LONDON, UK – 14^th January 2012 – Base79, one of Europe’s leading online video companies and the largest YouTube network in the Europe, Middle East and Asia (EMEA) region, today announces its plans for aggressive international expansion with the appointment of John Robson as Executive Vice President, International.

With subscribers doubling year-on-year to over 20 million, and Base79 now responsible for over half a billion global views per month, Robson’s role will be to provide an international focus, rapidly growing the company’s content network and building regional teams, initially across Europe.

Prior to joining Base79, Robson held a number of leadership roles within digital entertainment, most recently responsible for global entertainment at HTC, where he led developments for movie, music, publishing and games exploitation on HTC devices.  Prior to HTC, Robson was SVP at Paramount Pictures where he created Paramount’s successful digital distribution business across EMEA.

Base79 CEO Ashley MacKenzie comments: “We’ve established ourselves as one of the clear leaders in online video and one of Europe’s fastest-growing young media companies – Base79 recently received four original programming grants from YouTube, more than any other company in Europe. We are delighted to welcome a globally-renowned content and entertainment distribution executive to act as a catalyst for further aggressive European expansion.”

Robson comments: “Base79 is firmly positioned as the front runner in online video and I’m particularly excited to be joining its impressive and dynamic management team. We are doubling subscribers year-on-year and driving significant revenues and high CPMs for our content partners. Last year we became YouTube’s largest international partner. I’m looking forward to contributing to this success story.”

About Base79

Base79 is one of Europe’s leading online video companies and the largest YouTube network in the Europe, Middle East and Asia (EMEA) region.  Base79 partners with leading video rights holders and producers to build online audiences and brands, claim and protect their intellectual property, sell premium advertising, and generate new revenue streams on YouTube and other OTT platforms.

The Company’s proprietary technology and processes for increasing YouTube channel subscribers and views, and establishing ad sales leadership, enables its clients to significantly increase their reach and revenues in online video.  With more than 300 premium content partners, including BBC Worldwide, Endemol’s Tiger Aspect, IMG Media, Simon Cowell’s SyCo, Ministry of Sound, Guinness World Records as well as a number of leading YouTube content creators, Base79 generates more than 550 million views per month across nearly 550 channels on YouTube, and is the largest YouTube multi-channel network based in the UK.

Founded in 2007, the Company has offices in London, New York and Sydney, and will expand into continental Europe in 2013.

Base79, one of Europe’s leading online video companies and the largest YouTube network in the Europe, Middle East and Asia (EMEA) region, today announced that it has received a strategic equity investment from The Chernin Group (“TCG”), alongside continued participation from existing investor MMC Ventures. Proceeds from the round will be used to accelerate Base79’s expansion across Europe and into other global territories, to build owned-and-operated brands and channels, and to invest in the Company’s products and technology. Founded in 2007, the Company has offices in London, New York and Sydney, and has plans to increase its presence in continental Europe within the next 12 months.

Base79 partners with leading video rights holders and producers to build online audiences and brands, claim and protect their intellectual property, sell premium advertising, and generate new revenue streams on YouTube and other OTT platforms. The Company’s proprietary technology and processes for increasing YouTube channel subscribers and views, and establishing ad sales leadership, enables its clients to significantly increase their reach and revenues in online video. With more than 300 premium content partners, including BBC Worldwide, Endemol’s Tiger Aspect, IMG Media, Simon Cowell’s SyCo, Ministry of Sound, Guinness World Records as well as a number of leading YouTube content creators, Base79 generates more than 550 million views per month across nearly 550 channels on YouTube, and is the largest YouTube multi-channel network based in the UK. Base79 recently received four original programming grants from YouTube, more than any other company in Europe.

“We’re thrilled to receive this additional investment and recognition for our business from The Chernin Group, in addition to ongoing support from MMC Ventures. TCG’s industry leading expertise and track record in content, digital media, brand building, international expansion and monetization will be invaluable as we accelerate the Company’s international growth and distribution of premium video content across multiple platforms and devices,” said Ashley MacKenzie, founder and CEO of Base79. “We have experienced extraordinary growth and believe this partnership will allow a new chapter of even greater opportunity.”

“Base79 has established itself as one of the clear leaders in online video, an exciting space that we believe is positioned to grow faster than any other area of media,” said Peter Chernin, founder & CEO of TCG. “Base79 is one of Europe’s fastest-growing young media companies, and we look forward to partnering with the Company and its management team to help build on its vision and capitalize on further opportunities for growth.”

Alex Carloss, YouTube’s Global Head of Entertainment, said: “We view The Chernin Group’s investment in a key partner like Base79 as a sign of the growth of the YouTube ecosystem in Europe. Base79′s deep expertise in rights management and the YouTube platform will continue to help partners control and grow their content businesses on YouTube.”

