Sonic Solutions
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Software |
| Founded | 1987 |
| Founder | Robert Doris, Mary Sauer, Andy Moorer |
| Defunct | 2011 |
| Fate | Acquired by Rovi Corporation |
| Headquarters | Novato , United States |
Area served | United States, Europe, Asia |
| Products | CinemaNow, CinePlayer, Creator, DivX, Easy VHS to DVD, MyDVD, PhotoShow, Toast, BD PowerStation, CineVision, MainConcept Reference, Scenarist |
| Parent | Rovi Corporation (from 2011) |
Sonic Solutions was a U.S.-based software firm with its headquarters in Novato, California and additional offices across the United States, Europe, and Asia. In 2010, it was acquired by Rovi Corporation.
History
The company was established by former Lucasfilm personnel Robert Doris, Mary Sauer, and scientist Andy Moorer, who were involved in developing the SoundDroid digital audio editing platform. Initially, Sonic concentrated on professional non-linear digital audio workstation solutions tailored for music editing, restoration, and CD mastering. In 1996, the company received an Emmy Award recognizing its technical innovations.
That same year marked Sonic's collaboration with Hollywood studios and consumer electronics manufacturers to introduce the first commercial DVD production system. The company broadened its scope into enterprise software by offering professional DVD authoring products such as Sonic Scenarist and Sonic DVD Producer, alongside retail and PC OEM DVD applications including DVDit, MyDVD, and RecordNow.
In 2002, Sonic separated its audio division into a new entity called Sonic Studio, LLC to focus more intently on the DVD sector, enterprise software solutions, and intellectual property licensing. Prominent clients comprised Microsoft, Apple, Google, Adobe, and Avid. Its middleware and embedded chip technologies were licensed to industry leaders like Texas Instruments, Broadcom, Cisco, Marvell, and Intel.
Sonic ventured into the consumer software arena around 2000, distributing approximately 50 million units annually via direct online sales and through over 15,000 retail locations such as the Apple Store, Walmart, Costco, Best Buy, and Target. The company captured a 64% market share in photo, audio, and video editing software categories.
Following its initial public offering (IPO) in 1994, Sonic accumulated more than $1.5 billion in digital media revenues and was frequently acknowledged by Forbes, Fortune, and BusinessWeek as one of the fastest-growing enterprises.
By 2005, Sonic had shifted its consumer software offerings to a SaaS framework. By 2010, it emerged as a leading distributor of premium film content across web platforms and consumer electronics devices through strategic partnerships with major studios, providing cloud-based delivery services under white-label agreements.
Acquisitions
Among Sonic's notable acquisitions were the Desktop and Mobile Division (DMD) from VERITAS Software in 2002; in 2003, it acquired Roxio, which specialized in consumer applications for both Windows and Mac OS. In 2008, Sonic purchased Simple Star, an online slideshow creation tool, as well as CinemaNow, a digital movie distribution service. Later that year in October 2010, Sonic expanded its online video portfolio by acquiring DivX Inc. through a $326 million transaction involving stock and cash.
Sale
On December 23, 2010, Rovi Corporation revealed plans to purchase Sonic through a deal combining cash and stock valued at just under $1 billion. According to Business Insider's February 2011 report, Sonic provided the highest returns among publicly traded firms listed on the NYSE or NASDAQ. Following the announcement, shares of both companies increased significantly, reflecting a premium of approximately 66% over market value. The acquisition finalized early in the subsequent year. In January 2012, Rovi divested the Roxio division and associated products to Corel.
Consumer
- CinemaNow
- CinePlayer
- Creator (previously known as Easy Media Creator)
- DivX
- Easy VHS to DVD
- MyDVD
- PhotoShow
- Toast
Professional
- BD PowerStation
- CineVision
- MainConcept Reference
- Scenarist