Misplaced Pages

Otter Media: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editContent deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 09:05, 3 April 2020 editTenshibeat (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users4,527 edits Ellation is not a division of Otter Media anymore, it is now a Crunchyroll company← Previous edit Latest revision as of 23:57, 6 January 2025 edit undoBoomfour (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users627 edits →External linksTags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit 
(163 intermediate revisions by 92 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|American media company}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox company {{Infobox company
| name = Otter Media Holdings, LLC | name = Otter Media Holdings, LLC
Line 4: Line 7:
| logo = Otter Media.svg | logo = Otter Media.svg
| industry = ] | industry = ]
| founded = {{start date and age|2014|4|22}} | founded = {{Start date and age|2014|4}}
| defunct = {{End date and age|2019|5|31}}
| fate = Folded into ]
| location = ], California, U.S. | location = ], California, U.S.
| key_people = Tony Goncalves (CEO)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/at-t-digital-executive-named-ceo-otter-media-1083802|title=AT&T Digital Executive Named CEO of Otter Media|website=hollywoodreporter.com}}</ref><br>Andy Forssell (COO) | key_people = Tony Goncalves (CEO)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/at-t-digital-executive-named-ceo-otter-media-1083802|title=AT&T Digital Executive Named CEO of Otter Media|website=hollywoodreporter.com|date=February 12, 2018}}</ref><br>Andy Forssell (COO)<br>Sean Kisker (CSO)
| products = OTT Services<br>Digital Networks<br>Film Production<br>Film Distribution<br>Online Television Programming<br>Events | products = OTT Services<br>Digital Networks<br>Film Production<br>Film Distribution<br>Online Television Programming<br>Events
| operating_income = $500 million (2014)<ref>{{cite web|last1=Spangler|first1=Todd|title=AT&T, Chernin Group Invest $500 Million in Over-the-Top Video Venture|url=https://variety.com/2014/digital/news/att-chernin-group-invest-500-million-to-form-over-the-top-tv-venture-1201160876/|publisher=Variety.com|accessdate=17 September 2016|date=22 April 2014}}</ref> | operating_income = $500 million (2014)<ref>{{cite web|last1=Spangler|first1=Todd|title=AT&T, Chernin Group Invest $500 Million in Over-the-Top Video Venture|url=https://variety.com/2014/digital/news/att-chernin-group-invest-500-million-to-form-over-the-top-tv-venture-1201160876/|publisher=Variety.com|access-date=September 17, 2016|date=April 22, 2014}}</ref>
| equity = | equity =
| parent = ] (2014-2019)<br>] (2014–2018)<br>] (2019)
| owner =
| parent = ]
| num_employees = 1,400 (2018) | num_employees = 1,400 (2018)
| divisions = | divisions =
| subsid = {{Plainlist|
⚫ * ]
* Crunchyroll Studios<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2018/digital/news/ellation-studios-crunchyroll-originals-high-guardian-spice-1202912537/|title=AT&T’s Ellation Launches Studios in Burbank and Tokyo to Produce Crunchyroll Originals|first=Janko|last=Roettgers|date=22 August 2018|website=variety.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.awn.com/animationworld/marge-dean-brings-anime-and-inclusion-together-crunchyroll-studios|title=Marge Dean Brings Anime and Inclusion Together at Crunchyroll Studios|website=Animation World Network}}</ref>
⚫ * ]
* ]
* ]
* ]<ref name="hello" />
⚫ * Gunpowder & Sky<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gunpowdersky.com/about-us/|title=About Us - Gunpowder & Sky|website=Gunpowder & Sky|accessdate=July 19, 2018}}</ref>
}}
| homepage = {{URL|www.ottermedia.com}}
}} }}


