Sky has invested $300,000 in LA-based TV4 Entertainment which owns a portfolio of niche interest television channels, distributed across online platforms in the US including Hulu, Amazon, Sony, Vimeo, YouTube, and Roku.
TV4’s strategy has been to acquire and aggregate high-quality video content into recognisable channel brands. Through more than 200 content partners, TV4 has licensed over 5,000 feature length and short form titles as well as many TV and web series.
TV4’s portfolio includes a dozen channels, reaching millions of unique users every month, in additional to more than 30 new channels which are in development. The current portfolio includes: DocComTV aimed at documentary devotees; All Warrior Network for fans of the warrior genre; Motorland; the Ultimate Champion Network which has programming for combat sports fans; and The Clarity Project, a channel exploring child illness.
The investment in TV4 builds on Sky’s ongoing programme of investing in innovative startups that help Sky bring new ideas, insight and services into its business. This follows recent investments in leading online sports network Whistle Sports, Pluto TV, the online video aggregator and the US ad tech firm Sharethrough. Sky has previously invested in a number of other pioneering US technology companies, including the IP streaming service provider Roku, cinematic virtual reality company, Jaunt and the OTT video delivery firm 1Mainstream.
“This exciting investment will help us develop our understanding of niche content genres and what audiences are most passionate about,” commented Emma Lloyd, director, corporate business development, Sky. “We are committed to developing partnerships right across our business that support and extend our leadership position in content and innovation. We look forward to working with the team at TV4 Entertainment as they continue to grow.”
Jon Cody, founder and CEO, TV4 Entertainment, said: “Our goal in this round of investment was to bring on strategic global investors that could unlock business opportunities as we expand internationally over the next year. Bringing Europe’s top entertainment company in Sky into the TV4 Entertainment family is the perfect fit for this mandate. We look forward to growing the value of the Company for our shareholders while bringing tomorrow’s television to viewers across the globe today.”
