JupiterResearch: The Next Chapter

David Schatsky | March 29, 2006, 09:00 AM

JupiterResearch is merging with Kagan Research LLC to form JupiterKagan, Inc., a major force in media, telecom, Internet and emerging consumer technology research.

Kagan is a storied research brand, known for its rigorous, data-backed analysis of the media and telecommunications industries and its team of heavy-hitter analysts. And JupiterResearch, is -the- research company focused on the Internet and emerging consumer technologies. And our analysts [link] are amazing.

JupiterResearch is growing, and profitable, and carries hardy DNA that is going to make JupiterKagan a powerhouse research firm. The other side of the merger coin is that Jupitermedia is spinning us off to focus on its images business.

I’m very excited by this merger. Kagan and Jupiter are truly complementary. The overlap in our client bases is minimal, and where we do share clients, we tend to have different buyers: Kagan's users tend to be on the financial and strategic planning side, while our users are typically in marketing (to oversimplify).

Our business models are complementary as well. Jupiter's business is mostly renewable syndicated research, with a hearty slice of custom research and consulting that extends and personalizes our research services and often feeds back into our syndicated capabilities. Kagan's got a strong consulting and appraisal business--if you are weighing a deal in the entertainment and media sector, Kagan can give you a rigorous appraisal of the true value of your deal. And it's got a flourishing publishing business: the company produces a cherished series of data-rich books and newsletters in fields from TV to movies, cable, wireless and more.

The rationale for the merger is pretty simple: combine our complementary assets and build a bigger, more influential research and consulting powerhouse that can advise clients at every phase of the media and technology lifecycle, from appraising a deal to programming content in a multi-platform digital world. In concrete terms, that means we'll be developing a series of new products that draw on the combined strengths of the two companies. No announcements yet, but stand by.

Just last month we rejiggered our research architecture to expand our coverage of media. Our merger with Kagan gives our strategy a boost to bring greater resources to bear on our analysis of the rapidly changing media landscape. Talk about timing -- it couldn't have happened at a better time.

As we come together to begin to unlock the power of our combined resources, it's business as usual for the Jupiter and Kagan teams: serving our clients, providing vital insights and proprietary data to help our clients make hard decisions and develop bright ideas.

Tim Baskerville, formerly Kagan’s president, is CEO of the new company and I am president. There will be more to say as we move forward and develop. If you've got any questions or concerns, please let me know -- I'll be happy to respond.