'''Otter Media Holdings, LLC''' was an American digital media company owned by ]. The company was founded in April 2014 by ] and ] as a holding company of the anime streaming service ], in which the latter invested in 2013.
⚫ '''Otter Media Holdings, LLC''' is an American digital media company owned by WarnerMedia Entertainment, a division of ]'s ]. It owns ], Crunchyroll Studios, ], ], and ], and holds ownership stakes in ] and Gunpowder & Sky.<ref name="Variety.com">{{cite web|last1=Roettgers|first1=Janko|title=Chernin, AT&T Set Brand for New Online Video Venture: Ellation (Exclusive)|url=https://variety.com/2015/digital/news/ellation-otter-media-att-peter-chernin-group-1201555464/|publisher=Variety.com|accessdate=17 September 2016|date=3 August 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Roettgers|first1=Janko|title=Chernin’s Otter Media Aims for More Than $200M Revenue This Year|url=https://variety.com/2015/digital/news/chernin-att-otter-media-200-million-plus-revenue-2015-1201633420/|publisher=Variety.com|accessdate=17 September 2016|date=4 November 2015}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2018/digital/news/att-chernin-j-v-otter-media-buys-out-remaining-fullscreen-crunchyroll-owners-1202675621/|title=AT&T-Chernin J.V. Otter Media Buys Out Remaining Fullscreen, Crunchyroll Owners|last=Roettgers|first=Janko|date=2018-01-24|work=Variety|access-date=2018-04-17|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/otter-media-buys-remainder-digital-businesses-fullscreen-ellation-1078100|title=Otter Media Buys Remainder of Its Digital Businesses Fullscreen, Ellation|website=The Hollywood Reporter|language=en|access-date=2019-10-03}}</ref>
⚫ In addition to Crunchyroll, it owned ] and held an ownership stake in ] with Floris Bauer.<ref name="Variety.com">{{cite web|last1=Roettgers|first1=Janko|title=Chernin, AT&T Set Brand for New Online Video Venture: Ellation (Exclusive)|url=https://variety.com/2015/digital/news/ellation-otter-media-att-peter-chernin-group-1201555464/|publisher=Variety.com|access-date=September 17, 2016|date=August 3, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Roettgers|first1=Janko|title=Chernin's Otter Media Aims for More Than $200M Revenue This Year|url=https://variety.com/2015/digital/news/chernin-att-otter-media-200-million-plus-revenue-2015-1201633420/|publisher=Variety.com|access-date=September 17, 2016|date=November 4, 2015}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2018/digital/news/att-chernin-j-v-otter-media-buys-out-remaining-fullscreen-crunchyroll-owners-1202675621/|title=AT&T-Chernin J.V. Otter Media Buys Out Remaining Fullscreen, Crunchyroll Owners|last=Roettgers|first=Janko|date=January 24, 2018|work=Variety|access-date=April 17, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/otter-media-buys-remainder-digital-businesses-fullscreen-ellation-1078100/|title=Otter Media Buys Remainder of Its Digital Businesses Fullscreen, Ellation|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=January 24, 2018|access-date=December 21, 2022}}</ref> AT&T would later acquire the remaining stake of Otter Media in 2018, which the subsidiary was folded into the ] subsidiary, and later divested Crunchyroll to ]'s subsidiary company ] in 2021.


==History== ==History==
In April 2014, ] and the ] established Otter Media as the 50:50 joint venture to offer ]. In April 2014, ] and the ] established Otter Media as the 50:50 joint venture to offer ]s.<ref>{{cite web|first=Todd|last=Spangler|title=AT&T, Chernin Group Name 2 Execs to Run Over-the-Top Video Venture|url=https://variety.com/2014/digital/exec-shuffle-people-news/att-chernin-group-name-2-execs-to-run-over-the-top-video-venture-1201317498/|website=Variety|date=September 30, 2014|access-date=February 22, 2022}}</ref>

In January 2016, Otter Media invested in ] (former CEO of ] Music Group) and Floris Bauer's Gunpowder & Sky, a digital content company which eventually merged with FilmBuff.<ref>{{cite web |title = Van Toffler Launches Digital Studio Backed by Chernin Group, AT&T |first = Todd |last = Spangler |url = https://variety.com/2016/digital/news/van-toffler-chernin-att-gunpowder-sky-studio-1201678626/ |website = ] |date = January 13, 2016 |accessdate = January 15, 2017 |archiveurl = https://www.webcitation.org/6mUfxArHQ |archivedate = December 4, 2016 |url-status = live }}</ref>

