VANCOUVER, British Colombia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--BroadbandTV:
- YoBoHo owns and operates HooplaKidz, one of the largest YouTube Kids and Family networks, as well as 27 owned and operated channels in the vertical
- YoBoHo is a profitable business and maintains a proprietary library of content, comprised of over 8,000 videos in the kids vertical, mainly produced by the company
- YoBoHo generates a total of three billion views per year. It is one of the largest pre-school and K-12 educational networks on YouTube
- Post transaction, BBTV’s average monthly views will be over four billion per month, reaching around 50 billion views per year, continuing to position BBTV as one of the top three non-music YouTube networks in the world
- BBTV is also making a significant investment in YoBoHo to further expand its library of original content, broaden its international footprint, and further diversify its revenue streams
Leading media and technology company BroadbandTV (BBTV) has announced the acquisition of kids content producer and publisher YoBoHo, making BBTV one of the leaders in kids and family entertainment on YouTube. YoBoHo’s video library boasts over 8,000 videos mainly produced by the company, it operates the largest pre-school and K-12 educational network on YouTube: HooplaKidz. The vast majority of its content is original Intellectual Property (IP). All 55 YoBoHo employees will join BBTV, including producers, writers, marketers, technology and mobile experts, and a strong business development team. RTL Group, the leading European entertainment network, provided funding for BroadbandTV’s acquisition of YoBoHo.
The vertical is experiencing exponential growth, with Nielsen reporting that total online video consumption by kids aged 2 to 11 has increased by 87% in the last three years*.
“We’re very pleased to conclude the acquisition of a top player in the kids space at a time when the kids content vertical is experiencing burgeoning growth,” said Shahrzad Rafati, Founder and CEO, BroadbandTV. “BBTV is also making a multi-million dollar investment in YoBoHo to further expand its library of original content, broaden its international footprint, and further diversify its revenue streams.”
“Given YouTube’s tremendous commitment and investments in the kids and family vertical, we stand well positioned to capitalize on this momentum,” continued Rafati. “We’re now a leader in the industry in a number of major content verticals.”
“With significant investments in multi-channel networks, RTL Group has become the number two player in the YouTube ecosystem in less than 24 months. BroadbandTV currently represents two thirds of RTL Group’s online video views, and its acquisition of YoBoHo is another milestone in our joint efforts to achieve leading positions in all segments of the rapidly growing online video space,” commented Guillaume de Posch, Co-CEO of RTL Group. “It also underlines our commitment to foster the global growth of BroadbandTV.”
Malik Ducard, Global Head of Content for YouTube Kids & Learning, commented: “YouTube Kids’ viewership is growing rapidly thanks to strong entrepreneurial partners like YoBoHo and we're excited to see this combination with BroadbandTV, a company that continues to innovate and invest successfully in this space.”
“YoBoHo has launched 27 channels featuring original programming produced in house reaching a global scale. We have successfully built whole ecosystems around kids content, which has led us to become a top player in the space. We have significant plans to develop this further,” said Hitendra Merchant, Founder & CEO, YoBoHo. “Our partnership with BBTV allows us to accelerate our international footprint, advance our major content production efforts and scale our business by leveraging their cutting edge technology and powerful MCN business.”
HooplaKidz joins other leading BBTV brands: TGN, the most engaged gaming network on YouTube; Opposition, the largest hip-hop music network; and popular female lifestyle brand Kandesa. BBTV remains one of the fastest growing businesses of its kind; it currently operates the third largest multi-channel network (MCN), which is comprised of over of 32,000 partners with a growing library of more than 10.5 million video assets.
For more information on BBTV, please visit: www.bbtv.com
*Online video viewership growth for family entertainment grew 87% per month in 2014. (Nielsen, 2014 - http://www.wired.com/2015/02/youtube-kids/)
About BroadbandTV
BroadbandTV is an innovative media and technology company that drives success for online video creators by leveraging its premium media brands, proprietary technology, and massive online reach. BroadbandTV operates one of the world’s largest entertainment networks on YouTube with over 32,000 network partners amassing four billion impressions per month. Its creators span a number of key media brands including TGN, the most engaged gaming network on YouTube; Opposition, the largest hip-hop music network; and popular female lifestyle brand, Kandesa. BroadbandTV has developed some of the most advanced and innovative technologies in the online video space: VISO NOVI, for detecting and managing fan uploaded content and VISO Catalyst for enhancing viewership and engagement for premium videos. In June 2013, the leading European entertainment network RTL Group acquired a majority stake in BroadbandTV. Both companies also formed an ongoing strategic partnership to accelerate the global growth strategy of BroadbandTV. RTL Group’s initial investment of US-$36 million is part of a planned series of investments in the company. www.bbtv.com
