetBlender

MADISON, Wis., Oct. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Creative Software, a global provider of professional video editing, music creation and optical disc authoring solutions, today announced it is acquiring NetBlender, a leading developer of Blu-ray Disc™ creation tools. Through the agreement, Sony Creative Software will acquire NetBlender's DoStudio product line of authoring applications to expand its current portfolio of Blu-ray Disc software products which currently includes DVD Architect™ and Blu-print®. The DoStudio product line perfectly complements Sony Creative Software's existing lineup and is ideal for users in post-production facilities, news organizations, educational institutions, corporate training facilities, cable TV outlets, Hollywood studios and for independent film producers who are looking to acquire affordably priced, high-value solutions.  

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"Many Blu-ray Disc authoring tools that are priced at the prosumer level have very limited feature sets compared to enterprise or studio level applications. The DoStudio line of products bridges the gap between these platforms by offering access to many of the Blu-ray special features that provide comprehensive mastering functionality at a more reasonable price structure," said Brad Reinke, Senior Vice President, Sony Creative Software. "The acquisition of NetBlender will allow us to continue to deliver industry-standard tools that address these issues, as well as having the resources to offer new capabilities such as Blu-ray 3D and Custom BD-J within this new product line. We look forward to working with and supporting NetBlender's loyal customers who have come to rely on these solutions for their multimedia production needs."

Based in Alexandria, Va., NetBlender established itself as an innovator in Blu-ray Disc tools and has garnered a strong professional authoring customer base spanning 31 countries. NetBlender's products have produced more than 2,000 retail Blu-ray Disc titles to date.

"NetBlender and Sony Creative Software share the same passion for expanding Blu-ray adoption among independent production companies and post houses worldwide," said John Harrington, CEO of NetBlender. "The combination of NetBlender's innovative products and Sony's market leadership will be a powerful force for encouraging growth in the Blu-ray industry."

Sony Creative Software and NetBlender will continue to provide customer service and technical support throughout the transition. NetBlender's current resources, products, case studies, manuals and community portals will remain active and available on the company's website until the acquisition is complete.

About NetBlender

NetBlender (www.netblender.com) was founded in 2005 by a team of DVD industry veterans and interactive media producers with particular expertise in the area of network-connected convergent media. The company designs and develops practical and professional Blu-ray technology solutions for the global BD production community. In 2006, NetBlender was nominated for the prestigious Advanced Media Technology Emmy® for its work on PBS' "The Cultivated Life: Thomas Jefferson and Wine." In 2009, NetBlender revolutionized the Blu-ray Disc and Smartphone industry by introducing BD Touch technology, which allows consumers to control TVs, Blu-ray players, and cable boxes with their Apple® and Android® handheld devices.  

About Sony Creative Software

Sony Creative Software inspires artistic expression with its award-winning line of products for digital video, audio, and music production, as well as industry-leading technology for DVD production and Blu-ray Disc™ authoring. Sound Forge™ Pro, ACID™ Pro, and Vegas™ Pro software have defined digital content creation for a generation of creative professionals. These signature product lines continue to advance media production by providing powerful, accessible tools. Today, there is a Sony Creative Software application for every level of expertise, including a full line of consumer software based on the company's professional applications. In addition, Sony Creative Software produces the extensive Sony® Sound Series collection of royalty-free loops and samples, Sony Pictures Sound Effects Series exclusive sound effects, and Vision Series video creation assets. Further, the company provides the industry-leading tools for enterprise-level Blu-ray Disc™ authoring: Blu-code™ encoder, Dualstream 3D™ MVC encoder, Z Depth™ 3D subtitle editing application, and Blu-print® software. The company's customers span the globe and include professionals in the film, television, video game, and recording industries, as well as students, educators, and hobbyists. For more information about professional and consumer products, visit www.sonycreativesoftware.com.

SOURCE Sony Creative Software