Kasenna

Kasenna Inc. operated as a key player in the IP video market, originating as a spin-off from Silicon Graphics in 2000. Based in Mountain View, California, the company focused on developing and providing video-on-demand (VOD) and IPTV software solutions for broadband service providers, including telecom and cable operators. Its business model centered on enabling these service providers to deliver multi-play offerings, such as broadcast TV, VOD, and network-based personal video recording (NPVR), thereby creating new revenue streams and reducing subscriber churn. Kasenna's technology was built on open standards, which allowed for greater scalability and interoperability compared to proprietary systems.

The company's product suite was comprehensive, featuring the MediaBase video server for VOD and NPVR, vFusion for managing server clusters, LivingRoom IPTV middleware, and a content delivery network server. In 2004, Kasenna launched TotalTV, a turnkey IPTV solution that integrated video distribution infrastructure, applications, and content from major studios into a single offering. This positioned them to support major clients like Charter Communications, Fastweb, and SaskTel. Over its lifetime, Kasenna raised significant capital, securing a total of $48M to $90M from investors including Intel Capital, Sun Microsystems, Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein, and Alloy Ventures, which fueled its international expansion and product development.

A significant milestone in Kasenna's history was its acquisition by Espial Group, an Ottawa-based IPTV middleware company, in July 2008. This move was part of a broader consolidation trend within the then-fragmented IPTV middleware market. Espial itself was later acquired by Enghouse Systems in May 2019. The technologies developed by Kasenna and later Espial continued to be integrated and developed within Enghouse's portfolio, serving the global digital TV market.

Keywords: Kasenna, IPTV solutions, video on demand, VOD, broadband service providers, IP video delivery, MediaBase, Espial Group, Enghouse Systems, video server, middleware, multi-play offering, content delivery network, streaming media infrastructure, network personal video recorder, NPVR, telecom video services, cable video technology, open standards video