Thursday, September 10, 2009

Studio One Networks Launches Venture Capital Operation

STUDIO ONE NETWORKS LAUNCHES VENTURE CAPITAL OPERATION

Unique venture program will provide exposure for innovative content and media technology firms, and assist creators of groundbreaking programming and interactive services for the Internet and beyond.

NEW YORK, September 10, 2009 – Further strengthening its position as the leading Internet content syndication service worldwide by meeting the diverse needs of its rapidly expanding user base, Studio One Networks announced the launch of Studio One Networks Ventures, which will make equity investments in media and technology companies in exchange for inclusion and promotion in the award-winning programming of Studio One Networks.

Studio One Networks Ventures is unique in the marketplace because it serves as a content development studio, a network platform, and a venture capital program for entrepreneurs, start-up companies and independent innovators in the creation of groundbreaking interactive content and technology solutions. The Ventures division will focus on the delivery of new services, enhancement of existing products, entry or expansion into key strategic marketing and critical research and development activities. Selected companies will have access to Studio One’s market-leading syndication network and its 120 million monthly unique users. In return, Studio One Networks Ventures will receive an equity position in these companies, enabling it to share in their future success.

Andrew Susman, CEO of Studio One Networks, said, “This program will help ensure that we continuously re-define ‘state of the art’ in content and content enhancements. We developed Ventures to identify and provide an accelerator effect for entrepreneurs who are developing content and technologies that take advantage of the vast possibilities of the Internet and serve the needs of our audiences, media partners and supporting sponsors.

“The formation of Ventures also demonstrates Studio One’s commitment to the innovation community, which we’ve been a part of for more than a decade,” Mr. Susman continued. “We all remember people who believed in us early on and gave us an opportunity. We want Studio One Ventures to be that kind of entity.”

The Managing Director of Studio One Networks Ventures is Victor Lee, who was previously Director of Capital Cities Capital, a venture capital operation that invested in media and technology companies in exchange for providing access to the media assets of Capital Cities/ABC. Mr. Lee was also previously President of U.S. Broadcast Services for Medialink Worldwide, a leading broadcast public relations firm, and President of Brandstands International, a digital out-of-home video network.

Mr. Susman added, “Victor has the perfect background in finance and media to run this operation for us, based on his experience with a very similar program at Capital Cities Capital, as a private equity investor at the IBM pension fund and as head of strategic planning at Time Inc.”

About Studio One Networks

Established in 1998, Studio One Networks pioneered the discipline of Internet content syndication for megabrands and major media partners. Today, Studio One is the oldest, largest and most successful firm in the field. Studio One has amassed a loyal group of exclusive sponsors. Their programs include Iams (The Dog Daily), Symantec (Your Security Resource) and Bridgestone (Driving Today). Every day, Studio One reaches more than 112 million viewers globally through 500 syndication partners in 14 languages.