Hearst Communications

Founded in 1887, Hearst Communications is a diversified American media and information company. It publishes newspapers and magazines worldwide, operates television stations and cable networks, and provides information services to various industries.

Ken Bronfin

Senior Managing Director and Head of International Investments

Scott English

Senior Managing Director and Head of US Investments

David Famolari

Managing Director

Darcy Frisch

Vice President

Megumi Ikeda

Managing Director, Europe at Hearst Ventures

Past deals in Video Streaming

Motor Trend

Acquisition in 2024
MotorTrend Group is the largest automotive media company in the world, incorporating a direct-to-consumer network, an extensive automotive digital operation, a massive social media presence, and a live event portfolio—all driven by industry-leading brands including MotorTrend, HOT ROD, and Roadkill. the group encompasses television’s No. 1 network for automotive superfans, a leading automotive YouTube Channel, and the MotorTrend App—our auto-dedicated subscription video-on-demand service.

tvScientific

Convertible Note in 2024
tvScientific is a platform that makes TV advertising accessible and measurable for brands and apps of all sizes. It leverages data to prove the value of TV ads, simplifies buying and optimization processes, and provides real-time reporting. Its Always-On Incrementality testing feature offers insights into the incremental value of CTV campaigns.

tvScientific

Series A in 2022
tvScientific is a platform that makes TV advertising accessible and measurable for brands and apps of all sizes. It leverages data to prove the value of TV ads, simplifies buying and optimization processes, and provides real-time reporting. Its Always-On Incrementality testing feature offers insights into the incremental value of CTV campaigns.

iflix

Corporate Round in 2019
iFlix Sdn Bhd is a digital entertainment service provider based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, founded in 2014. The company caters to consumers in various countries including Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, and several others across the Middle East and North Africa. iFlix offers a comprehensive library of content, including TV shows, movies, hyperlocal originals, live sports, and news, allowing users to stream or download their preferred entertainment. The service features a diverse range of genres, including comedy, drama, K-drama, Turkish drama, Bollywood, and Nollywood, sourced from Hollywood, the UK, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Subscribers benefit from unlimited access to this extensive content library for a low monthly fee, enabling them to watch on multiple devices such as mobile phones, laptops, tablets, and televisions, thereby enhancing accessibility and convenience. As of June 2020, iFlix operates as a subsidiary of Tencent Holdings Limited.

Caavo

Series B in 2017
Caavo designs and markets consumer electronics. Founded in 2015 and based in Santa Clara, California, it positions itself as an entertainment-focused hardware and software company that unites all television content into a single, voice-controlled experience. Its platform lets users access linear TV, streaming services, and web content through a unified interface using voice or a single remote.

iflix

Series C in 2017
iFlix Sdn Bhd is a digital entertainment service provider based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, founded in 2014. The company caters to consumers in various countries including Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, and several others across the Middle East and North Africa. iFlix offers a comprehensive library of content, including TV shows, movies, hyperlocal originals, live sports, and news, allowing users to stream or download their preferred entertainment. The service features a diverse range of genres, including comedy, drama, K-drama, Turkish drama, Bollywood, and Nollywood, sourced from Hollywood, the UK, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Subscribers benefit from unlimited access to this extensive content library for a low monthly fee, enabling them to watch on multiple devices such as mobile phones, laptops, tablets, and televisions, thereby enhancing accessibility and convenience. As of June 2020, iFlix operates as a subsidiary of Tencent Holdings Limited.

Caavo

Series A in 2017
Caavo designs and markets consumer electronics. Founded in 2015 and based in Santa Clara, California, it positions itself as an entertainment-focused hardware and software company that unites all television content into a single, voice-controlled experience. Its platform lets users access linear TV, streaming services, and web content through a unified interface using voice or a single remote.

