TYLER, N.J. — Technology giant Tyler announced on Thursday that it will invest $1.1 billion in the company behind the TV show “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.”
The investment is the largest investment made by Tyler in its history, and the company said it would be an asset management company with a portfolio of assets that include real estate, infrastructure, and other assets.
“The future of television and entertainment is being made by the next generation of talent,” Tyler President and CEO David Katz said in a statement.
“We are delighted to have this partnership, and look forward to working with the creative team and the fans to bring new, innovative and exciting content to our audience.”
Tyler’s commitment to television comes amid an intensifying debate over the future of the TV landscape.
New technology platforms like Apple TV and Roku have created an explosion of content and new ways for fans to access shows and movies.
But some have questioned the viability of those new platforms and the need for a traditional television network.
“As TV evolves, it becomes increasingly difficult for the traditional network to sustain itself,” said Mark Johnson, president and chief executive of the Media Research Center.
“Crazy Is Dead,” a Netflix original series that is based on the hit TV show, was among the shows on the list of shows that was given a green light from the FCC earlier this year, with the commission saying that the show “delivers an exciting new way for viewers to engage with TV.”
Tyrell, which has more than 300 employees in New Jersey, was formed in the 1970s to create high-tech, highly customizable home theater systems, and today, Tyler offers products including a line of speaker systems, smart refrigerators, and a smart thermostat.
Tyler, which is owned by the conglomerate Altitude Group, has about 7,000 employees and is headquartered in New York.