Getty Images, one of the two biggies in the editorial and stock photo business, which is in talks with Jupitermedia to buy the images division, has now bought out celebrity photo distributor WireImage‘s parent company for $200 million. The privately owned MediaVast also owns FilmMagic and Contour Photos. Getty said acquiring WireImage would help it share photos of celebrities, events and entertainment, all of which have become digital.
MediaVast had raised $15 million in its third round of funding last year, and investors included QVT Fund, Time Warner, Baroda Ventures, as well as several strategic and individual investors, such as SBE Entertainment Group. Second round was $4.7 million in 2003.
Details on the deal in the release.