Sezmi Inc

Sezmi develops a cloud-based video delivery platform for television providers, enabling service delivery across various IP devices including tablets and mobile computing. This platform integrates traditional over-the-air broadcasts with internet video sources, offering a unified home entertainment experience. Its technical approach centers on a hybrid broadband-broadcast solution, utilizing smart antenna technology to enhance reception and a set-top DVR for comprehensive content management.

Founded in 2007 by Phil Wiser and Buno Pati, Sezmi initially operated under the name Building B. Phil Wiser, a former CTO of Sony Music and later Sony's US subsidiary, brought extensive experience in media technology. The founders envisioned a future where television viewing transcends traditional limitations, providing consumers with comprehensive control over their content sources and schedules.

Sezmi provides its subscription video service directly to consumers in numerous metropolitan areas, aiming to simplify content access. The company's long-term vision is to redefine the television experience by seamlessly combining diverse forms of video content:broadcast, movies, and internet:into a single, user-friendly platform, empowering viewers to customize their entertainment consumption.

High-Level Overview

Sezmi Inc. was a pioneering company in hybrid TV technology, offering a unified platform that combined traditional over-the-air TV broadcasts, movies, and internet video into a single, personalized on-demand viewing experience.[1][2][4] Initially launched as a consumer subscription service with DVR capabilities and smart antenna technology across 36 U.S. metro areas, it evolved into a cloud-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform targeting broadband providers, telcos, ISPs, and content owners to deliver video across IP-connected devices like tablets and smart TVs.[1][2] The company raised $94.1M before being acquired by KIT Digital in January 2012 for $27M ($16M cash plus stock), including 18 OTT-related patents, after which its consumer service ended and assets were later sold to Totalmovie.[1][2]

Origin Story

Sezmi, originally named Building B, was founded in 2007 by Phil Wiser and Buno Pati in Belmont, California, though some records note activity from 2003.[1][2][3] Wiser and Pati brought expertise from prior ventures in digital media and entertainment tech, aiming to disrupt traditional TV by blending free over-the-air signals with internet content via innovative hardware like smart antennas for fringe reception areas.[2][3] Early traction came as a subscription service in major U.S. markets like Los Angeles, New York, and Atlanta, but challenges led to service discontinuation in September 2011, paving the way for its pivot to B2B cloud solutions and acquisition by KIT Digital in early 2012.[1][2]

Core Differentiators

• Hybrid Delivery Model: Seamlessly integrated broadcast TV, DVR recording of over-the-air content, and internet streaming into one set-top box, using smart antennas to enhance reception in non-prime areas—unique at the time for cord-cutters.[1][2][4]
• Cloud-Based SaaS Pivot: Post-consumer phase, offered operators a scalable platform for multiscreen video delivery to mobiles, tablets, and IP TVs, with partnerships across broadcast, broadband, and advertising.[1][2]
• Personalized Experience: Gave users total control via on-demand access, targeting service providers and retailers for easy deployment without heavy infrastructure.[1]
• IP Portfolio: Acquired for 18 patents in OTT (over-the-top) platforms, underscoring tech innovation in video management.[2]

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

Sezmi rode the early 2010s wave of cord-cutting and OTT disruption, anticipating the shift from cable bundles to IP-delivered, multiscreen video as broadband proliferated.[1][2] Its timing aligned with rising internet speeds and smart device adoption, influencing hybrid TV models that pressured incumbents like cable providers while enabling telcos/ISPs to compete via video services.[1] By proving consumer demand for free OTA-plus-streaming hybrids, Sezmi helped shape the ecosystem for modern platforms like YouTube TV or Sling, with its patents contributing to post-acquisition advancements in cloud video tech.[2]

Quick Take & Future Outlook

As an acquired entity since 2012, Sezmi no longer operates independently, but its technology legacy endures through patent integrations and the SaaS model it popularized for operator-grade OTT.[1][2] Future influence lies in how its hybrid innovations inform evolving trends like 5G multicast TV and AI-personalized streaming, potentially powering next-gen services amid ongoing fragmentation of video delivery. Sezmi's story—from bold consumer disruptor to strategic B2B asset—highlights the high-stakes pivot required in TV's transformation, reminding investors that early visionaries often fuel the giants that follow.[1][2]