FremantleMedia is best known for its work on TV, but the international production company continues to stake a larger claim in online video. It has acquired a majority stake in Divimove, one of the leading multi-channel networks (MCNs) in Europe.
The size of FremantleMedia’s investment was not disclosed, but the London-based company now controls 51% of the Berlin-based MCN. This deal continues an existing relationship between the two companies; FremantleMedia previously invested in Divimove back in 2013.
“Divimove‘s amazing growth is a result of an exceptional team and a great roster of content creators,” said Keith Hindle, FremantleMedia’s CEO of Digital and Branded Entertainment, in a release. “Divimove works with really exciting emerging talent across multiple markets, which fits our global TV production business well, and we look forward to working with them even more.”
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Divimove’s partner network spans more than 1,700 channels across Europe, which together claim 80 million subscribers and more than 900 million views. The most significant YouTuber within Divimove’s network is Elrubius, the Spaniard who gained more new subscribers in 2014 than all but eight other channels. In recent months, Divimove has improved its offerings in a number of key categories. It launched a program called Brandboost that pairs marketers with relevant YouTube creators, and it also opened a talent management division headed by former Warner Music exec Michael Brycz.
Beyond Divimove, FremantleMedia has also partnered with North American MCNs like StyleHaul, BroadbandTV, and Vice Media, and its TV credits include American Idol. It is a subsidiary of Bertelsmann‘s RTL Group; Bertelsmann, like Divimove, is based in Germany.
