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Cineverse

From Alfawiki
Cineverse Corp.
Company typePublic
IndustryEntertainment
Founded2000
FounderBud Mayo
Headquarters
Los Angeles, California
,
United States
Key people
Chris McGurk (Chairman and CEO), Jeffrey Edell (CFO)
ProductsDigital cinema, streaming platforms, content marketing, film distribution services

Cineverse Corp.—previously known as Access IT Digital Media, Inc. and Cinedigm—is a U.S.-based entertainment firm located in Los Angeles, California. Its operations encompass digital cinema, streaming platforms, content marketing, and film distribution services.

Founding and Initial Development

Established in 2000 by entrepreneur Bud Mayo, who remained on the board until his retirement in 2010, the company adopted the name Cinedigm Corp. in 2013. Strategic leadership was strengthened in January 2011 when Chris McGurk was named chairman and CEO, guiding the company through its growth phase.

During 2011, Cineverse sold its physical and electronic distribution divisions to Technicolor and divested its cinema advertising unit to Screenvision, while entering into a long-term agreement with Screenvision for distribution and promotional activities. The company expanded its market presence by acquiring distributors such as New Video in 2012 and Gaiam Vivendi Entertainment in 2013, thereby broadening its content catalog.

In 2014, Cineverse introduced Docurama, an OTT channel dedicated to documentary films aimed at specialized audiences, further diversifying its streaming portfolio. That same year, Jeffrey Edell took on the role of CFO, reinforcing the company’s financial management. Cineverse is publicly traded on the NASDAQ stock exchange under the symbol CNVS, reflecting its transition toward digital content distribution and streaming services.

Growth in Video on Demand

In February 2015, Cinedigm collaborated with Wizard World to launch CONtv. By June of that year, it acquired a minority interest in Shout! Factory. September brought a partnership with The Dove Foundation to develop The Dove Channel, focusing on faith-oriented streaming content.

December 2017 marked a shift in ownership as Hong Kong-based Bison Capital took control of Cinedigm, initiating one of the pioneering studio partnerships between China and the U.S.

On February 5, 2019, Cinedigm purchased streaming platform Viewster along with its Viewster Anime division. Subsequently, Viewster merged with CONtv and was rebranded as CONtv Anime in June 2020.

In April 2019, Cinedigm secured licensing agreements with Chinese companies CCTV, China Lion, Starrise Media, and Youku to launch Bambu—a film and entertainment service that premiered on October 22, 2019.

The company further expanded its holdings in 2020 by acquiring The Film Detective, a network specializing in classic films.

In February 2021, Cinedigm added the horror streaming service Screambox to its portfolio. Later that year, on September 21, it acquired Bloody Disgusting and consolidated Screambox under this brand to enhance its offerings within the horror genre.

August 2021 saw a partnership formed with filmmaker Robert Rodriguez to revive the former cable channel El Rey Network as a streaming platform.

In December 2021, Cinedigm entered into a strategic agreement with SideStream, a platform for live video streaming.

By March 2022, Cinedigm had acquired Digital Media Rights for $16.4 million. This acquisition included control over several ad-supported streaming properties such as Cinehouse (formerly YuYu), AsianCrush, RetroCrush, Midnight Pulp, Cocoro (now discontinued), and KMTV—substantially growing its digital media presence.

Cineverse introduction and corporate rebranding

On September 15, 2022, Cinedigm unveiled Cineverse, its premier streaming platform that integrates offerings from its AVOD (advertising-supported video on demand) and FAST (free ad-supported television) services.

By May 2023, the firm underwent a rebranding to become Cineverse Corp. and commenced trading on the NASDAQ stock exchange under the symbol CNVS, signaling a strategic transition toward focusing on streaming content and related technologies.

In June 2023, Cineverse finalized a content agreement with Sid and Marty Krofft Pictures, obtaining global digital distribution rights to their catalog, except for certain titles controlled by Paramount and Amazon MGM Studios. The company intends to launch the Sid and Marty Krofft Channel, a video-on-demand service, on February 5, 2024.

Television and streaming

By 2023, Cineverse managed or owned a diverse array of streaming brands across its platforms, including:


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