iSpot Buys TV Measurement Firm 605, Expands U.S. Data Footprint

• by Wayne Friedman , 8 hours ago

Expanding its TV and media measurement footprint, iSpot has acquired 605, a measurement and TV attribution company started by former executives of Cablevision Systems Corp.

The deal will boost iSpot’s overall measurement footprint, adding pay TV set-top-box data from 16.6 million homes. Combined with its existing smart TV data homes, iSpot's available TV device reach will total 82.7 million.

The deal for 605 will bolster business outcome attribution, advanced audience measurement, media planning and data science managed services, iSpot executives say. 

Sean Muller, founder and CEO of iSpot, said in a release: “605 has developed an impressive technology architecture, a great approach to using big data and a suite of powerful solutions that nicely complement our own.” 

Financial terms were not disclosed.

In 2016, 605 was co-founded by Kristin Dolan, who was chief operating officer of the then large New York-area cable TV operator Cablevision Systems Corp., and Ben Tatta, who was president of Cablevision Media Sales.

Earlier that year, the Dolan family-controlled Cablevision Systems was sold to French telecommunications company Altice for $17.7 billion. The U.S. company was then rebranded as Altice USA.

In February of this year, Dolan transitioned to a new role -- chief executive officer of AMC Networks, a Dolan-controlled cable TV network group. 

She replaced former spouse James Dolan who was the interim executive chairman of AMC Networks.

605 was originally funded by Dolan Family Ventures.