In November 2016, Otter Media and actress ] formed ], a joint venture focused on telling female-driven stories on film, TV, and digital platforms.<ref name="hello">{{cite web |title = Reese Witherspoon, Otter Media Pact For New Company Hello Sunshine |first = Anita |last = Busch |url = https://deadline.com/2016/11/reese-witherspoon-otter-media-new-company-hello-sunshine-1201858003/ |website = ] |date = November 21, 2016 |accessdate = January 15, 2017 |archiveurl = https://www.webcitation.org/6nWs3QER4 |archivedate = January 15, 2017 |url-status = live }}</ref> In July 2017, AT&T was reportedly looking to acquire full ownership of the company along with other joint ventures inherited in its acquisition of satellite TV provider ]. The company if it were to be fully acquired by AT&T will cost a valuation of $1 billion.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.recode.net/platform/amp/2018/1/18/16906042/cbs-viacom-merger-media-market-landscape-streaming|title=Here’s the chart that explains why CBS and Viacom want to merge|website=www.recode.net|language=en|access-date=2018-06-27}}</ref> Since February 2018, its CEO is Tony Goncalves (who was an AT&T Digital executive).

In January 2018, Otter Media bought the remaining stake in Ellation, the owner of ] and ], and integrated it as Otter Media's Consumer Division.<ref name=":0" />


In January 2016, Otter Media invested in ] (former CEO of ] Music Group) and Floris Bauer's Gunpowder & Sky, a digital content company, which eventually merged with FilmBuff.<ref>{{cite web |title=Van Toffler Launches Digital Studio Backed by Chernin Group, AT&T |first=Todd |last=Spangler |url=https://variety.com/2016/digital/news/van-toffler-chernin-att-gunpowder-sky-studio-1201678626/ |website=] |date=January 13, 2016 |access-date=January 15, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220052804/https://variety.com/2016/digital/news/van-toffler-chernin-att-gunpowder-sky-studio-1201678626/ |archive-date=December 20, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> In November 2016, Otter Media and actress ] formed ], a joint venture focused on telling female-driven stories on film, TV, and digital platforms; the company was later sold to a media company backed by the Blackstone Group.<ref name="hello">{{cite web |title=Reese Witherspoon, Otter Media Pact For New Company Hello Sunshine |first=Anita |last=Busch |url=https://deadline.com/2016/11/reese-witherspoon-otter-media-new-company-hello-sunshine-1201858003/ |website=] |date=November 21, 2016 |access-date=January 15, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116170515/https://deadline.com/2016/11/reese-witherspoon-otter-media-new-company-hello-sunshine-1201858003/ |archive-date=January 16, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/reese-witherspoon-hello-sunshine-sold-1235032618/|title=Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine Sold for $900 Million to Media Company Backed by Blackstone|date=August 2, 2021}}</ref>
On June 20, 2018, '']'' reported that AT&T was close to buying out Chernin's stake in Otter Media, on the heel of its acquisition of Time Warner (whose digital media holdings included ]).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.recode.net/2018/6/20/17481532/at-t-otter-media-chernin-group-fullscreen-crunchyroll|title=AT&T is getting ready to acquire all of Otter Media, the streaming video company it co-owns with Peter Chernin|work=Recode|access-date=2018-06-27}}</ref> On August 7, 2018, AT&T announced their acquisition of Chernin Group's stake in Otter Media for an undisclosed amount, believed to be around $1 billion.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2018/digital/news/att-buys-out-chernin-groups-stake-in-otter-media-1202898339/|title=AT&T Buys Out Chernin Group’s Stake in Otter Media|last=Spangler|first=Todd|date=2018-08-07|work=Variety|access-date=2018-11-22|language=en-US}}</ref>


