Rightster

Rightster Group plc
Type Public
Traded as LSE: RSTR
Founded 2011 (2011)
Headquarters London, UK
Area served Worldwide
Founder(s) Charlie Muirhead
Key people Patrick Walker
(CEO)
Industry Internet
Revenue Increase £1.97 million (2013)[1]
Employees 229
Website www.rightster.com
Current status Active

Rightster is a global b2b video network that provides cloud-based services to optimise the distribution, sourcing, audience engagement and monetisation of live and on-demand video. The company describes its software and services as an “upload once - commercialise everywhere” solution for sports, fashion, news, entertainment and viral rights holders to maximise the reach and value of their video content. Rightster also operates a multi-channel network (MCN) on YouTube, consisting of over 3800 channels.[2]

Rightster has 200 staff members across 11 offices around the world including London, New York, Paris, Milan, Berlin, Madrid, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Melbourne and Bangalore.[3]

History

Rightster was founded in May 2011 by British entrepreneur Charlie Muirhead with the vision of enabling media businesses to “overcome huge fragmentation in the online video market with a single technology platform for engaging audiences and transacting with optimal efficiency”.[4]

The initial focus of the business was on the fashion industry, Rightster’s first customer being the British Fashion Council (BFC).[5]

Through Rightster’s platform, network and services, the BFC reached more than 200 publishers in over 130 countries, unlocking new revenue streams with little upfront investment or risk.[6]

The BFC’s live rights enabled Rightster to recruit key publishers with an interest in fashion content. Rightster subsequently used this connection to recruit more content owners and publishers both in and outside the fashion industry, expanding its operations into sports, news, entertainment and viral rights.

Acquisitions

VML

In October 2012, Rightster acquired approximately 25 per cent. of the share capital of VML. VML operates under the brandname ‘Viral Spiral’ and connects third party brands, agencies, production companies and publishers with the owners of viral content. Rightster entered into an agreement with VML such that it is the exclusive global syndication distribution and monetisation partner for all VML content being uploaded to third party publishers platforms, including YouTube.[7]

Preview Networks

In February 2013, Rightster acquired Preview Networks, a European distributor of film trailers and branded content,:[8][9][10][11]

"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" [32 from existing Wiki page.[12]

Sport Syndicator

In September 2013, Rightster acquired Sport Syndicator, a UK display advertising sales agency,:[13][14]

“The purchase brings Mediasyndicator’s portfolio of over 40 sports sites, including Football League Interactive, Rugby Dump and Club Website into the Rightster network. This collection of sites will extend the reach of Rightster’s network by 280 million advertisement impressions and over 8 million unique users”.[13]

IPO

In November 2013, Rightster raised £22.4 million ($36 million) via an IPO on London’s Alternative Investment Market, AIM, making it the first YouTube MCN to go public. Rightster said it intends to use money raised via the IPO to fund platform upgrades and acquisitions.[15][16][17]

Services

Rightster provides software and services that support the end-to-end lifecycle of online video distribution, sourcing, audience engagement, and monetization.

The company’s proprietary cloud-based technology platform connects rights holders, publishers, and advertisers to maximise the reach and value of live and video-on-demand (VoD) content through licensed, ad-funded, direct to consumer subscription service or paid placement revenue models.

Rightster’s technology platform is supported by additional services including media sales, audience development, content marketing, paid placement, strategic advisory and creative solutions.

Partners

At the time of writing, Rightster’s network consists of 750 content owners and over 6,500 publishers. Rightster’s content partners have included:

Events that have been live-streamed by Rightster include:

