BroadbandTV Corp

BBTV is a Canadian media and technology company[1] founded by CEO Shahrzad Rafati in 2005. In 2019, the company was the second-largest video property by unique viewers, according to comScore.[2] Its head office is in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. BBTV's clients include the NBA, Paramount Global, and Sony Pictures.[3]

BBTV
TypePublic
TSX: BBTV
IndustryInternet Video
Founded2005
FounderShahrzad Rafati
Headquarters
Vancouver, British Columbia
,
Canada
Key people
Shahrzad Rafati (CEO)
Websitewww.bbtv.com

History

2005-2009

BBTV was founded as an OTT set-top box company in 2005, but the company soon turned to the digital video space. Rafati's idea was to create software which would change how companies approached piracy, resulting in technology which enabled companies to claim and monetize content uploaded by fans.[4]

In 2009, the NBA became a client of BBTV's and success monetizing NBA footage in fan videos led to organizations like Sony Pictures quickly signing up.[5] BBTV expanded to work with individual YouTube channels who also wanted to monetize their content.[4]

2010–2015

European media group RTL bought 51% of BBTV in 2013 for $36M USD.[6][7]

In fall 2014, BBTV opened offices in New York City, to host the company's branded entertainment division, which brokers deals between content creators and brands.[8]

By December 2015 BBTV had become the number one MCN globally, outperforming Disney's Maker Studios.[9] After that, the company began creating more content in-house.[10]

2016–present

In 2016, BBTV moved its Vancouver office to a bigger space.[11]

It expanded on its working relationship with Sony Pictures in 2018 by co-releasing the official Breaking Bad YouTube channel.[12]

In the same year, BBTV also launched its Interactive division, devoted to original games and mobile apps built around digital IP and audiences,[13] as well as its Distribution and Label services for artists.[14]

In 2019, BBTV announced that its content garnered 575 million unique viewers each month, making it second only to Google in terms of all monthly internet viewership, per a February 2019 comScore study.[15]

Investments, partnerships & acquisitions

In June 2013, BroadbandTV received a $36 million private placement from RTL Group. At the time, this marked the largest private placement into an internet media company in Canada since 2007.[6][7]

In April 2014, TV production firm FremantleMedia partnered with BroadbandTV to identify and manage user-uploaded content on YouTube for more than 200 shows, including American Idol, The Price Is Right, America's Got Talent, Baywatch, and The X Factor.[16] In September 2014, BBTV signed a multi-year original content agreement with FremantleMedia North America's digital studio, Tiny Riot "to produce original programming in the entertainment, gaming, and music genres."[10]

In August 2014, BBTV renewed its existing YouTube rights-management deal with the National Basketball Association to manage fan-uploaded content on the site.[17] The NBA channel is the largest professional sports channel on YouTube, boasting over 5.6 million subscribers and more than 2.2 billion page views at the time of the renewal.[18] In 2016, BBTV and The NBA also launched NBA Playmakers, a new digital entertainment brand focused around basketball culture.[19]

In April 2015, BroadbandTV acquired YoBoHo, which operates the HooplaKidz children's brand on YouTube. HooplaKidz is the largest preschool and K-12 educational digital-first producer on YouTube.[20]

In summer 2015, BroadbandTV partnered with leading YouTube analytics website SocialBlade "to supply data and services to its community of users".[21] SocialBlade previously offered partnership through Maker Studios' entry-level partnership program, Maker Gen.[22]

In August 2020, Jukin Media announced partnerships with BroadbandTV and Fullscreen.[23]

Technology brands

Its technology brands include VISO Catalyst,[24][25] VISO NOVI, and VISO Prism.[26]

Controversy

In 2023, BBTV was accused of withholding revenue from content creators on its networks, including YouTubers Ethan Klein, Pierce Alexander Kavanagh (Kavos), and Zack James (Yo Mama).[27][28][29] Klein repeatedly threatened legal action. Following backlash, the Twitter accounts for both the company and CEO Shahrzad Rafati were made private.[30] Klein and Kavanagh later confirmed that the owed revenue had eventually been paid.

