Sony Acquires Netblender, Looks to Enhance Blu-ray Disc Creation Tools

Sony Creative Software, a division of Sony Corporation, has announced the buyout of Netblender, a company that develops a range of Blu-ray Disc creation tools. Netblender, which was founded in 2005, designs and develops “practical and professional Blu-ray technology solutions for the global BD production community.” Netblender has also developed the tools which allow iOS and Android apps to control TVs, Blu-ray players, and cable boxes. Netblender has had a wide reach in Blu-ray adoption, having worked on over 2,000 Blu-ray titles in 31 different countries.

“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.”

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. Details from the deal were not disclosed, though operations are expected to remain the same at Netblender till the buyout is complete.

After the jump, a letter from John Harrington, NetBlender CEO to the NetBlender community.

An open letter to the NetBlender Community:

We are pleased to announce today the sale of NetBlender’s Blu-ray business to Sony Creative Software. This is great news for our customers and for the Blu-ray industry because NetBlender and Sony Creative Software share the same passion for expanding Blu-ray adoption among independent production companies and post houses worldwide. The combination of NetBlender’s innovative products and Sony’s market leadership will be a powerful force for encouraging growth at all levels of the Blu-ray industry. You can read the entire press release here.

We value above all else the active worldwide community that has grown around NetBlender and our products. For NetBlender customers, the Sony Creative Software acquisition ensures the long term viability and growth of the DoStudio product line. Over the next few months the NetBlender website and Community Forum will be integrated with Sony Creative’s website. The DoStudio products will be sold and supported by Sony Creative Software along with their other professional Blu-ray tools. 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 portal will remain active and available on our website until the transition is complete.

I want to personally thank you for your support of NetBlender over the past six years and I look forward to seeing our products and customers thrive in the future.

Best regards,