Bath-based data science, analysis and machine learning specialist The Filter, which was co-founded by musician Peter Gabriel, has been acquired by Dutch end-to-end video streaming company 24i for an undisclosed fee.
Launched in 2004 by the former Genesis lead singer and Martin Hopkins, along with William Palmer and Rhett Ryder who have since resigned, offers data-driven personalisation and recommendations to help consumers find and watch video content.
The Filter chief executive Damien Read will now become 24i’s senior vice-president of data products, and will continue to lead the data science team in Bath, whose clients include BBC Studio-owned UKTV Play in the UK.
The data science team at The Filter will work with 24i’s data team to further develop the firm’s data tools and products, including quality of service metrics, content usage and royalty reporting capabilities.
24i, which is owned by Aferian plc, was founded in 2009 by Martijn van Horssen and Hans Disch and now claims to be one of the leading front-end TV app developers in the world.
According to the company’s website, it has more than 200 staff and more than 250 clients in 100 countries, including Vodafone, Broadway HD, and Flow Sports.
Chief executive Dr Neale Foster said: “The Filter’s managed service is based on a ‘test, learn and refine’, artificial intelligence-based methodology that sets it apart from other off-the-shelf recommendation engines and analytics packages.
“We’re excited to bring this expertise in advanced, data-driven personalisation and recommendations into 24i’s modular offering.”
Gabriel, who is a director of nearly 20 other UK companies, said: “When we began with The Filter, a personalised recommendation engine was a very new concept and small innovative independent pioneers played a critical role in evolving what is now data science.
“This nascent industry is now an established part of media and, with 24i’s backing, The Filter’s fantastic data team will be able to make a difference to a much wider audience, improving the user experience for millions more consumers around the world.”
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