Dori Media Group
| Company type | Public (until 2011) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Media, television production, digital content |
| Founded | 1996 |
| Founder | Yair Dori |
| Headquarters | Tel Aviv , Israel |
Area served | Israel, Switzerland, Argentina, Spain, Singapore, Indonesia, Eastern Europe |
Key people | Yair Dori (founder) |
| Products | Television series, digital media content, online video platforms, TV channels |
Dori Media Group Ltd. (DMG) operates as a global media enterprise with a presence in Israel, Switzerland, Argentina, Spain, and Singapore. The firm specializes in creating and distributing television and digital media content, alongside managing online video platforms.
History
Established in 1996 by Yair Dori, who initially imported Argentine soap operas into Israel during the early 1990s, Dori Media leveraged the popularity of Latin American telenovelas, which led to the creation of dedicated cable channels for this genre.
After the Israeli success of the soap opera Chiquititas, Dori Media invested in producer Cris Morena's 2001 project Rebelde Way. This series gained popularity both in Argentina and Israel, was licensed to over 50 countries worldwide, and inspired adaptations such as Mexico’s Rebelde and India’s Remix. Additionally, Dori Media supported Morena’s Rincon de Luz in 2003.
When Morena concluded production of Rebelde Way in 2003, Dori Media secured distribution rights for her subsequent series Floricienta across Eastern Europe. The company broadened its co-production efforts with Argentine studios like Pol-ka, resulting in shows such as Hombres de honor, Padre Coraje, Sos Mi Vida, and Dr. Amor. Collaboration with Central Park Productions SA on the hit series Lalola led to Dori Media acquiring a 50% ownership stake in 2007. In 2009, Sony Pictures Television and Fox Broadcasting developed an American pilot titled "Eva Adams," based on Lalola, but it was not commissioned for a full series.
On 21 March 2005, Dori Media conducted an initial public offering (IPO) on the London Stock Exchange’s Alternative Investment Market, raising £3.23 million at a valuation of £21.82 million with shares priced at 118 pence each. The stock price reached a high of 190 pence in 2007 before falling below its initial offering price.
In 2006, Dori Media produced its first independent Argentine television series, El Refugio (de los Sueños), utilizing talent from Rebelde Way. By 2007, it became the pioneer telenovela partner channel on YouTube, quickly amassing over 8 million views. That same year, founder Yair Dori divested most of his shares to Mapal Communications Ltd. and Miella Venture Partners Inc.
In 2009, the company created "uMan," an interactive reality TV format allowing audiences to direct participants' decisions over a 21-day period; this format was subsequently sold to multiple European broadcasters.
Dori Media withdrew from the London Stock Exchange in May 2011.
In 2014, the group launched MeMeMe Studios, Israel’s first Multi-Channel Network dedicated to producing and distributing digital content predominantly through YouTube.
TV Channels
Dori Media introduced two Israeli cable channels in 1999: Viva and Viva Platina, which showcased Latin American soap operas alongside locally produced Hebrew programming.
In Indonesia, the company developed FMN and Baby TV (previously known as Televiva). In April 2013, Sony Pictures Television acquired a 50% interest in Dori Media’s Indonesian operations. The following year, Sony also purchased half ownership of the Israeli channels Viva and Viva Platina, as well as the VIVA Walla online FVOD platform. These assets were merged under the entity Dori TLV. Following a fruitful collaboration, Dori Media repurchased Sony’s 50% stake in Dori TLV between 2020 and 2021.
In 2024, Telad Jerusalem Studios took ownership of Dori TLV, including Dori Media Ot.