Bruce Macfarlane, Managing Partner, MMC Ventures, said: “MMC Ventures has always believed in Base79 – its concept, technology, and team – and have been excited to invest from an early stage. We are therefore delighted to be continuing our support for Base79, alongside The Chernin Group, and look forward to its further growth and success.”

In October 2012, after securing four new channel partnerships as a part of YouTube’s new original channels initiative, Base79 announced that it had become Europe’s largest YouTube original programming partner. The four new channels resulting from the partnership are:

•  /Football 

 With leading sports media company IMG as a key content producer, Slash Football is a premium video football network centered and driven by football fans. Base79 will create a series of programs that focus on and appeal to football fans, providing real, reactive and opinionated views and discussions.

• /Flow 

Flow is a celebration of movement sports, in particular parkour. It brings together compelling new content from the world’s best urban movement athletes, powered by Base79′s parkour hub of more than 60 athletes and free-running content creators. Flow is a brand and platform to inspire and encourage young people to be active and adventurous.

•  Guinness World Records: OMG!, from Base79 and Guinness World Records 

 “Guinness World Records: OMG!” is a new YouTube channel highlighting YouTube stars who challenge and encounter record-breaking people and places. The channel features 100% new and original material from the legendary arbiter of all things record-setting and record-breaking.

•  Bad Teeth, from Base79 and Hat Trick Productions 

 Bringing sketches, animation, and celebrity guest-hosted pranks together for a thoroughly entertaining experience, Bad Teeth blends the funniest and most popular YouTube stars with mainstream celebrities from the Hat Trick stable to create unexpected, water-cooler content people will want to share.

UK-based media innovator secures four new channel partnerships, making it Europe’s largest YouTube original programming partner

8th October 2012 – Base79, one of Europe’s leading digital rights management and original programming companies, is bringing four new channels to YouTube as part of YouTube’s new original channels initiative, announced today.

After launching almost a hundred channels in the US, YouTube has announced has launched 46 new original channels in the UK, France and Germany, created specifically for today’s connected viewers, to its platform.

Headquartered in London and one of Europe’s fastest growing media companies, Base 79 is the largest original programming partner in Europe working with YouTube on these partnerships. The four great channels brought by Base79 are:

Guinness World Records: OMG, from Base79 & Guinness World Records

Launching on November 1st

Follow YouTube’s stars as they meet with some of the world’s most amazing record-breaking people and places, and challenge some records of their own!
“Guinness World Records: OMG!” is the brand new YouTube channel from the world’s global authority on record-breaking achievement. The channel features 100% new and original material from all 4 corners of the Guinness World Records globe.

www.youtube.com/gwromg

Bad Teeth, from Base79 & Hat Trick Productions

Launching on 30th December

Bad Teeth is mischievous, reactive and in need of a good dentist, this network brings sketches, animations and celebrity guest-hosted pranks for a thoroughly entertaining experience. Bad Teeth blends the funniest and most popular YouTube stars with mainstream celebrities from the Hat Trick stable to create unexpected, water-cooler content people will want to share.

www.youtube.com/badteeth

/Football

Launching on November 12th

With leading sports media company IMG as a key content producer, Slash Football is a premium video football network centred and driven by football fans. We have created a series of football shows that focuses on and appeals to football fans, to give real, reactive and opinion lead views and discussions.

www.youtube.com/football

/Flow

Launching soon

Flow is a celebration of Movement sports, in particular Parkour. It brings together compelling new content from the world’s best Urban Movement athletes, powered by Base79′s Parkour hub of over 60 athletes and free-running content creators. Flow is a platform to inspire and encourage young people to be active and engage in sports and fitness activities.

www.youtube.com/flow

Ashley MacKenzie, CEO, Base79 comments: “Today marks a great day in the development of our industry. The scale and opportunity for content creation is at a tipping point with genuine sustainability upon us at a mass level. We are hugely excited to be the largest partner in Europe working with YouTube on these partnerships bringing new content to 800 million people across the world”.

Base79 is exhibiting at MIPCOM, 04.29

Show media contact – Lucy Skinner on +44 (0) 7888753904 lucy.skinner@base79.com

About Base79
With offices in the world’s leading advertising markets, Base79 creates new profits within the fast-expanding world of online video and connected devices for all rights holders.

Base79′s unique rights management technology and media relationships create a generation of new, safe and powerful revenue opportunities for its partners. Our extensive catalogue of over three million videos from over 300 partners and independent production companies currently generates more than 20 million daily views globally.