References
  1. "BroadbandTV Content Partners Nominated for The 9th Annual Streamy Awards Which Honor Excellence in Online Video | Financial Post" (Press release). 2019-10-17. Archived from the original on 2019-11-16. Retrieved 2019-11-16.
  2. "BroadbandTV Now Viewed by More Than 575 Million Unique Viewers Each Month (and Represents 56% of Google's Unique Viewership)". www.bctechnology.com (Press release). Archived from the original on 2019-11-15. Retrieved 2019-11-16.
  3. Rockel, Nick. "STEM POWER: Shahrzad Rafati". BCBusiness. Archived from the original on 2019-11-15. Retrieved 2019-11-16.
  4. Blattberg, Eric. "From war zone to boardroom: The improbable rise of BroadbandTV's Shahrzad Rafati" Archived 2015-08-01 at the Wayback Machine Digiday
  5. BBTV and NBA extend relationship Archived 2018-04-12 at the Wayback Machine Advanced Television
  6. Parry, Jacob."BroadbandTV Inks $36-Million Deal with RTL Group" Archived 2016-04-23 at the Wayback Machine BC Business
  7. Barrett, Jessica. "Major European media firm invests in Vancouver’s BroadbandTV" Archived 2018-09-02 at the Wayback Machine. Vancouver Sun.
  8. Gutelle, Sam. "BroadbandTV Expands To The US With A New Office In New York" Archived 2015-06-24 at the Wayback Machine Tubefilter
  9. Spangler, Todd. "BroadbandTV Claims No. 1 MCN Spot, Topping Disney’s Maker Studios" Archived 2019-06-08 at the Wayback Machine Variety
  10. "BroadbandTV Inks Multi-Year Original Content Deal with FremantleMedia" Archived 2015-07-03 at the Wayback Machine The Video Ink
  11. Sundstrom, Lauren."BroadbandTV opens 30,000-square-foot Coal Harbour office, now world's third largest video property" Archived 2017-11-30 at the Wayback Machine Daily Hive
  12. Weiss, Geoff. "Sony, BroadbandTV Launch ‘Breaking Bad’ YouTube Channel On Show’s 10th Anniversary" Archived 2019-12-19 at the Wayback Machine Tubefilter
  13. Spangler, Todd (2018-01-10). "BroadbandTV Launches Interactive Games and Apps Division". Variety. Archived from the original on 2020-03-11. Retrieved 2019-11-16.
  14. "BBTV To Help Digital Musicians Secure Distribution On Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, More". Tubefilter. 2018-10-03. Archived from the original on 2019-11-16. Retrieved 2019-11-16.
  15. "Canadian Digital Network BroadbandTV Surpasses 575 Million Monthly Viewers". www.tubefilter.com. 11 June 2019. Archived from the original on 2019-11-16. Retrieved 2019-11-16.
  16. Spangler, Todd. "FremantleMedia Claims Rights to YouTube User-Uploaded Clips" Archived 2017-12-01 at the Wayback Machine Variety
  17. Patel, Sahil. "BroadbandTV and NBA Renew Deal for YouTube Rights Management" Archived 2015-08-02 at the Wayback Machine The Video Ink
  18. Salas, Jesus. "NBA and BroadbandTV Renew Their Deal" Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine Sport Techie
  19. Spangler, Todd. "NBA Launches Fan-Powered ‘Playmakers’ Video Network With BroadbandTV" Archived 2017-09-24 at the Wayback Machine Variety
  20. Spangler, Todd. "RTL’s BroadbandTV Acquires YoBoHo, YouTube Kids Multichannel Network" Archived 2017-09-27 at the Wayback Machine Variety
  21. Patel, Sahil. "BroadbandTV Cuts Exclusive Deal with YouTube Analytics Site Social Blade" Archived 2015-08-07 at the Wayback Machine The Video Ink
  22. "SocialBlade Announces Partnership with BroadbandTV" Archived 2016-05-11 at the Wayback Machine SocialBlade
  23. "BBTV | Jukin Media Announces First-Ever Self-Service Offering for Content Creators, Publishers to License User-Generated Content". Archived from the original on 2021-04-13. Retrieved 2021-03-11.
  24. Gutelle, Sam. "BroadbandTV Agrees To Manage FremantleMedia Shows On YouTube" Archived 2015-06-15 at the Wayback Machine Tubefilter
  25. Patel, Sahil. "BroadbandTV and NBA Renew Deal for YouTube Rights Management" Archived 2015-08-02 at the Wayback Machine The Video Ink
  26. "BroadbandTV Launches Brand Safety Video Solution VISO Prism | Financial Post". 2018-11-08. Archived from the original on 2019-11-15. Retrieved 2019-11-16.
  27. "BBTV RESOLVES DISPUTE WITH ETHAN KLEIN AS YOUTUBE CREATORS RAISE CONCERNS OVER REVENUE PAYOUTS". 18 April 2023.
  28. "BBTV Stole $620,000 From Me (...in my opinion)". YouTube.
  29. Pierce Alexander Kavanagh [@KavosYT] (March 14, 2023). "I have been with @BBTV for 5 years. Every month on the 15th of each month I have been paid for 5 years. Today everyone receives this email telling us, ONE DAY before pay day, that the payout has been moved to next month" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  30. "BBTV RESOLVES DISPUTE WITH ETHAN KLEIN AS YOUTUBE CREATORS RAISE CONCERNS OVER REVENUE PAYOUTS". 18 April 2023.
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