Modern Times Group (MTG) has signed a content distribution agreement with the next-generation media brand Maker Studios, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company.
As a result, it will now distribute Maker’s content on its advertising funded online video services across Scandinavia, the Baltic States, Czech Republic, Hungary and Bulgaria.
Maker Studios is the world’s largest provider of online video content for viewers aged 13-34, otherwise known as ‘millennials’. Its network of 55,000 channel partners has garnered over 550 million subscribers, generating more than 8.5 billion monthly views.
Commenting on the deal, Sam Wick, Executive Vice President of Business Development & Operations and General Manager of Enterprise at Maker Studios, said: “The Maker platform has a global reach and large international following, with 70% of our audience based outside the U.S. We are dedicated to delivering our millennial-focused content in organic ways for international markets. As an industry leader in global entertainment, MTG is a perfect partner for us as we look to expand our offerings for international viewers online.”
Jørgen Madsen Lindemann, MTG president and CEO, added: “This deal is the first-of-its-kind for MTG and another example of what we mean by shaping the future of entertainment. This deal follows our acquisition of a stake in Splay, the largest multichannel network in the Nordics, and of NetInfo, which operates the largest video-sharing service for local content in Bulgaria. We now have online catch–up free-TV services in a total of nine countries and our leading subscription video on demand provider, Viaplay, is available in six countries. Our commitment to expanding our digital footprint and offering is clear and securing great content through long term partnerships is key to this.”