Media Contacts

Lucy Skinner, Audience Development Manager UK
Tel: +44 (0) 207 928 7604 / +44 (0) 7888753904
lucy.skinner@base79.com

or

Blaise Hammond, Terranova PR
Tel: 07713 684597 / blaise@terranovapr.co.uk

Gulliver Smithers and Gideon Summerfield join Base79 from ITV and BBC respectively to head expansion into connected devices market

London, 20th October 2011 – Base79, the UK’s leading digital rights management and monetisation company, today announces the appointment of Gulliver Smithers as Chief Technology Officer and Gideon Summerfield as Head of Product Management.

Smithers and Summerfield will join Base79 to drive the company’s expansion into the connected devices market, focusing on the development of new products and applications for SmartTVs.

The dual appointment is part of a larger move to expand Base79’s business and technology beyond the web, and provide video-on-demand (VOD) services and content through a range of connected devices. Right-holders and advertisers will be able to engage with viewers through these new form factors, increasing and diversifying revenue opportunities from video consumption.

Smithers joins Base79 from ITV, where he spent six years overseeing and managing a variety of projects. During his time at ITV Smithers oversaw the rollout of the ITV Player across multiple platforms, headed ITV’s YouView project, launched several television channels in the UK and managed the outsourcing of ITV’s transmission operations. Prior to this, he worked on the development of digital TV hardware and software at Strategy & Technology Ltd and spent two years at BSkyB managing Sky’s interactive advertising products.

Summerfield spent over three years at the BBC prior to joining Base79, where he oversaw the expansion of the BBC iPlayer onto multiple connected platforms. This included working with device partners Sony, Nintendo, Sky, Microsoft, BT and Samsung to adapt the service to new devices, as well as managing an award winning HD catch-up service for Virgin Media.

“The increasing number of connected devices on the market is leading to greater demand for high-quality, on-demand content” comments Ashley MacKenzie, CEO, Base79. “With these appointments, we now have a strong and uniquely qualified team capable of building technology platforms for connected devices and SmartTVs.

“By developing new services and platforms, we’ll provide right-holders and producers with a unique opportunity to monetise their video content in this rapidly developing marketplace while giving advertisers the ability to target engaged viewers through these applications, as they currently do on the web.”

“With this opportunity in mind, we’re pleased to welcome our new team members and are confident they can capitalise on the continuing increase in demand for high-quality VOD content”.

London 15th September 2011 – myvideorights, the UK’s leading digital rights management and monetisation company, today rebrands to Base79 with the announcement of £2.75 million funding led by its principal investor, MMC Ventures. The Board and its existing angel investors have also participated in the funding round.

Based in London and New York, the company manages content for companies and artists including the Football Association, Mr Bean and Ministry of Sound, licensing this content to online publishers including YouTube, Hulu and Netflix. Base79 currently manages a network of content that generates over 375 million views per month.

The funding will be used to accelerate both the company’s international expansion across the US and Europe as well as significant product development initiatives that further improves its ability to distribute premium quality content across multiple platforms and devices.

The rebrand to Base79 reflects the company’s vision to be the leading creators of content driven value online. The company simplifies the digital video landscape to create new profits for rights holders, content publishers and advertisers throughout the world in TV entertainment, sports and music markets.

The rebrand and funding announcement comes as the company posted growth in revenues of 805% over the last two years, placing the UK innovator as the second fastest growing media company in Europe according to the GP Bullhound 2011 Media Momentum List. This accolade followed the company being named as one of four Cool Vendors in Media by Gartner in May 2011.

Ashley MacKenzie, Founder & CEO, Base79 comments: “Our offer is playing very well. We’re excited at the opportunities presented by an ever more connected world and there is no doubt in my mind that SMARTTV’s will revolutionise the TV value chain within 5 years allowing our video content to eventually reach a huge and engaged audience of billions, seamlessly. Our rebrand to Base79 is an exciting step in our evolution as a company with the vision to be the world’s leading creators and generators of content value online.”

“The investment led by MMC Ventures is a vital ingredient for tuning our operations to meet an aggressive growth plan. International expansion and product development including investment in technology underpinning content distribution to connected devices will accelerate our growth both in the UK and internationally.”

“MMC invests growth equity in dynamic young UK companies. We back companies at an early stage and work in partnership with them to grow to substantial scale and profitability,” says Tracy Dorée, MMC Ventures. “It’s clear that Base79 is realising its enormous potential and we’re excited to provide the investment that helps the company meet its international ambitions and expand its product offering for the benefit of their partners.”

New York, 11 May 2011- myvideorights (MVR), the expert in actively managing, distributing and monetizing professionally produced video online, has entered a distribution agreement with Hulu. The award-winning Rowan Atkinson
Live, Mr. Bean Live Action Series and Mr. Bean: The Animated Series will be distributed via the free, ad-supported Hulu.com and the Hulu Plus subscription service beginning today.

