Viacom unit MTV Networks purchased streaming video purveyor IFILM for $49
million, the latest example of media companies snapping up profitable
businesses that use the Internet as a medium for online advertising sales.
The viral and user-generated nature of IFILM, which boasts over 10 million
monthly users who tap into the network for short films, TV clips, and music
videos and action sports, will help MTV Networks boost its online
advertising inventory.
“With IFILM’s strong business profile and growing traffic, we see
significant opportunities for us to increase our online advertising
revenue,” said MTV Networks President and CEO Judy McGrath.
One of the first and most popular companies to sprout and pipe movies over
the Web, IFILM features a broad assortment of programming from Hollywood
studios and amateur filmmakers. The site could help MTV broaden its appeal
among the coveted 19- to 34-year-old demographic.
IFILM will stay in Hollywood and will continue to be run by CEO Blair
Harrison. He will report to Jason Hirschhorn, senior vice president, digital
music and media, MTV Networks.
“IFILM has been a major catalyst of online viral video and allows consumers
to become publishers. MTV Networks wants our audience to share the stage and
program to one another,” Hirschhorn said in a statement. “We look forward to
growing its user base and business opportunities together.”
Hirschhorn also said owning IFILM could also lead to partnerships with MTV
Networks’ MTV, MTV2, mtvU, Comedy Central, SpikeTV and VH1 brands.
The deal for IFILM follows MTV Networks’ June $160 million purchase of
Neopets, a community Web site geared toward tweens and teens, with over 100
million accounts.
More broadly, the deal will help Viacom keep pace with chief rival News
Corp., which has been snapping up several online media firms. While Viacom’s
MTV Networks landed NeoPets, News Corp. outbid Viacom for Intermix Media
Inc. and IGN Entertainment, shelling out more than $1 billion for the two
profitable Net businesses.
MTV Networks’ parent Viacom has been making other moves to become more
effective at competing with News Corp. and Time Warner.
Last June, Viacom’s board of directors approved the creation of two separate
publicly traded companies through a spin-off to Viacom stockholders. The
spin-off will keep the Viacom name and include MTV Networks, BET, Paramount
Pictures, Paramount Home Entertainment and Famous Music.
The other company, CBS Corporation, will include CBS and UPN broadcast
networks, Viacom Television Stations Group, Infinity Broadcasting, Viacom
Outdoor, the CBS, Paramount and King World televisions production and
syndication operations, as well as Showtime, Simon & Schuster and Paramount
Parks.
The spin-off is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2006.