In January 2018, Otter Media bought the remaining stake in Ellation, the owner of ] and ], and integrated it as Otter Media's Consumer Division.<ref name=":0" /> On June 20, 2018, '']'' reported that AT&T was close to buying out Chernin's stake in Otter Media, on the heel of its acquisition of Time Warner (whose digital media holdings included ]).<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.recode.net/2018/6/20/17481532/at-t-otter-media-chernin-group-fullscreen-crunchyroll |title=AT&T is getting ready to acquire all of Otter Media, the streaming video company it co-owns with Peter Chernin |work=Recode |access-date=June 27, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620153125/https://www.recode.net/2018/6/20/17481532/at-t-otter-media-chernin-group-fullscreen-crunchyroll |archive-date=June 20, 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref> On August 7, 2018, AT&T announced their acquisition of Chernin Group's stake in Otter Media for an undisclosed amount, believed to be around $1 billion.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://variety.com/2018/digital/news/att-buys-out-chernin-groups-stake-in-otter-media-1202898339/ |title=AT&T Buys Out Chernin Group's Stake in Otter Media |last=Spangler |first=Todd |date=August 7, 2018 |work=Variety |access-date=November 22, 2018 |language=en-US}}</ref> On August 22, 2018, Ellation formed Ellation Studios, a production studio with facilities in both the U.S. and Japan, to produce original content for Crunchyroll and VRV.<ref name="auto">{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2018/digital/news/ellation-studios-crunchyroll-originals-high-guardian-spice-1202912537/ |title=AT&T's Ellation Launches Studios in Burbank and Tokyo to Produce Crunchyroll Originals |first=Janko |last=Roettgers |date=August 22, 2018 |website=variety.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fiercevideo.com/video/deeper-dive-at-t-has-extra-svod-gems-crunchyroll-and-vrv |title=Deeper Dive—AT&T has extra SVOD gems in Crunchyroll and VRV |website=www.fiercevideo.com|date=August 23, 2018 }}</ref> On December 4, 2018, Otter announced a broad restructuring that would result in the layoff of about ten percent of its staff. As part of the reorganization, Machinima, which had been part of Warner Bros. Digital Networks, was re-organized under Otter Media. Ellation will now house Rooster Teeth, Crunchyroll, and VRV, while Machinima became a unit of Fullscreen.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2018/digital/news/otter-media-layoffs-machinima-reorg-1203079823/ |title=AT&T's Otter Media Lays Off 10% of Staff, Will Absorb Machinima in Reorg |last=Spangler |first=Todd |date=December 4, 2018 |website=Variety |language=en |access-date=December 5, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tubefilter.com/2019/01/22/machinima-wipes-youtube-channel/ |title=After Porting Its Creator Network To Fullscreen, Machinima Wipes Seminal YouTube Channel |last=Weiss |first=Geoff |date=January 22, 2019 |website=Tubefilter |access-date=January 24, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/1/19/18189611/machinima-youtube-fullscreen-warner-bros-multi-channel-network |title=Machinima, one of YouTube's biggest and oldest channels, goes dark |last=Alexander |first=Julia |date=January 19, 2019 |website=The Verge |access-date=January 19, 2019}}</ref>
On August 22, 2018, Ellation formed Ellation Studios, a production studio with facilities in both the U.S. and Japan, to produce original content for Crunchyroll and VRV.<ref name="auto"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fiercevideo.com/video/deeper-dive-at-t-has-extra-svod-gems-crunchyroll-and-vrv|title=Deeper Dive—AT&T has extra SVOD gems in Crunchyroll and VRV|website=www.fiercevideo.com}}</ref>


⚫ On March 4, 2019, following the reconstruction of WarnerMedia's businesses, Otter Media became part of ].<ref name="cnbc-wmreorganize">{{cite news |last1=Feiner |first1=Lauren |title=WarnerMedia reorganizes its leadership team after AT&T acquisition |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/03/04/warnermedia-reorganizes-its-leadership-team-after-att-acquisition.html |access-date=March 4, 2019 |work=CNBC |date=March 4, 2019}}</ref> However, on May 31, it was folded into the WarnerMedia Entertainment division.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Spangler |first1=Todd |title=WarnerMedia Reorg Gives Otter Media's Tony Goncalves Oversight of Streaming Service Development |url=https://variety.com/2019/digital/news/warnermedia-streaming-unit-otter-media-tony-goncalves-1203230363/ |access-date=July 9, 2019 |work=Variety |date=May 31, 2019 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Goldberg |first=Lesley |date=2019-05-31 |title=Otter Media Folded Into WarnerMedia Group |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/otter-media-folded-warnermedia-group-1214904/ |access-date=2024-12-25 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref>
On December 4, 2018, Otter announced a broad restructuring that would result in the layoff of about ten percent of its staff. As part of the reorganization, Machinima, which had been part of Warner Bros. Digital Networks, was re-organized under Otter Media. Ellation will now house Rooster Teeth, Crunchyroll, and VRV, while Machinima became a unit of Fullscreen.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2018/digital/news/otter-media-layoffs-machinima-reorg-1203079823/|title=AT&T’s Otter Media Lays Off 10% of Staff, Will Absorb Machinima in Reorg|last=Spangler|first=Todd|date=2018-12-04|website=Variety|language=en|access-date=2018-12-05}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tubefilter.com/2019/01/22/machinima-wipes-youtube-channel/|title=After Porting Its Creator Network To Fullscreen, Machinima Wipes Seminal YouTube Channel|last=Weiss|first=Geoff|date=2019-01-22|website=Tubefilter|access-date=2019-01-24}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/1/19/18189611/machinima-youtube-fullscreen-warner-bros-multi-channel-network|title=Machinima, one of YouTube’s biggest and oldest channels, goes dark|last=Alexander|first=Julia|date=2019-01-19|website=The Verge|access-date=2019-01-19}}</ref>