Roku

Series H in 2015
Roku is a TV streaming platform provider with platform and player segments. The platform enables discovery and access to movies, TV episodes, live sports, music and news, and includes advertising products such as video ads, brand sponsorships, and audience development campaigns. Roku also sells TVs branded Roku TV, licenses its operating system, and offers streaming media players and accessories, along with subscription and billing services. It partners with retailers and device manufacturers for co-branded devices and sells directly to consumers, with a global reach that includes millions of households. The Roku Channel provides free, ad-supported on-demand and live programming. The Roku OS powers devices and licensed televisions, and the company earns revenue from devices, licensing and advertising. Founded in 2002 and headquartered in Los Gatos, California, Roku serves more than 90 million streaming households and logged about 127 billion streaming hours in 2024, reflecting its position as a leading streaming platform in the United States.

Roku

Series F in 2013
Roku is a TV streaming platform provider with platform and player segments. The platform enables discovery and access to movies, TV episodes, live sports, music and news, and includes advertising products such as video ads, brand sponsorships, and audience development campaigns. Roku also sells TVs branded Roku TV, licenses its operating system, and offers streaming media players and accessories, along with subscription and billing services. It partners with retailers and device manufacturers for co-branded devices and sells directly to consumers, with a global reach that includes millions of households. The Roku Channel provides free, ad-supported on-demand and live programming. The Roku OS powers devices and licensed televisions, and the company earns revenue from devices, licensing and advertising. Founded in 2002 and headquartered in Los Gatos, California, Roku serves more than 90 million streaming households and logged about 127 billion streaming hours in 2024, reflecting its position as a leading streaming platform in the United States.

Ramp

Series C in 2012
Ramp offers a comprehensive financial operations platform designed for businesses seeking to streamline their financial tasks. The platform includes corporate cards, expense management, bill payments, and accounting integrations, assisting organizations in managing their finances efficiently.

SmartShoot

Series B in 2010
SmartShoot, Inc. is an online platform based in San Francisco, California, that connects individuals and businesses with professional photographers and videographers for a range of projects. Founded in 2005 and originally known as TurnHere, Inc., the company rebranded in 2012 to better reflect its focus on facilitating collaboration in the creative industry. SmartShoot enables users to source custom photography and video content for various needs, including engagement, maternity, real estate, and food photography, as well as small business and animated videos. Its web-based project collaboration tool allows for on-demand content acquisition, offering features such as online collaboration, editing, and cloud-based storage, which help professionals manage and deliver projects efficiently while adhering to specific budgets and requirements.

The NewsMarket

Venture Round in 2009
The NewsMarket, Inc. is a web-based video marketing and distribution platform that connects brands, government agencies, and non-profit organizations to international media. Founded in 2000 and headquartered in New York, the company offers a diverse range of content including videos, audios, and images across various categories such as aerospace, automotive, education, entertainment, health care, and technology. The platform enables clients to effectively market and share their video content with media outlets, blogs, and online communities, thereby extending the reach of their messages. In addition to content distribution, The NewsMarket specializes in managing online newsrooms and delivering live interviews and event broadcasts. With a global presence that includes offices in cities such as Beijing, London, and Singapore, The NewsMarket has positioned itself as a key player in the digital marketing landscape.

SmartShoot

Series A in 2008
SmartShoot, Inc. is an online platform based in San Francisco, California, that connects individuals and businesses with professional photographers and videographers for a range of projects. Founded in 2005 and originally known as TurnHere, Inc., the company rebranded in 2012 to better reflect its focus on facilitating collaboration in the creative industry. SmartShoot enables users to source custom photography and video content for various needs, including engagement, maternity, real estate, and food photography, as well as small business and animated videos. Its web-based project collaboration tool allows for on-demand content acquisition, offering features such as online collaboration, editing, and cloud-based storage, which help professionals manage and deliver projects efficiently while adhering to specific budgets and requirements.

