Getty Buys Jupitermedia

Getty Images to Acquire Jupiterimages

Acquisition Will Enhance the Jupiterimages Brand, Provide a Broader Selection of Digital Content Across All Platforms, Media and Geographies and Improve Customer Service


SEATTLE – October 23, 2008 – Getty Images, Inc., the world’s leading creator and distributor of visual content and other digital media, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Jupiterimages, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Jupitermedia (NASDAQ: JUPM), for $96 million in cash. The acquisition will benefit existing and potential customers by making even more digital content easily accessible. The acquisition is subject to the approval of shareholders and the receipt of certain regulatory approvals.

“The digital content market is expanding, and the customers of both Getty Images and Jupiterimages will benefit from the combination of these businesses,” said Jonathan Klein, co-founder and CEO of Getty Images. “Jupiterimages’ customers already appreciate its value-based offerings, and through this acquisition we will be able to offer more content, better technology, more customer service and additional local content. Combining Jupiterimages’ product with Getty Images’ extensive media assets and global distribution will further enhance Getty Images’ offerings and provide more relevant content to both companies’ customers while extending the presence of the Jupiterimages brand to customers around the world.”

Getty Images will retain the Jupiterimages brand and website, and will integrate Getty Images’ technology, licensing expertise, content, business processes and service. Jupiterimages’ large portfolio of wholly-owned imagery will allow Getty Images to offer still more versatility and flexibility in providing imagery and other content assets to customers. Additionally, Getty Images’ global distribution channels will increase international customers’ access to Jupiterimages’ products and services, including the Jupiterimages Unlimited subscription product.

“Jupiterimages has built a foundation that Getty Images will build upon to the benefit of customers worldwide,” added Klein. “Getty Images has always been dedicated to making strategic investments that will provide long-term value to our customers.”

And the obvious question is, what becomes of their microstock company?

And the obvious answer: "We'll be able to discuss questions like that when the deal closes."

Exciting times though, eh?

Wow! Thanks for the news.

Getty seems to like buying other companies.Only time will tell if this addition will benefit contributors of istckphoto.

Thanks for the heads up Kelly. I guess we can't say if it's exciting or not until you're allowed to field "what does it mean for me" questions.


Do you have a sense of how long it will take for the deal to close? Days? Weeks?

OK, just read the original post. Looks like months. Will it take that long to give us a sense of what it means to us?

Small is beautifull!. Monopoly!!!

True, 'dat.

Just googled Jupiter as i have never heard of them before .Put welder into their search engine and really surprised that they allow product names in there photos???Going back to make a better assessment...


I shall of course be looking into my crystal ball to see if Mr J Klein has got himself a good deal.

I've used them a lot and they have great customer service, which, I'm sad to say has not been my experience with the big G.

The topic headline should say "Jupiterimages" not "Jupitermedia". Jupitermedia is continuing in business as an independent entity, only the image business is being sold.


@shank - Jupiter is a "trad" agency, not a micro. It has a micro subsidiary or two which you might have heard of. One of them has the best possible name for a photo site.

This could be a long speculative thread then?

Who else will they buy??

Everybody's favorite kind!

(Edited on 2008-10-23 11:11:18 by rogermexico)

Here's hoping that if JI's microstock brand and istock will be coexisting that some of istock's contributor support ethic will rub off

Ty Paul.Another thread to give a wide berth.Over And Out

I am selling my old 400D, maybe they're interested...

Not sure if that company is included in the deal or not, although it sounds like it probably is. If somehow that company gets shuttered as a result of the deal (why would Getty keep 2 micro companies?), then I'm clicking that Exclusive button. That site is my 3rd best earner, and without it my earnings here would be above the percentage required for me to go exclusive without losing money. I imagine many others would have to do the same.

Will this alter the getty offer to our silver photographers to join them ?