On December 9, 2020, ]-owned ] announced its acquisition of Crunchyroll from WarnerMedia for $1.175 billion. The deal was finalized on August 9, 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2020/digital/news/att-selling-crunchyroll-sony-funimation-1234850028/|title=AT&T to Sell Crunchyroll to Sony's Funimation for $1.175 Billion|last=Spangler|first=Todd|date=December 9, 2020|publisher=]|access-date=December 10, 2020}}</ref>
⚫ On March 4, 2019, following the reconstruction of WarnerMedia's businesses, Otter Media became part of ].<ref name="cnbc-wmreorganize">{{cite news |last1=Feiner |first1=Lauren |title=WarnerMedia reorganizes its leadership team after AT&T acquisition |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/03/04/warnermedia-reorganizes-its-leadership-team-after-att-acquisition.html |accessdate=March 4, 2019 |work=CNBC |date=March 4, 2019}}</ref> However, on May 31, it was transferred to the WarnerMedia Entertainment division in order to oversee ].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Spangler |first1=Todd |title=WarnerMedia Reorg Gives Otter Media’s Tony Goncalves Oversight of Streaming Service Development |url=https://variety.com/2019/digital/news/warnermedia-streaming-unit-otter-media-tony-goncalves-1203230363/ |accessdate=July 9, 2019 |work=Variety |date=May 31, 2019 |language=en}}</ref>


==Assets==
On September 2019, Crunchyroll announced it had acquired a majority stake in ] from ],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2019/09/06-1/crunchyroll-and-viz-media-europe-group-enter-a-new-relationship|title=Crunchyroll and VIZ Media Europe Group Enter a New Relationship|date=September 6, 2019|publisher=Crunchyroll|last=Coats|first=Cayla|accessdate=September 6, 2019}}</ref> and later rebranded Viz Media Europe as ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-04-02/viz-media-europe-sas-changes-name-to-crunchyroll-sas/.156353|title=Viz Media Europe SAS Changes Name to Crunchyroll SAS|date=April 2, 2020|last=Mateo|first=Alex|publisher=]|accessdate=April 2, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://vizeurope.com/en/component/k2/item/794-japanese-entertainment-emea-leader-viz-media-europe-rebrands-as-crunchyroll|title=JAPANESE ENTERTAINMENT EMEA LEADER VIZ MEDIA EUROPE REBRANDS AS CRUNCHYROLL|date=April 2, 2020|publisher=]|accessdate=April 2, 2020}}</ref> As a result, the Ellation name was moved from being Otter Media's Consumer Division to Crunchyroll's subsidiary in Moldova.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.linkedin.com/company/ellation/about/|title=Ellation|website=]|accessdate=April 3, 2020|quote=Ellation (a Crunchyroll company) was formerly the Consumer Division of WarnerMedia's Otter Media, which included industry leading brands Crunchyroll, Rooster Teeth, and VRV. We are transitioning the Ellation company name to focus on our team in Chișinău, Moldova.}}</ref>
* ] - formerly a division of ]
* ] - team laid off and company absorbed into WBD Ad Sales<ref>https://www.linkedin.com/company/fullscreen-inc {{Self-published source|date=June 2022}}</ref>
** McBeard
** Reelio
** ] - merged into Fullscreen in 2019
* ] (joint venture with ], Seth Rodsky and Emerson Creative) - sold
* ] – sold to ]'s ] in 2021
⚫ **]
**]
⚫ **]
**]
**]
**Crunchyroll Games
⚫ * ]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gunpowdersky.com/about-us/|title=About Us - Gunpowder & Sky|website=Gunpowder & Sky|date=August 22, 2017|access-date=July 19, 2018}}</ref> <small>(Joint venture with Floris Bauer)</small>


==References== ==References==
Line 53: Line 57:
* {{Official website|www.ottermedia.com}} * {{Official website|www.ottermedia.com}}


