Broadband TV’s purchase of YoBoHo adds billions of views
Vancouver’s BroadbandTV has expanded its considerable reach on YouTube by buying YoBoHo, owner of one of the largest kids entertainment networks on the video-sharing website.
While BroadbandTV (BBTV) didn’t disclose the terms of the deal, it hailed it as one that will make the company the top multichannel network on YouTube. Along with YoBoHo’s HooplaKids, the acquisition adds 27 channels and YoBoHo’s library of 8,000 children’s videos, most produced by the company.
It also brings three billion views per year, which puts it among the top educational networks on YouTube for kids from preschool through high school. The deal boosts BBTV’s already meteoric growth. With this latest acquisition, BBTV’s online views have quadrupled since November 2013 to more than four billion a month.
The acquisition was funded by European entertainment network RTL Group, which announced a partnership with BBTV in 2013 with an initial $36-million US investment.
BBTV, which was founded in 2005 by chief executive Shahrzad Rafati, first launched as a tool to help large media companies organize and monetize video content on YouTube.
“We’re very pleased to conclude the acquisition of a top player in the kids space at a time when the kids (market segment) is experiencing burgeoning growth,” Rafati said in a release. “BBTV is also making a multimillion -dollar investment in YoBoHo to further expand its library of original content, broaden its international footprint, and further diversify its revenue streams.
“Given YouTube’s tremendous commitment and investments in the kids and family (market segment), we stand well positioned to capitalize on this momentum,” she said. “We’re now a leader in the industry in a number of major content verticals.”
Guillaume de Posch, co-CEO of RTL Group, said BroadbandTV represents two-thirds of RTL Group’s online video views.
“With significant investments in multi-channel networks, RTL Group has become the No. 2 player in the YouTube ecosystem in less than 24 months,” he said in a release.
YoBoHo’s 55 employees will join BBTV.