Vqual bought for $7 million

, provider of test, measurement and monitoring instrumentation today announced that it has acquired

, a supplier of software tools for analysis, test and optimisation of compressed digital media, based in

.

Oregon-based Tektronix anticipates that the acquisition will accelerate the delivery of products and solutions for broadcast customers seeking to implement advanced content analysis solutions.

Tektronix acquired Vqual for approximately $7.0 million plus an earn out contingent on certain conditions in the purchase agreement. Vqual's 14 employees will join the company.

According to Tektronix, changes in the transmission and storage requirements of broadcast video have created a need for content providers, broadcasters, network operators and equipment designers to more easily and accurately test compressed digital media before it is transmitted and to improve content delivery over traditional methods

Vqual, founded in 2002, has worked closely with Tektronix for the past year and recently introduced the first fully automated content analysis solution for file-based, MPEG compressed video for customers in the broadcast industry.