Rightster Acquires Preview Networks to Accelerate Pan-European Expansion of YouTube Services across France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the Nordics

Acquisition creates one of the largest YouTube Multi-Channel Network (MCN) footprints, providing audience development, direct media sales and global account management services in 7 languages

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rightster, the video distribution and monetisation specialist, today announces the acquisition of Preview Networks, the leading international provider of digital distribution services for the movie industry. The deal extends Rightster’s YouTube services across Europe and makes Rightster the leading distributor of movie trailers in this region. Preview Networks brings over 300 content rights holders and 2500 publishers to Rightster’s global community and broadens Rightster’s geographic presence in key European markets including France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the Nordics.

Rightster will welcome the addition of Preview Network’s client roster that includes many major movie distributors, mainstream media agencies, and brands such as Disney, Havaianas, MTV, Peugeot and Sony. The deal will allow Rightster to extend its YouTube management and direct media sales capabilities while also enriching and strengthening the solutions it offers to the movie industry.

Rightster’s experience and expertise in digital distribution will be enhanced by the arrival of key talent from the former Preview Networks management team including Andy Chen, Preview Networks CEO, Charles Delamain, COO, Patrick Rodies, CTO and Peter Vilhelmsen, CFO. This group alone brings a combined digital media experience of 28 years and IT experience of 23 years.

Charlie Muirhead, Founder and CEO of Rightster comments, “Our mission is to simplify the complex business of online video by providing the very best distribution, marketing and monetisation services in the industry. The acquisition of Preview Networks strengthens Rightster’s YouTube video syndication strategy by providing access to local networks in Europe and will allow us to extend the reach of our solutions for Fashion, News and Sports industries.”

Andy Chen, CEO of Preview Networks, comments “The Rightster acquisition is a significant milestone in the story of Preview Networks. Over the past two years we have successfully leveraged our film and entertainment content syndication expertise into the branded content and online advertising space, where video will continue to evolve and dominate. This compliments Rightster’s verticals and overall global strategy. We couldn’t be happier to join forces with the Rightster team.”

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For further information on Rightster’s work, to speak to Charlie Muirhead or one of the senior team, please contact Elisabeth Rosario (New York) or Christina Murphy (UK) at Hotwire.

About Rightster:

Rightster manages and operates the world’s fastest growing digital distribution, marketing and monetisation network that connects global media rights owners, publishers and marketers, providing the visibility and control required to optimise the commercial value of online video. Rightster provides a “connect once - distribute to many” solution that allows rights holders to extend the reach of their live and pre-recorded video content to audiences globally via all the leading online media destinations, branded portals, social networking sites, connected TV/gaming platforms and specialist blogs. The solution comprises a managed suite of services that can either compliment or provide a low risk alternative to in house investment in digital skills and systems.

Rightster is already the exclusive digital distribution partner for major rights owners and media firms such as the UK’s largest news provider - ITN, sports news specialist - SNTV, renowned UK newspaper - The Guardian, major premium global sports rights owner – MP & Silva and international media giant - IMG.

About Preview Networks

Preview Networks is a content marketing platform for brands and content aggregation and syndication platform for publishers. They provide the tools for brands to manage and centrally distribute marketing and PR content across media destinations, devices, and commerce platforms; and for publishers to automate content acquisition delivering audience and advertising revenue growth.