Rightster has acquired Preview Networks, a distributor of movie trailers, allowing Rightster to roll out YouTube services out across Europe. The company said that the move will establish Rightster as having one of the largest YouTube Multi Channel Network footprints in the world.
Preview Networks, with 35 employees, will add more than 300 rights holders and 2,500 publishers including Disney, MTV and Sony, while extending Rightster’s presence in France, Germany, Italy and Spain as well as the Nordic markets. Rightster is becoming the leading distributor of movie trailers in Europe which provides an excellent platform for the company to broaden the services it offer to this industry.
A number of members of the former Preview Networks management team including Andy Chen, Preview Networks CEO, Charles Delamain, COO, Patrick Rodies, CTO and Peter Vilhelmsen, CFO, will join Righster.
Charlie Muirhead, Founder and CEO of Rightster said, “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.”
In related news, Rightster has secured the rights to offer live and on demand Australian Football League games outside Australia and New Zealand. Rightster will manage subscription packages as well as the technology required to provide footage to computers, tablets and smartphones.
Existing Rightster customers include IMG Fashion, which has given Rightster exclusive rights to stream New York Fashion Week; ITN, for which it distributed footage of the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to 1.5m viewers in 12 countries; and Viral Spiral, a hub for viral videos which manages the Charlie Bit My Finger viral amongst others.
Rightster has also announced the appointment of Skype’s Scott Leishman as Global VP of talent and resourcing.
