New Deals in Sports, News and Entertainment

RNS Number : 7704U

Rightster Group PLC

05 December 2013

 

5 December 2013

Rightster Group plc

("Rightster", the "Group", or the "Company")

Rightster Announces New Deals in Sports, News and Celebrity Entertainment

Rightster Group plc (LSE AIM: RSTR), which provides cloud-based services that optimise the distribution and monetisation of live and on-demand video, is pleased to provide the following update on progress in the business.

The Australian Football League ("AFL") and Rightster have announced a four year deal for AFL's International Live Streaming Subscription Service, AFLTV, to cover the 2014, 2015 and 2016 AFL Premiership seasons.  The service, which Rightster built and operates on the AFL's behalf, offers live and on-demand coverage of every AFL Premiership match to fans all over the world. During the 2013 Toyota AFL Premiership Season, AFLTV reached thousands of fans in over 216 countries, delivering over 2.5 million streams culminating in Hawthorn's comprehensive win over Fremantle in the Grand Final.  The extension will also see the AFL and Rightster work closely together to deliver added value to AFL Commercial Partners and explore other digital initiatives together.

Furthermore, the Company has added high quality content creators to its sports, entertainment, fashion and news verticals. New additions include Splash News TV, Hollywood's leading entertainment and celebrity news agency and sports lifestyle multi-platform media company RedBull Media House.

Later today, Rightster will be live streaming the Press Association's coverage of George Osbourne's Autumn Statement from the Houses of Parliament, making it available to Rightster's Network of Publishers, including AOL.

Rightster's upload once, monetise everywhere model allows new content creators to share online videos worldwide, accessing a huge array of publishers at the touch of a button. The new additions to the network increase both the volume of quality content available for publishing and distribution partners to access and the audiences available to content producers - increasing opportunities for advertising revenues.

Charlie Muirhead, CEO and founder of Rightster, commented:

"Digital media has transformed the way fans feed their passion for sports. Leagues, Clubs and Federations are seeking new ways to understand and engage with fans whilst delivering live and on-demand action to them wherever they may be; be that at home on a PC or on the move on their mobile device. At Rightster we're working with sports, fashion, news and entertainment brands to collate their audience data and insights across more channels to unlock new opportunities."

"We're naturally delighted that so many exciting channels, producers and publications are joining the network. By working with us rights holders like the AFL are able to focus their attention on delivering great sport to their fans."

General Manager - AFL Media, Peter Campbell, said "We're pleased to announce this extension of our relationship with Rightster. As the importance of digital platforms, fan engagement and digital revenue grows, we believe Rightster are the perfect partner to help us build our sport and business in this area.  They offer us the transparency and control we feel is vital to success."

For further information please contact:

Rightster plc	via Newgate Threadneedle
Charlie Muirhead, CEO
Charl de Beer, CFO
Cenkos Securities	Tel: [phone]
Max Hartley (Nomad) / Julian Morse (Sales)
Newgate Threadneedle	Tel: [phone]
Caroline Evans-Jones/ Josh Royston/ Heather Armstrong

About Rightster Group plc

Founded in May 2011 by CEO Charles Muirhead, Rightster is a global business to business video network for 360° distribution, content-sourcing, audience engagement and monetisation. Rightster's software and services make it simple for sports, fashion, news, entertainment and viral rights holders to enhance the value of their video whether on a licenced, ad-funded, direct to consumer or paid placement basis.

Rightster's network currently stands at over 750 content owners and over 6,500 publishers. The Group employs approximately 200 staff in 11 offices across 9 countries.

 

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