BBTV is a Canadian media and technology company founded by CEO Shahrzad Rafati in 2005. In 2019, the company was the second-largest video property by unique viewers, according to comScore. Its head office is in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. BBTV's clients include the NBA, Paramount Global, and Sony Pictures.
BBTV completed an initial public offering of its subordinate voting stock on the Toronto Stock Exchange on October 28, 2020, valuing the Company's shares at C$16.00 per share. On January 10, 2024 the Company completed a "going-private" transaction whereby insiders of BBTV, including the Company's CEO Shahrzad Rafati, acquired the outstanding subordinate voting shares at a price of C$0.375 per share, representing a 98% decline in value from the Company's IPO.
History
2005-2009 BBTV was founded as an OTT set-top box company in 2005, but the company soon turned to the digital video space. Rafati's idea was to create software which would change how companies approached piracy, resulting in technology which enabled companies to claim and monetize content uploaded by fans.Blattberg, Eric. "From war zone to boardroom: The improbable rise of BroadbandTV's Shahrzad Rafati" Digiday
In 2009, the NBA became a client of BBTV's and success monetizing NBA footage in fan videos led to organizations like Sony Pictures quickly signing up.BBTV and NBA extend relationship Advanced Television BBTV expanded to work with individual YouTube channels who also wanted to monetize their content.
2010–2015 European media group RTL bought 51% of BBTV in 2013 for $36M USD.Parry, Jacob."BroadbandTV Inks $36-Million Deal with RTL Group" BC BusinessBarrett, Jessica. "Major European media firm invests in Vancouver’s BroadbandTV" . Vancouver Sun.
In fall 2014, BBTV opened offices in New York City, to host the company's branded entertainment division, which brokers deals between content creators and brands.Gutelle, Sam. "BroadbandTV Expands To The US With A New Office In New York" Tubefilter
By December 2015 BBTV had become the number one MCN globally, outperforming Disney's Maker Studios.Spangler, Todd. "BroadbandTV Claims No. 1 MCN Spot, Topping Disney’s Maker Studios" Variety After that, the company began creating more content in-house."BroadbandTV Inks Multi-Year Original Content Deal with FremantleMedia" The Video Ink
2016–present In 2016, BBTV moved its Vancouver office to a bigger space.Sundstrom, Lauren."BroadbandTV opens 30,000-square-foot Coal Harbour office, now world's third largest video property" Daily Hive
It expanded on its working relationship with Sony Pictures in 2018 by co-releasing the official Breaking Bad YouTube channel.Weiss, Geoff. "Sony, BroadbandTV Launch ‘Breaking Bad’ YouTube Channel On Show’s 10th Anniversary" Tubefilter
In the same year, BBTV also launched its Interactive division, devoted to original games and mobile apps built around digital IP and audiences, as well as its Distribution and Label services for artists.
In 2019, BBTV announced that its content garnered 575 million unique viewers each month, making it second only to Google in terms of all monthly internet viewership, per a February 2019 comScore study.
Investments, partnerships & acquisitions
In June 2013, BroadbandTV received a $36 million private placement from RTL Group. At the time, this marked the largest private placement into an internet media company in Canada since 2007.
In April 2014, TV production firm FremantleMedia partnered with BroadbandTV to identify and manage user-uploaded content on YouTube for more than 200 shows, including American Idol, The Price Is Right, America's Got Talent, Baywatch, and The X Factor.Spangler, Todd. "FremantleMedia Claims Rights to YouTube User-Uploaded Clips" Variety In September 2014, BBTV signed a multi-year original content agreement with FremantleMedia North America's digital studio, Tiny Riot "to produce original programming in the entertainment, gaming, and music genres."
In August 2014, BBTV renewed its existing YouTube rights-management deal with the National Basketball Association to manage fan-uploaded content on the site.Patel, Sahil. "BroadbandTV and NBA Renew Deal for YouTube Rights Management" The Video Ink The NBA channel is the largest professional sports channel on YouTube, boasting over 5.6 million subscribers and more than 2.2 billion page views at the time of the renewal.Salas, Jesus. "NBA and BroadbandTV Renew Their Deal" Sport Techie In 2016, BBTV and The NBA also launched NBA Playmakers, a new digital entertainment brand focused around basketball culture.Spangler, Todd. "NBA Launches Fan-Powered ‘Playmakers’ Video Network With BroadbandTV" Variety
In April 2015, BroadbandTV acquired YoBoHo; a company based in Mumbai, which operates the HooplaKidz children's brand on YouTube. HooplaKidz is the largest preschool and K-12 educational digital-first producer on YouTube.Spangler, Todd. "RTL’s BroadbandTV Acquires YoBoHo, YouTube Kids Multichannel Network" Variety
In summer 2015, BroadbandTV partnered with leading YouTube analytics website SocialBlade "to supply data and services to its community of users".Patel, Sahil. "BroadbandTV Cuts Exclusive Deal with YouTube Analytics Site Social Blade" The Video Ink SocialBlade previously offered partnership through Maker Studios' entry-level partnership program, Maker Gen."SocialBlade Announces Partnership with BroadbandTV" SocialBlade
In August 2020, Jukin Media announced partnerships with BroadbandTV and Fullscreen.
Technology brands Its technology brands include VISO Catalyst,Gutelle, Sam. "BroadbandTV Agrees To Manage FremantleMedia Shows On YouTube" TubefilterPatel, Sahil. "BroadbandTV and NBA Renew Deal for YouTube Rights Management" The Video Ink VISO NOVI, and VISO Prism.
Controversy In 2023, BBTV was accused of withholding revenue from content creators on its networks, including YouTubers Ethan Klein, Pierce Alexander Kavanagh (Kavos), and Zack James (Yo Mama). Klein repeatedly threatened legal action. Following backlash, the Twitter accounts for both the company and CEO Shahrzad Rafati were made private. Klein and Kavanagh later confirmed that the owed revenue had eventually been paid.
References