See also

Multi Channel Network

References

  1. ↑ "Trading Update". corp.rightster.com. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  2. ↑ "Rightster Network Summary". Socialblade.com. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  3. ↑ "Rightster Limited plans £10 to £15 million initial public offering on AIM". corp.rightster.com. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  4. ↑ "Rightster Group plc First Day of Dealings". corp.rightster.com. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  5. ↑ Platt, Ryan. "Online video marketing platform Rightster raises £20m in AIM IPO". startups. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  6. ↑ Bulkley, Kate. "Rightster helps brands to cash in on the commercial rewards of online video". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  7. ↑ "Rightster Admission Document" (PDF). corp.rightster.com. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  8. ↑ Lomas, Natasha. "Video Distribution Startup Rightster Buys Content Marketing Platform Preview Networks To Push Its YouTube Services Across Europe". Tech Crunch. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  9. ↑ Edgecliffe-Johnson, Andrew. "Rightster in deal for Preview Networks". Financial Times. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  10. ↑ Briel, Robert. "Rightster acquires Preview Networks". Broadband and TV News. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  11. ↑ "Rightster acquires Preview Networks to accelerate pan-European expansion of YouTube Services across France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the Nordics". corp.rightster.com. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  12. ↑ "Rightster Acquires Preview Networks to Accelerate Pan-European Expansion of YouTube Services across France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the Nordics". Business Wire. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  13. 1 2 "Rightster buys business and assets of Sportsyndicator". corp.rightster.com. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  14. ↑ Nias, Simon. "Rightster acquires Mediasyndicator sports portfolio". MediaWeek. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  15. ↑ "Rightster Group plc First Day of Dealings". corp.rightster.com. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  16. ↑ "Rightster Shares Rise After AIM IPO, Just Retirement Prices Its IPO". lse.co.uk. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  17. ↑ Plesser, Andy. "Rightster CEO: Post-IPO, Acquisition Talks Already Under Way". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  18. ↑ "AFLTV launched for overseas fans". AFL. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  19. ↑ "AFL & Rightster Announce Four Year Digital Distribution Agreement for AFLTV". corp.rightster.com. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  20. 1 2 "Rightster chosen by Australian Football League (AFL) to launch AFLTV". corp.rightster.com. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  21. ↑ "Global news agency AFP to deliver news videos through Rightster’s network". AFP.com. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  22. ↑ "Global News Agency AFP To Deliver News Videos Through Rightster's Network". corp.rightster.com. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  23. ↑ "Barcroft Media and Rightster Partnership: A Match Made in YouTube Heaven". corp.rightster.com. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  24. 1 2 "Condé Nast Britain and Rightster Partnership Strengthened with Global Syndication Deal for Vogue Festival 2013". corp.rightster.com. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  25. 1 2 "FIH sign deal to make more hockey available on Youtube". Push Hockey. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  26. 1 2 Kilma, Jeff. "Hockey League Signs Deal to Broadcast Games on YouTube". New Media Rockstars. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  27. 1 2 "Media Notes: Rightster Named New Int'l Hockey Federation Digital Media Partner". Sports Business Daily. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  28. 1 2 McPherson, Ian. "Rightster seals international hockey contract". Sports Pro Media. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  29. 1 2 "FIH Sign Rightster in Broadcast Deal to Make Events More Accessible". iSport Connect. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  30. 1 2 "FIH Signs Digital Partnership with Rightster". International Hockey Federation. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  31. ↑ "The International Hockey Federation Signs Digital Partnership with Rightster to Grow Audience and Reach". corp.rightster.com. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  32. ↑ "Rightster & FIH Drive Growth in Video Views as World League Final Approaches". corp.rightster.com. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  33. ↑ "Guardian News & Media partners with Rightster to enhance its YouTube presence". London: The Guardian. 29 May 2012. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  34. ↑ "Rightster selected as streaming partner for the Guardian Changing Media Summit 2013". corp.rightster.com. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  35. 1 2 3 Morgan, Vikky. "ITN unifies online ad sales with Rightster". Econsultancy. Retrieved February 4, 2013.
  36. 1 2 Laughlin, Andy. "Murdochs' Leveson evidence live stream tops 2m viewers". Digital Spy. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
  37. 1 2 "ITN Productions partners with Rightster for Facebook launch and enhanced online content delivery". corp.rightster.com. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  38. ↑ "PA and Rightster partner to strengthen online video outreach". Press Association. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  39. ↑ "Press Association Partners with Rightster to Strengthen Its Online Video Distribution Strategy". corp.rightster.com. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  40. ↑ "SNTV to launch range of flexible digital sports news video products". corp.rightster.com. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  41. ↑ "Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York Spring 2014 Collections reach largest internet audience to date". corp.rightster.com. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  42. ↑ "British Fashion Council Partners with Rightster for a 7th Consecutive Season to provide live online access to London Fashion Week". corp.rightster.com. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  43. ↑ "British Fashion Council partner with Rightster to give online publishers front row access to London Collections: Men through new media portal". corp.rightster.com. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  44. ↑ "About Us". AIBABoxingTV. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
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