I’ll search for information about Fantastic Corporation, particularly focusing on broadcasting companies with that name.Let me search more specifically for “The Fantastic Corporation” as a Swiss broadcasting company, since the Crunchbase result shows it’s located in Zug, Switzerland.Let me search for more information about the founders and early history of The Fantastic Corporation.Based on my research, I can provide you with a summary of The Fantastic Corporation, though the available information is more limited compared to DivX. Here’s what I found:
Brief History and Summary of The Fantastic Corporation
Founder and Leadership
The Fantastic Corporation was founded in 1996 in Zug, Switzerland. Alain Bandle served as CEO from November 2001 to October 2003. Jasper Smith, a British entrepreneur in television and interactive media, was also involved with the company, having worked in senior roles within The Fantastic Corporation.
Company History
Early Years (1996-2000) The Fantastic Corporation was founded in 1996 in Zug, Switzerland, developing software products that optimize the distribution of rich media content over any broadcast or corporate network. The company specialized in data distribution, allowing enterprises to improve the performance and reach of their networks through an enterprise Content Delivery Network (eCDN).
Partnership Era (1997-2000) In December 1997, Intel Corporation and The Fantastic Corporation announced they were working together to enable delivery of media-rich content to PCs via broadband infrastructures such as satellite, cable, digital terrestrial and digital subscriber lines (DSL). In June 2000, the company announced the release of an Application Programming Interface (API) for the Fantastic broadband broadcast platform, designed for application partners and customers to broadband-enable their products and services.
Public Company Period (2000s) The Fantastic Corporation became a public company, quoted on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange using the symbol: FAN. In June 2003, the company announced downsizing of its board from six to three members, with Peter Ohnemus being appointed as chairman of the board.
Corporate Restructuring (2005) In March 2005, the company underwent restructuring, with subsidiaries being registered in the Swiss Commercial Register in Zug, and the board planning to decide on the sale of certain subsidiaries in Q2 or Q3 2005.
Business Model and Technology
Core Technology The Fantastic Corporation developed and sold software for broadband multimedia distribution, enabling content providers to deliver large amounts of rich multimedia content quickly and efficiently to PCs and advanced set-top computers over any type of high-speed network.
Product Portfolio The company’s platform included three primary components: The Channel Editorial Center (CEC) for content, community and schedule management, the Channel Management Center (CMC) for controlling broadcast bandwidth, and the MediaSurfer, Internet browser plug-in, that receives and filters content for end-users.
Strategic Partnerships The company became one of IBM’s global 50 Strategic Alliance Partners and also partnered with HP and Consultec.
Where The Fantastic Corporation is Today
Current Status Based on UK company records, a related entity “FANTASTIC CORPORATION LTD” was dissolved on November 30, 2021, after being incorporated on August 2, 2019. However, “The Fantastic Company AG” in Zug remains active as of 2021, operating as an investment company.
Legacy According to Crunchbase, The Fantastic Corporation is listed as a Broadcasting company based in Zug, Switzerland, though there is no recent news or activity for this profile.
The company appears to have evolved from its original multimedia broadcasting technology focus to more of an investment holding structure, with the operational broadcasting technology business likely having concluded or been sold off by the mid-2000s. The Swiss entity continues to exist but appears to function primarily as an investment vehicle rather than an active technology company.