{{Warner Bros. Discovery}}
{{WarnerMedia Entertainment}}


] ]
] ]
] ]
]
]
] ]
] ]
]
] ]
]

Latest revision as of 23:57, 6 January 2025

American media company

Otter Media Holdings, LLC
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryMass media
FoundedApril 2014; 10 years ago (2014-04)
DefunctMay 31, 2019; 5 years ago (2019-05-31)
FateFolded into WarnerMedia
HeadquartersSanta Monica, California, U.S.
Key peopleTony Goncalves (CEO)
Andy Forssell (COO)
Sean Kisker (CSO)
ProductsOTT Services
Digital Networks
Film Production
Film Distribution
Online Television Programming
Events
Operating income$500 million (2014)
Number of employees1,400 (2018)
ParentAT&T (2014-2019)
The Chernin Group (2014–2018)
Warner Bros. Entertainment (2019)

Otter Media Holdings, LLC was an American digital media company owned by AT&T. The company was founded in April 2014 by AT&T and The Chernin Group as a holding company of the anime streaming service Crunchyroll, in which the latter invested in 2013.

In addition to Crunchyroll, it owned Rooster Teeth and held an ownership stake in Gunpowder & Sky with Floris Bauer. AT&T would later acquire the remaining stake of Otter Media in 2018, which the subsidiary was folded into the WarnerMedia subsidiary, and later divested Crunchyroll to Sony Pictures Television's subsidiary company Funimation Global Group, LLC in 2021.

History

In April 2014, AT&T and the Chernin Group established Otter Media as the 50:50 joint venture to offer OTT services.

In January 2016, Otter Media invested in Van Toffler (former CEO of Viacom Media Networks Music Group) and Floris Bauer's Gunpowder & Sky, a digital content company, which eventually merged with FilmBuff. In November 2016, Otter Media and actress Reese Witherspoon formed Hello Sunshine, a joint venture focused on telling female-driven stories on film, TV, and digital platforms; the company was later sold to a media company backed by the Blackstone Group.

In January 2018, Otter Media bought the remaining stake in Ellation, the owner of VRV and Crunchyroll, and integrated it as Otter Media's Consumer Division. On June 20, 2018, Recode reported that AT&T was close to buying out Chernin's stake in Otter Media, on the heel of its acquisition of Time Warner (whose digital media holdings included Machinima). On August 7, 2018, AT&T announced their acquisition of Chernin Group's stake in Otter Media for an undisclosed amount, believed to be around $1 billion. On August 22, 2018, Ellation formed Ellation Studios, a production studio with facilities in both the U.S. and Japan, to produce original content for Crunchyroll and VRV. On December 4, 2018, Otter announced a broad restructuring that would result in the layoff of about ten percent of its staff. As part of the reorganization, Machinima, which had been part of Warner Bros. Digital Networks, was re-organized under Otter Media. Ellation will now house Rooster Teeth, Crunchyroll, and VRV, while Machinima became a unit of Fullscreen.

On March 4, 2019, following the reconstruction of WarnerMedia's businesses, Otter Media became part of Warner Bros. Entertainment. However, on May 31, it was folded into the WarnerMedia Entertainment division.

On December 9, 2020, Sony-owned Funimation Global Group, LLC announced its acquisition of Crunchyroll from WarnerMedia for $1.175 billion. The deal was finalized on August 9, 2021.

