Digital Capital Advisors, LLC is pleased to announce it has served as exclusive financial advisor to Amsterdam-based Zoomin.TV, the world’s fifth largest multi-channel network on its sale of a 51 per cent stake to Modern Times Group, a leading international multi-channel, multi-platform entertainment group. The acquisition values Zoomin at €88 million ($95.4 million), and will add depth to MTG’s fast growing digital portfolio which includes recent investments in ESL, the world’s largest esports company and Splay, Sweden’s largest YouTube MCN.
DCA’s CEO & Managing Partner Jay MacDonald noted, “The acquisition of Zoomin.TV by MTG marries two of the world’s greatest producers and distributors of TV and online content, and allows for the expansion the combined entities across Europe, North America, South America and Asia.”
Zoomin’s daily production of 400 premium short videos in 18 languages and 27 categories attracts more than 2 billion video views a month and 100 million YouTube subscribers worldwide. Zoomin also boasts a network of 2,000 publishers, which includes leading media brands such as Yahoo, AOL, Bild, and Telegraaf. Advertising sales to consumer brands such as P&G, Philips, Volkswagen, and Unilever have grown by 36 per cent on average over the past 5 years, with 70 per cent growth in 2014 alone.
The founders, Jan Riemens and Bram Bloemberg, who will continue to lead the company, commented, “We are extremely happy to have found the right strategic partner in MTG. We have a proven business model for creating and monetizing online video reach. Now we will accelerate our growth further by working with MTG to position ourselves as the ideal partner for video publishers looking to succeed internationally.”
The acquisition represents MTG’s growing global digital footprint and advertising capability, serving as a tremendous opportunity for all of its video entertainment products. ESL and Viagame will allow Zoomin to drive higher viewership and monetization rates in gaming video content (one of Zoomin’s key verticals), while Zoomin and Splay will benefit each other through Splay’s exceptional influencer marketing tools and Zoomin’s global distribution network.
Jørgen Madsen Lindemann, MTG’s President and CEO, stated “It is now clear that we are creating an online video eco-system that is fully prepared to capitalize on the next steps in the evolution of social video. It will enable both Zoomin and our other market leading digital brands to expand even faster by leveraging our combined consumer insight, reach and cross-promotional potential.”
Jay MacDonald commented, “Based on our pipeline and the interest of acquirers on a global basis, digital video continues to be the most highly valued and effective channel to reach an increasingly fragmented and distracted audience.”
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