AwesomenessTV and Endemol Beyond Enter International Strategic Partnership

LOS ANGELES, AMSTERDAM and LONDON, October 5, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

Multi-year deal partnering Endemol Shine Group's digital network and AwesomenessTV will expand international presence for leading teen brand  

Global content creator, producer and distributor Endemol Shine Group and AwesomenessTV, a multi-platform media company serving the global teen and young millennial audience, today announced they are entering into a strategic partnership to extend the international reach of the AwesomenessTV brand.  

Under the multi-year deal, Endemol Shine Group's premium channel network (PCN) Endemol Beyond will launch local language, owned and operated AwesomenessTV channels in key markets outside the U.S., including the UK, France, Germany, Spain and Brazil.

Endemol Beyond will also support and further grow the existing AwesomenessTV roster of talent led channels in these markets, as well as incubate new talent and verticals across the network.  

The strategic partnership will leverage popular digital video formats as well as AwesomenessTV hit franchises such as docu-reality series Cheerleaders and interview-based strand IMO.

New original content created under the agreement will include long-form AwesomenessTV series and formats for both digital video and television distribution.  

Endemol Shine Group will work with AwesomenessTV to distribute formats as well as finished digital and television series, such as the highly successful sketch comedy series AwesomenessTV on Nickelodeon.  It will also use its global distribution resources to roll out locally created series and formats into new markets around the world.

"Partnering with Endemol Shine Group will enable us to expand our footprint to reach teen audiences in their local languages with content produced just for them," said Brian Robbins, CEO and Founder, AwesomenessTV. "We will also be able to offer creative talent in these markets the same opportunities as those in the U.S., including brand deals, marketing support and premium production."

"AwesomenessTV and Endemol Shine Group are ideally matched as two creatively driven companies with fast growing digital networks that break the mold of the traditional MCN," said George Ramme, Managing Director, International, Endemol Beyond.  "AwesomenessTV has undergone explosive growth in recent years by building a powerful global brand, which already has a loyal worldwide fan base outside the U.S.  This partnership will amplify both their network and ours, whilst launching new talent and content with strong advertiser appeal, which can play across digital and TV platforms around the world."

Endemol Shine Group has creative operations in over 30 markets, with a diverse portfolio of over 600 revenue generating titles across scripted and non-scripted genres, coupled with digital, gaming, and distribution operations.  

In November 2013 the company launched Endemol Beyond, the first premium content network (PCN) with local hubs in the US, UK, Germany, France, Italy, The Netherlands and Spain as well as in Asia, Latin America and Central and Eastern Europe.  

Now among the world's top MCNs, Endemol Beyond produces and distributes premium-quality online content, which is currently generating over 1.8 billion views per month.  This includes international formats such as Legends of Gaming, Rule'm Sports and lifestyle brand ICON, which are being adapted and locally produced in markets around the world.

Endemol Beyond features influential talent such as Pitbull, Michelle Phan, Brittany Furlan, KSI, Drea De Matteo and Andy Milonakis, across lifestyle, comedy, reality and music-themed digital networks.

Endemol Shine Group also incorporates global distribution arm Endemol Shine International, which has a catalogue of over 38,000 hours of owned and third party programming across scripted and non-scripted genres.  Endemol Shine International has regionally focused distribution hubs in London, Los Angeles, Paris, Sydney, Miami, Moscow, Singapore and Mumbai, which serve broadcasters and other platforms in every market.

Moving beyond its roots as a YouTube channel and multi-channel network, AwesomenessTV has become a multi-platform entertainment company producing hit television series for Nickelodeon and Netflix, theatrical films including Expelled, the No. 1 social movie* for 2014, and 180 hours of original content for Verizon.

*based on six weeks of Twitter

About AwesomenessTV  

AwesomenessTV is a multi-platform media company owned by DreamWorks Animation (Nasdaq: DWA) and Hearst Corporation, the latter of which has a 25 percent interest. Included under the AwesomenessTV banner are AwesomenessTV, a leading YouTube channel serving the global Gen Z audience; the ATV Network, a community based MCN with over 90,000 channels; DreamWorksTV; Awestruck; Big Frame; as well as consumer products, music, publishing, and branded entertainment divisions. AwesomenessTV also produces television series and theatrical films, such as Expelled and SMOSH:  The Movie; the AwesomenessTV series and Terry The Tomboy movie on Nickelodeon; and Richie Rich and Project MC²on Netflix. AwesomenessTV was founded by Brian Robbins (Smallville, Varsity Blues, All That) and Joe Davola (In Living Color, Smallville, MTV Networks). Check out http://www.awesomenesstv.com.

ABOUT ENDEMOL SHINE GROUP 

Endemol Shine Group is the new joint venture bringing together Endemol, Shine and CORE Media, to create a global content creator, producer and distributor with a portfolio of international hits including American Idol, Big Brother, Black Mirror, Broadchurch, Bron/Broen, Deal or No Deal, Grantchester, Man vs. Food, MasterChef, Mr. Bean, One Born Every Minute, Peaky Blinders, So You Think You Can Dance, The Biggest Loser, The Fall, The Money Drop, Wipeout, and many more.

Endemol Shine Group's businesses have creative operations in over 30 markets, with a diverse portfolio of over 600 revenue generating formats across scripted and non-scripted genres; coupled with digital, gaming, and distribution operations.  

21st Century Fox and funds managed by affiliates of Apollo Global Management, LLC jointly manage Endemol Shine Group, with each owning 50 per cent. CORE Media continues to retain its own capital structure within the new joint venture.  

For more information:
Charlie Gardner
Endemol Shine Group
Tel: +1-323-356-3334 
[email protected]  

Rachel Hassall
Endemol Shine UK
Tel: +44-7970-606-803
[email protected]

Rachel McCallister
MPRM Communications
Tel: +1-323-933-3399
[email protected]

Nick Jones
MPRM Communications
Tel: +1-323-933-3399
[email protected]

SOURCE Endemol UK