Assets

References

  1. "AT&T Digital Executive Named CEO of Otter Media". hollywoodreporter.com. February 12, 2018.
  2. Spangler, Todd (April 22, 2014). "AT&T, Chernin Group Invest $500 Million in Over-the-Top Video Venture". Variety.com. Retrieved September 17, 2016.
  3. Roettgers, Janko (August 3, 2015). "Chernin, AT&T Set Brand for New Online Video Venture: Ellation (Exclusive)". Variety.com. Retrieved September 17, 2016.
  4. Roettgers, Janko (November 4, 2015). "Chernin's Otter Media Aims for More Than $200M Revenue This Year". Variety.com. Retrieved September 17, 2016.
  5. ^ Roettgers, Janko (January 24, 2018). "AT&T-Chernin J.V. Otter Media Buys Out Remaining Fullscreen, Crunchyroll Owners". Variety. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  6. "Otter Media Buys Remainder of Its Digital Businesses Fullscreen, Ellation". The Hollywood Reporter. January 24, 2018. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
  7. Spangler, Todd (September 30, 2014). "AT&T, Chernin Group Name 2 Execs to Run Over-the-Top Video Venture". Variety. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
  8. Spangler, Todd (January 13, 2016). "Van Toffler Launches Digital Studio Backed by Chernin Group, AT&T". Variety. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved January 15, 2017.
  9. Busch, Anita (November 21, 2016). "Reese Witherspoon, Otter Media Pact For New Company Hello Sunshine". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 16, 2017. Retrieved January 15, 2017.
  10. "Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine Sold for $900 Million to Media Company Backed by Blackstone". August 2, 2021.
  11. "AT&T is getting ready to acquire all of Otter Media, the streaming video company it co-owns with Peter Chernin". Recode. Archived from the original on June 20, 2018. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
  12. Spangler, Todd (August 7, 2018). "AT&T Buys Out Chernin Group's Stake in Otter Media". Variety. Retrieved November 22, 2018.
  13. Roettgers, Janko (August 22, 2018). "AT&T's Ellation Launches Studios in Burbank and Tokyo to Produce Crunchyroll Originals". variety.com.
  14. "Deeper Dive—AT&T has extra SVOD gems in Crunchyroll and VRV". www.fiercevideo.com. August 23, 2018.
  15. Spangler, Todd (December 4, 2018). "AT&T's Otter Media Lays Off 10% of Staff, Will Absorb Machinima in Reorg". Variety. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  16. Weiss, Geoff (January 22, 2019). "After Porting Its Creator Network To Fullscreen, Machinima Wipes Seminal YouTube Channel". Tubefilter. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  17. Alexander, Julia (January 19, 2019). "Machinima, one of YouTube's biggest and oldest channels, goes dark". The Verge. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  18. Feiner, Lauren (March 4, 2019). "WarnerMedia reorganizes its leadership team after AT&T acquisition". CNBC. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
  19. Spangler, Todd (May 31, 2019). "WarnerMedia Reorg Gives Otter Media's Tony Goncalves Oversight of Streaming Service Development". Variety. Retrieved July 9, 2019.
  20. Goldberg, Lesley (May 31, 2019). "Otter Media Folded Into WarnerMedia Group". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 25, 2024.
  21. Spangler, Todd (December 9, 2020). "AT&T to Sell Crunchyroll to Sony's Funimation for $1.175 Billion". Variety. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  22. https://www.linkedin.com/company/fullscreen-inc
  23. "About Us - Gunpowder & Sky". Gunpowder & Sky. August 22, 2017. Retrieved July 19, 2018.

External links

Warner Bros. Discovery
Executives
Board of directors
Senior management
Warner Bros.
Entertainment
Warner Bros.
Motion Picture Group
Warner Bros.
Television Group
United States
International
Other units
U.S. linear networks
Factual and Lifestyle Group
Entertainment Group
Kids & Family Group
(The Cartoon Network, Inc.)
FAST channels
  • Free TV Networks
    • The365
    • Outlaw
    • Dare (50%)
    • VCR Action
    • VCR Haha
  • WBTV
    • Watchlist
    • Keeping It Real
    • All Together
    • Sweet Escapes
    • Paws & Claws
    • Slice of Life
    • Welcome Home
    • At the Movies
    • How To
    • Supernatural
    • Crime Series
    • Mysteries
    • Love & Marriage
    • Family Rules
    • Cartoon Rewind
Home Box Office
CNN Worldwide
TNT Sports
Global Streaming
& Games
Global Experiences
DC Entertainment
International
Networks
Warner Bros. Discovery Americas
USA headquarters: Miami
LATAM headquarters: Buenos Aires, Mexico City, Santiago, São Paulo, Bogotá
Canada
Latin America, the Caribbean and Brazil
Warner Bros. Discovery Asia-Pacific
Headquarters: Singapore
Pan-Asia
East Asia
South Asia
Southeast Asia
Australasia
Australia
New Zealand
Online
Defunct
Warner Bros. Discovery EMEA
Headquarters: London and Amsterdam
France, Belgium & Switzerland
Germany, Benelux & CEE
Italy
Scandinavia
Iberia
UK & Ireland
Turkey
Middle East & Africa
Defunct
TVN Warner Bros. Discovery
Headquarters: Warsaw
TV channels
FAST channels
Online services
Other assets
Former units
from WB
from
Turner
from HBO
from
Discovery
& Scripps
See also
Categories: