In a deal that brings more consolidation to the multiscreen video app sector, Accedo and Digiflare have inked an agreement to merge.

Financial terms were not announced, but the combined company will keep the Accedo brand and will be led by Michael Lantz, Accedo’s current CEO. Fredrik Andersson, SVP of business development at Accedo; and David George and Mano Kulasingam, Digiflare’s co-CEOs, will take on senior leadership positions within the merged company.

The deal combines two companies that are focused on multiscreen video services and apps.

Accedo, a Sweden-based maker of multiplatform publishing systems and user interface products, was founded in 2004, and has a customer base that includes Netflix, NBCU, Spotify, Fox, Disney, Telefonica and HBO, among others.

In June, Accedo announced it has secured up to $10 million in additional capital to use toward growth initiatives and to expand product development while also enabling earlier investors in the company to exit. Accedo is also a licensee of the Reference Design Kit, the preintegrated software stack for video and data gateways being managed by Comcast, Liberty Global and Charter Communications (via its acquisition of Time Warner Cable).

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Toronto-based Digiflare was founded in 2008, and has a customer roster that includes Bell Media, PBS Kids, Rogers Communications, Charter Communications, Univision, Hearst, Verizon, CW Seed, PBS, Starz, and Vimeo. Of recent note, Digiflare announced it would integrate Penthera’s Cache&Carry managed video downloading platform with its cloud-based video app publishing platform, Videa.

“Accedo and Digiflare share the same vision for our industry and a similar entrepreneurial history,” Lantz said in a statement, noting that the companies have “highly-complementary products, a strong market position, and an impressive portfolio of customers and partners, who will directly benefit from our combined video experience solution offering.”

Expanding the reach of its managed video downloading technology, Penthera said its Cache&Carry has been integrated with Digiflare’s Videa cloud-powered video app publishing platform.

Penthera’s download-to-go-software enables consumers to watch TV shows and movies without the need for an Internet connection. Video will also tie in Fastplay, a feature that, Penthera says,  enables mobile video app users to stream videos the instant they hit play without start-up buffering. 

The agreement could help Penthera secure beachheads with more distributors and programmers. Digiflare’s announced customers include Bell Media, PBS Kids, Rogers Communications, Charter Communications, Univision, Hearst, Verizon, CW Seed, PBS, Starz, Vimeo, and shomi, the multiscreen VOD venture from Rogers and Shaw Communications that will be shutting down on November 30.

Comcast, Charter, Time Warner Cable (now part of Charter), Starz, and Corus Entertainment are among Penthera’s announced customers.

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“We partner with industry-leading infrastructure and software service companies, like Penthera, to support each of our customers’ unique needs, always delivering an improved mobile video experience,” said David George, Co-CEO at Digiflare. 

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“Digiflare provides a premier video app experience for some of the biggest content creators and video service providers in North America. We are always looking for partnerships that expand and improve the end user’s viewing experience: that’s why this integration with Digiflare makes so much sense,” added Michael Willner, Penthera’s CEO.

Canada’s DHX Television has taken the wraps off the Family Channel App, a four-in-one offering that features programming from Family Channel, Family CHRGD, Family Jr. and  F2N on mobile devices and Web browsers.

The authenticated app for Family subs can access more than 900 episodes across 40 series, as well as live feeds of all four channels. Users can stream full-length episodes and download them for offline viewing. In addition to desktops and PCs, DHX worked with Digiflare to develop versions of the app for iOS and Android smartphones and tablets

In concert with the launch, the Family Channel App is offering the series premiere of Raising Expectations, Family’s new sitcom starring Molly Ringwald and Jason Priestley ahead of its scheduled May 8 linear TV debut.

“Our existing offering of top quality, award-winning programming is further enhanced by the Family Channel App, as it makes programming suitable for the entire family available in one place creating a premier destination for family entertainment,” said Joe Tedesco, GM and SVP of DHX Television, in a statement. “Giving viewers further flexibility to watch the Family Channel content they love whenever they want and through the screen that best suits their lifestyle not only adds value but provides a customizable viewing experience that subscribers can take advantage of.” 

PBS Kids said it has launched an app for the Xbox One console that features on-demand access to full-length shows and clips from shows such as Wild Kratts, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Dinosaur Train and Web-original series Oh Noah! and Fizzy’s Lunch Lab.

The Xbox One app, developed by PBS Kids and Digiflare, features an “Inline Video Player”  that will continuously auto-play video content within any menu screen.  Digiflare noted that the new app is powered by its Videa system, which also powers PBS Kids for Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8.

PBS has also developed versions of the app for the Roku platform, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, the Google Chromecast adapter, and for devices that run the new Android TV operating system.

“PBS KIDS is committed to offering inspiring, engaging media content to all children on as many platforms as possible, and we know that families are accessing their favorite PBS KIDS programs on air and through a variety of digital experiences,” said Sara DeWitt, vice president,  PBS Kids Digital, in a statement. “PBS KIDS delivers an average of 392 million streams per month across digital platforms*; extending our presence to Xbox One will help us continue to reach increasingly more families with programming that sparks children’s curiosity and helps them reach their potential.”