MobiTV

Series C in 2006
MobiTV develops cloud-enabled, end-to-end streaming video platforms that enable operators to launch a fully branded, fully compliant pay TV service across devices in a short timeframe. It provides managed services to deliver live and on-demand television and related media content to mobile devices, tablets, PCs, and other Internet-connected devices. The platform supports live, on-demand, and downloadable video, mixed and converged television experiences, and cross-screen viewing with pause, resume, and recording across devices. The company licenses content from studios and serves wireless carriers and network operators worldwide. Founded in 1999 and headquartered in Emeryville, California, MobiTV serves telecom and media operators like AT&T, Deutsche Telekom, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon, and others, helping them reduce time to market and control deployment costs while offering a true TV everywhere experience.

Sling Media

Series B in 2006
Sling Media is a technology company that provides multi-screen smart TV solutions for consumers and television operators. It is committed to developing products and solutions that allow people to watch their home TV, including the content they already pay for, anywhere in the world, on any connected device. Sling Media has the ability to turn any Internet connected PC, Mac, phone, or tablet into a home television. The first [Slingbox](http://www.crunchbase.com/organization/slingpage) was released in 2005, and in 2007, Sling Media won a Technical Emmy Award for the [Slingbox](http://www.crunchbase.com/organization/slingpage). SlingPlayer, another product of Sling Media, was introduced for Android, iPad, and Windows smartphones in 2010. Sling Media was founded in 2004 and is headquartered in Foster City, C.A.

The NewsMarket

Series C in 2005
The NewsMarket, Inc. is a web-based video marketing and distribution platform that connects brands, government agencies, and non-profit organizations to international media. Founded in 2000 and headquartered in New York, the company offers a diverse range of content including videos, audios, and images across various categories such as aerospace, automotive, education, entertainment, health care, and technology. The platform enables clients to effectively market and share their video content with media outlets, blogs, and online communities, thereby extending the reach of their messages. In addition to content distribution, The NewsMarket specializes in managing online newsrooms and delivering live interviews and event broadcasts. With a global presence that includes offices in cities such as Beijing, London, and Singapore, The NewsMarket has positioned itself as a key player in the digital marketing landscape.

Sling Media

Series A in 2005
Sling Media is a technology company that provides multi-screen smart TV solutions for consumers and television operators. It is committed to developing products and solutions that allow people to watch their home TV, including the content they already pay for, anywhere in the world, on any connected device. Sling Media has the ability to turn any Internet connected PC, Mac, phone, or tablet into a home television. The first [Slingbox](http://www.crunchbase.com/organization/slingpage) was released in 2005, and in 2007, Sling Media won a Technical Emmy Award for the [Slingbox](http://www.crunchbase.com/organization/slingpage). SlingPlayer, another product of Sling Media, was introduced for Android, iPad, and Windows smartphones in 2010. Sling Media was founded in 2004 and is headquartered in Foster City, C.A.

The NewsMarket

Series B in 2004
The NewsMarket, Inc. is a web-based video marketing and distribution platform that connects brands, government agencies, and non-profit organizations to international media. Founded in 2000 and headquartered in New York, the company offers a diverse range of content including videos, audios, and images across various categories such as aerospace, automotive, education, entertainment, health care, and technology. The platform enables clients to effectively market and share their video content with media outlets, blogs, and online communities, thereby extending the reach of their messages. In addition to content distribution, The NewsMarket specializes in managing online newsrooms and delivering live interviews and event broadcasts. With a global presence that includes offices in cities such as Beijing, London, and Singapore, The NewsMarket has positioned itself as a key player in the digital marketing landscape.

Broadcast.com

Venture Round in 1998
Broadcast.com was an Internet radio company established in 1995 that specialized in streaming media programming. The company provided live and on-demand audio and video content over the internet, catering to a diverse audience with a wide array of offerings, including sports, talk and music radio, television, business events, news, commentary, and full-length audio books. In 1999, at the peak of the Dot-com Bubble, Broadcast.com was acquired by Yahoo for over $5 billion, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of online media streaming.
Spot something off? Help us improve by flagging any incorrect or outdated information. Just email us at support@teaserclub.com. Your feedback is most welcome.