Collective Digital Studio
Entertainment company that produces, distributes, and markets intellectual property across digital and traditional platforms.
| Date | Investors | Amount | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
| investor | €0.0 | round | |
$240m Valuation: $240m | Merger | ||
| Total Funding | 000k | ||
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Collective Digital Studio (CDS) was an American entertainment and talent management company established in 2005 by Reza Izad, Dan Weinstein, Gary Binkow, and Michael Green, who were seasoned talent agency executives. The firm operated as a multi-channel network (MCN), focusing on the burgeoning digital video sector. CDS provided a suite of services to digital content creators, including sales and monetization through a national sales team, audience development, marketing, and in some cases, production financing and resources.
The company's business model centered on assisting digital stars with programming, funding, cross-promotion, partner management, and monetization to build their brands across various platforms like YouTube. It managed an extensive network of over 900 YouTube channels, including prominent creators like "The Annoying Orange," "Epic Meal Time," Rhett & Link, and Lilly Singh. A key part of its strategy involved creating crossover opportunities, successfully bringing online content to traditional television with shows like "FЯED" on Nickelodeon and "Epic Meal Empire" on FYI.
A significant milestone occurred in March 2014 when German media conglomerate ProSiebenSat.1 acquired a 20% stake in CDS. This partnership was designed to create a global MCN by combining CDS's portfolio with ProSiebenSat.1's own MCN, Studio71. By July 2015, ProSiebenSat.1 increased its stake to 75%, valuing the subsequent merger at approximately $240 million and forming a new combined entity named Collective Studio71. This move created a global player in the digital content market, with the merged company generating over 2 billion monthly video views. In January 2016, to unify its global brand, Collective Digital Studio was fully rebranded as Studio71. The original CDS founders, Michael Green and Reza Izad, continued to oversee operations in the Americas. In 2021, the founding team of Green, Izad, and Weinstein launched Underscore Talent, a new management company, returning to their roots of talent management.
Keywords: multi-channel network, MCN, digital content, creator economy, YouTube creators, talent management, influencer marketing, digital video, branded content, online video monetization, content distribution, ProSiebenSat.1, Studio71, Reza Izad, Michael Green, Dan Weinstein, The Annoying Orange, Epic Meal Time, Rhett & Link, content creators, digital entertainment