Quantel has acquired Snell in a deal that creates a broadcast technology giant with revenues of just over £100m.

Quantel chief executive and chairman Ray Cross said the deal created a “new force in the broadcast and media technology market”.

In a statement, Quantel said the deal would allow the combined business “to offer customers a complete product range to create, version and deliver high quality content efficiently across multiple platforms”.

Quantel, which manufactures news and sports production systems such as Enterprise SQ and post production tools including Pablo (pictured).

Snell is known for products such as its Ice channel-in-a-box playout platform, Kahuna production switchers and Alchemist conversion system.

The company began to shift away from hardware last year, when it made its image processing kit available as software tools.

Cross said the UK-headquartered firms’ product ranges were “entirely complimentary” and that the Snell and Quantel brands and product ranges would remain.

He said: “This acquisition brings two great companies together to create a major new force in the global broadcast and media technology market.

“We’ll be able to combine the best in class talent and technologies from Quantel and Snell to bring exciting new products and solutions to market to help our customers transform their businesses.

“More local offices across the world will enable us to build closer relationships with our customers and to offer even better support.”  

Snell chief executive Simon Derry is leaving the company.

He said: “Under Ray’s leadership the combined business will be able to write a new and exciting chapter moving forwards. I look forward to supporting Ray during the important period of transition.”

Managing director of Snell’s TV Everywhere division Paul Martin and managing director of the company’s Live TV division Robert Rowe will join the Quantel board.

Snell sales director Tim Banks and finance director Peter Fredericks are also taking “leading roles” in the new combined organisation.

Cross said a new “world class” facility at Quantel’s HQ in Newbury would be developed to accommodate Snell.