“We are continually working to optimize the distribution of our premium content worldwide and are very pleased to work with Hulu,” said Ron Schneier, COO of MVR North America. “This new opportunity enables Mr. Bean content to be accessed by the millions who watch quality videos on this online platform. We are very excited about further expanding our content library with Hulu.”

MVR will add the following videos to Hulu’s library:

• Rowan Atkinson Live, a one-hour compendium of the comedian’s live performances from 1981 to 1986
• 14 episodes of the Mr. Bean Live Action Series
• More than 50 episodes of Mr. Bean: The Animated Series.

New York, USA – 10 May 2011 – myvideorights (MVR), has been selected as one of only four companies highlighted in Gartner Inc’s prestigious Cool Vendors in Media, 2011 report. The list highlights innovative companies that have the potential to change or affect the market in a significant way and are at the forefront of some of the more vexing challenges facing media companies: monetization, tracking content assets and audience engagement across multiple platforms and networks, and how to reimagine new and compelling content experiences by linking two media formats – print and video.

“We feel our inclusion in Gartner’s Cool Vendors in Media report is validation of myvideorights’ expertise and the importance of managing and monetizing premium online video content,” said Ron Schneier, COO of MVR North America. “We continue to expand our portfolio of exclusive video content and work with a wide range of clients across music, sports, entertainment, documentary and film to grow their online audiences, protect their valuable content and achieve new revenue streams.”

This year’s Cool Vendors in Media report found that online video consumption continues to soar and usage trends will continue to put pressure on the licensing infrastructures and processes for rights holders while generating considerable consumer usage data that will need to be mined by advertisers.

New York, 3 May 2011 – myvideorights (MVR), the expert in actively managing and monetizing professionally produced video online, today announced the continued growth of its portfolio of record labels with the addition of Robbins Entertainment, a leading U.S. dance music label. The partnership is a result of record labels’ increased recognition of the importance for dedicated management and protection of music videos online.

Among Robbins artists are Cascada, whose smash “Evacuate The Dancefloor” was certified platinum for over one million downloads, and September, whose “Cry For You” was recently certified gold for more than 500,000 downloads. Other Robbins artists include Afrojack, DHT, Darude, Lasgo, Kim Leoni, AnnaGrace and DJ Sammy. Through its Active Rights Management, MVR will manage the label’s video digital rights and distribute its exclusive video content online via branded channels across video sharing and social media sites as well as new platforms such as mobile and Internet TV. Incorporating pre-roll advertising within Robbins’ premium content MVR will offer advertisers unprecedented exposure.

“Robbins Entertainment has an incredibly popular, valuable catalogue of artists and hit songs and they’re at the forefront of incorporating technology-enabled distribution into the business. The label already has a strong fan base within social networks and we will help expand its online audience, protect the artists’ content while delivering new revenue streams for Robbins,” said Ron Schneier, COO of MVR North America.

“Millions of fans view our artists’ videos online and it’s integral to our business that we properly manage and protect these assets,” said Lisa Levy, VP Sales & Production for Robbins Entertainment. “We’re excited to have myvideorights as a partner to help us better manage our rights and monetize our premium video content much more effectively.”

New York, USA – 22 March 2011 – myvideorights (MVR), the expert in actively managing and monetizing professionally produced video online, today announced a deal with Ultra Music, an independent electronic dance music label. Through its Active Rights Management, MVR will manage Ultra Music’s digital rights and distribute the label’s content online via branded channels across video sharing and social media sites as well as new platforms such as mobile and Internet TV. Incorporating pre-roll advertising within Ultra’s premium content MVR will offer advertisers unprecedented exposure.

Ultra Music was the most played dance label in 2010 Billboard and won the award for “Best American Dance Label” for the fifth year in a row at the 25th Annual International Dance Music Awards in March 2010. The label’s A&R division handled the certified double platinum 2009 hit “I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)” featuring Pitbull and earned the acclaim of being the #1 watched music video on YouTube in 2009. Last month the label achieved more than 80 million views worldwide. The label represents popular artists including Tiësto, deadmau5, Benny Benassi, Kaskade, Armin van Buuren, and more.

“myvideorights is well-known for its successful work with music companies in Europe and we’re excited to bring this expertise to the U.S. market with Ultra Records,” said Ron Schneier, COO of MVR North America. “We are extremely pleased to have Ultra as our partner as they have a premier catalog of quality artists. Ultra is one of the top-viewed record labels online and MVR will help further grow that audience while giving advertisers access to over 15 million unique monthly viewers.”

“Ultra’s massive success on YouTube demonstrates intense demand for high quality dance music videos. After several years of success on our own, we needed to find the right partner to help us manage our rights and monetize our video content effectively,” said Elliott Walker, Senior Director of Digital Development and Distribution at Ultra. “myvideorights has both the tools and the people to generate the results we need. I’m excited to be working with MVR to further our digital business.”