Samsung acquires web TV firm Boxee

Samsung has acquired US and Israel-based web TV service Boxee in a deal rumoured to be worth US$30 million.

Boxee, which was founded in 2007 and released its first web-streaming set-top box in 2010, said in a statement that its team would be joining Samsung and would work on products “that marry the best hardware and software in the TV space.”

While the firm said that it was working behind the scenes to ensure there is “minimal impact” to current users of Boxee devices, it added that its beta cloud DVR functionality will be discontinued on July 10th.

Boxee began working on its cloud DVR service in 2011 and launched it as part of Boxee TV in late 2012, allowing users to record, store and access linear TV programmes in the cloud.

Speaking at an event in London in May, Boxee’s senior director of business development Ryan Troy said its revamped cloud DVR service – which aimed to bring together broadcast TV channels, DVR and internet apps into one simple experience – was live in nine US markets with plans to roll out to more in the future.

With the takeover, Boxee said users would not be able to access their existing cloud DVR recordings after July 10. “We realise many of you loved the service, and we’re sorry it won’t be available moving forward.”

The firm added that it was “incredibly proud of what we’ve built” and was “excited about the next chapter for our team.”

Samsung said in a statement that it had acquired “key talent and assets” from Boxee and would use these to “continue to improve the overall user experience across our connected devices.” Terms of the deal were not disclosed, though both TechCrunch and Isreali site TheMarker cited an approximate US$30 million pricetag.