DTS Chairman/CEO Jon Kirchner, left, was interviewed at the fall Radio Show by NAB President/CEO Gordon Smith.
DTS Inc., continuing to seek a higher profile in broadcast radio technology, is acquiring software developer Arctic Palm Technology Inc., a Canadian company founded by Stu Buck 19 years ago. Terms were not announced.
Radio broadcasters are learning a lot about DTS in relatively short order, though the firm has been around since 1993. Just a year ago, DTS announced it would acquire HD Radio developer iBiquity Digital; and just a few weeks ago came news that DTS itself will be acquired by Tessera Technologies. Chairman/CEO Jon Kirchner had a high profile at the fall Radio Show in September.
DTS calls itself a provider of high-definition audio solutions. It sees in Arctic Palm a radio tech supplier with a portfolio of products and an extensive installed base. “Arctic Palm has extensive experience in broadcast studio operations and services with deep knowledge in broadcast metadata and platform integration to develop customized media solutions software,” it said in the announcement, adding that some 2,700 stations have licensed its software.
The appeal includes Buck’s work with digital radio and data offerings. “Over the last decade, Arctic Palm has developed a number of solutions to support the broad range of HD Radio Advanced Services and most recently has been a critical partner in the Public Radio Satellite Services MetaPub initiative to enhance the public radio listener experience,” DTS stated.
DTS Chairman/CEO Jon Kirchner put his overall goal this way in the announcement: “We are committed to enabling the delivery of a robust entertainment experience to listeners anywhere, any time, on any device.” He said the Arctic Palm buy is a good fit because, as the auto industry works to build the digital dash, broadcasters need to enhance their service offerings. “DTS will continue to leverage its resources to deliver a global service combining broadcast and IP-delivered content.”
Buck, founder and CEO of Arctic Palm, told Radio World he expects to stay with the company. “I’ll be with the business for some time to come. Broadcasting is constantly changing with new and exciting advancements every day and I can’t see not being a part of it.”
