Overview

Verizon Media (VMDS), originally Verizon Digital Media Services and formerly known as Edgecast, was a content delivery network (CDN) provider specializing in media and content delivery. Launched as a Verizon division, it served media companies and enterprises with scalable content distribution. In 2021, Verizon sold its media division, including VMDS, to Apollo Global Management, which rebranded it as Edgecast under Yahoo. In June 2022, Limelight Networks acquired Edgecast, forming Edgio. Edgio filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in September 2024, shutting down its CDN services on January 15, 2025. Select Edgecast assets were sold to Parler in February 2025 for $7.5 million.

Sunset timeline

  • 2006: Edgecast founded as a CDN provider focused on media delivery.
  • 2013: Verizon acquired Edgecast for $400 million, integrating it into Verizon Digital Media Services (VDMS).
  • 2017: Verizon Media formed, combining VDMS with AOL and Yahoo under Oath.
  • September 2021: Apollo Global Management completed its $5 billion acquisition of Verizon Media, rebranding the CDN unit as Edgecast and retaining Verizon’s 10% stake.
  • June 2022: Limelight Networks completed the acquisition of Edgecast from Yahoo (Apollo) for $300 million, rebranding the combined company as Edgio.
  • February 2025: Edgio, post-bankruptcy, sold select Edgecast assets to Parler for $7.5 million, with Parler launching EdgeCast Cloud Services.

Migration guidance

Former Verizon Media (VMDS) users, whose services transitioned to Edgio, must migrate due to Edgio’s bankruptcy and CDN shutdown on January 15, 2025. Parler, which acquired Edgecast assets, focuses on its social media and cloud ecosystem, with no clear public CDN offering as of August 2025. Recommended alternatives include:

  • Akamai: Acquired Edgio customer contracts in November 2024, offering a global CDN with 325,000+ servers, media delivery, and security features (WAF, DDoS). Ideal for enterprises needing reliability.
  • Microsoft Azure Front Door: Suggested for Azure CDN users from Edgio, supporting streaming and global load balancing. Microsoft advised migration by January 15, 2025.
  • Cloudflare: Developer-friendly with 330+ PoPs, security, and a free tier, suitable for cost-conscious users.
  • IORiver: A MultiCDN provider with tools to import Edgio configurations, offering traffic balancing for resilience.

Users should audit configurations and test alternatives promptly to avoid disruptions. Contact Akamai for contract transition details or Microsoft at [email protected] for Azure migrations.

History & Notes

Verizon Media (VMDS) grew from Verizon’s 2013 acquisition of Edgecast, aiming to compete in media and ad tech. Despite $370 million in platform investment, it struggled against larger competitors. The 2021 sale to Apollo shifted its CDN to Edgecast, which merged with Limelight to form Edgio in 2022. Edgio’s bankruptcy in September 2024, due to accounting issues and debt, led to its CDN shutdown. Parler’s February 2025 acquisition of Edgecast assets supports its own platforms (Parler Social, PlayTV), with 120 former Edgio employees joining and a one-year IP license. The viability of Parler as a general CDN provider remains unclear.