Investment comes alongside plans to focus on US growth
Distribution firm Merzigo is to spend $200m in content next year as it looks to ramp up its focus on the US.
The investment will focus on striking content agreements with studios, broadcasters, and producers; licensing shows for new territories, audiences and platforms; and providing direct investment through Merzigo Studios in YouTube-first, scripted and unscripted productions.
Merzigo Studios is one of four divisions being created alongside Merzigo Platforms, Merzigo Ad Alliance, and Merzigo Academy.
The quartet will operate around the company’s core business, which monetises content on YouTube and Facebook.
Merzigo Studios will act as the group’s content investment, licensing and production business, identifying and licensing content and IP, as well as investing directly into YouTube-first, scripted and unscripted projects.
Merzigo Platforms will house its technology teams and Merzigo Ad Alliance aims to allow global brands to connect with audiences and its inventory. It will launch initially in EMEA, with further markets to follow. Merzigo Academy, initially established in 2021, will focus on expanding its training schemes to more areas of the industry.
The company said the new structure would enable it to work with partners across the lifecyle of shows, from financing to production and monetisation.
Yigit Dogan Celik, chairman and chief exec, said the move would provide each division with “its own mandate and ambition, while together they strengthen what we can offer partners and the value we can create across the content lifecycle.”
Merzigo also said it has spent more than $150m on funding content this year, with more than 2,000 hours of YouTube-first shows and in excess of 100 hours of scripted programming supported.
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