Stream in talks with film makers

The firm is discussing the possibility of distributing videos overthe Web

Software reseller Stream is negotiating to distribute videos as well as computer products over the Internet.

Paul Kavanagh, president of Stream EMEA, defined the interested parties as entertainment businesses that own intellectual property rights such as Walt Disney and Virgin. But he stated these are not the firms involved.

'Our product mix is changing significantly,' he said. 'In six months' time the entertainment, telecoms and IT industries will be close together.

We want to own the content, or at least have a share of what's going over the Internet, and hope to invest in something within the next six months.'

One source close to Stream said it was a sensible move. 'Content - using software or applets from lots of sources - is the future of distribution.

Software reselling only has a few years of life left in it as the corporate market is saturated and there's no money in licensing.'

Kavanagh expects the firm's reach into retail to grow significantly over the next three years, and that Stream will have to redefine its role by November. 'Entertainment firms want to protect themselves against piracy and make sure they get their royalties and we can help them do that,' he said.

Stream is also understood to have been approached earlier this year with a takeover bid by Japanese firm Softbank Corporation, but Kavanagh refused to comment.

Stream is in the process of expanding facilities in Scotland, Holland and Ireland so it can support its pan-European digitally-controlled Sap business.

It plans to recruit more than 500 staff for its technology support centre in Derry by next year, and is hiring 15 consultants to boost its services business.