Media & Entertainment Buyout Acquisitions in 2026

Prep Network, a youth sports media and events platform headquartered in Plymouth, Minnesota, has acquired Coast 2 Coast Preps, a Dallas-based leader in middle school basketball events and coverage. The deal expands Prep Network's basketball ecosystem by creating a unified pathway from middle school to high school athletics and adds scale to its events and content offerings.

RTS has acquired the Evolution Championship Series (Evo) from NODWIN Gaming, with RTS now operating Evo under the broader ownership and strategic direction of Qiddiya Investment Company. The deal preserves Evo’s leadership and identity while aligning the franchise with Qiddiya City’s Gaming & Esports District development and global expansion plans.

Virgin Music Group (VMG) has completed its acquisition of Downtown Music Holdings, combining two major platforms that serve independent artists, labels and rights holders. The deal brings Downtown's distribution, publishing and artist/label services into VMG's global platform and names Pieter van Rijn as VMG Chief Operating Officer to lead integration and technology initiatives.

HubSpot has acquired Starter Story, the entrepreneur-focused media brand founded by Pat Walls, in a deal that marks a full exit for Walls. Starter Story will join HubSpot Media and continue operating under its own brand while gaining HubSpot's distribution and media infrastructure; financial terms were not disclosed.

Nakamoto Inc. (NASDAQ: NAKA) completed the acquisition of BTC Inc., a leading Bitcoin-focused media and events operator, and UTXO Management GP, LLC, an investment adviser focused on Bitcoin companies. The transaction was paid in Nakamoto common stock (364,795,104 shares, valued at $81.63 million based on the Feb 19, 2026 close) and brings BTC Inc. and UTXO in as wholly owned subsidiaries, adding approximately $80.5 million of combined revenue (12 months ended Sept 30, 2025).

Cineverse Corp. has acquired IndiCue, a connected TV (CTV) monetization and ad‑tech platform, in a transaction valued at up to $40 million (including $22M base and up to $18M earnouts). IndiCue will be integrated into Cineverse's Matchpoint platform to add end‑to‑end ad monetization and is expected to contribute roughly $38 million in annualized revenue and $9.6 million in EBITDA (CY2026), accelerating Cineverse's transition to recurring technology revenue.

TransPerfect has acquired Omnimago GmbH, a German film restoration and post-production studio, to join its TransPerfect Media division. The purchase expands TransPerfect Media's studio footprint in Germany and strengthens its European restoration and post-production capabilities; financial terms were not disclosed.

DRPG has acquired Southeast-based boutique production agency Liquona and will base the team at the group's new London HQ, Studio Dean Street in Soho. The deal strengthens DRPG’s London presence and expands its film and animation capabilities by integrating Liquona’s live action, animation, 3D and VR production expertise.

The Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO) has acquired a majority shareholding in Challenge Family from Y11 Sports & Media to integrate the race series into the newly announced Triathlon World Tour. The deal will see Challenge Family events continue under their brand through 2026 while PTO and World Triathlon plan a unified global Triathlon World Tour launching in 2027 to expand the sport's commercial potential and competition structure.

Red Seat Ventures, a division of Fox Corporation's Tubi Media Group, has acquired Supercast, a podcast subscription platform founded in 2019. Supercast will continue to operate autonomously under founder and CEO Jason Sew Hoy, and the acquisition expands Red Seat Ventures' creator-focused digital services to unify advertising and subscription monetization and accelerate product and team investment.

HOLYWATER (rebranded as HOLYWATER TECH) has acquired Jeynix, an AI-assisted visual effects and post-production studio, bringing Jeynix’s core technical team and proprietary workflows in-house. The acquisition strengthens HOLYWATER TECH’s ability to deliver cinematic-quality, AI-powered visual effects across its content platforms and accelerate localized production at scale.

Popfly has integrated Mount, a VC-backed travel startup, into its creator platform; Mount founders Madi Rifkin and Casey Evans will join Popfly's team. The acquisition brings Mount's travel creator community and network of hosts, brands, and tour operators into Popfly's creator discovery, collaboration, and campaign management ecosystem to accelerate Popfly's expansion into travel and short‑term rental experiences.

BCKD Capital’s newly launched multinational holding company, SVCV, has acquired Hyped Media, a Hong Kong–based digital media firm that publishes outlets including TheBritExpress, CelebDispatch, TheWorldExpress, The Pose, and Le Protagonist. The deal is SVCV’s first acquisition as it pursues a strategy to build a global media and content platform through an acquisition-driven roadmap and new branded initiatives.

BeatStars has acquired Lemonaide AI, a generative music startup focused on consent-based model training, to integrate ethical AI tooling into its rights-first music platform. Lemonaide's co-founders will join BeatStars to lead technology and innovation as the company embeds transparent attribution and creator compensation into AI-assisted music workflows.

Connect Media, a Los Angeles-based B2B media company, has acquired Louisville-based Networld Media Group, a business-to-business news and events operator serving the restaurant, retail, banking and self-service technology sectors. The deal expands Connect Media's media and events footprint into adjacent verticals and grows the combined team's headcount to more than 60 employees; terms were not disclosed.

Utopai East, launched through a joint venture led by Utopai Studios, has acquired 100% of Seoul-based Alquimista Media to establish a fully owned studio in Korea. The acquisition gives Utopai East access to Alquimista's active slate of scripted TV and film projects and local production leadership to scale Korean and regional IP for global audiences.

IKON Capital led an investor group including David Blitzer's Bolt Ventures and Main Street Advisors to acquire Red Bull KTM Tech3, a long-tenured MotoGP team based in France. The new ownership has installed Guenther Steiner as CEO and plans to professionalize Tech3's commercial operations, boost sporting performance, and grow franchise value through increased fan engagement and sponsor activation.

Launchpoint, a New York-based creator marketing company, has acquired AI-driven music content platform Kashie.AI in a transaction valued at $300,000. Founders Richard Ahn and Albert Zhang will join Launchpoint (Ahn as CMO, Zhang as founding engineer) as the buyer integrates Kashie's AI short-form music content capabilities into its product roadmap.

REV Entertainment, the sports and entertainment arm of the Texas Rangers, has purchased the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League. Founding owner Frank Boulton will remain in an advisory role; financial terms were not disclosed. The acquisition brings the Ducks into REV's growing portfolio of minor-league and partner-league clubs.

Black Knight Football Club (BKFC) acquired the remaining 60% equity interests in FC Lorient, making BKFC the club's sole shareholder. Former majority owner Loïc Féry received part of his consideration in BKFC shares, will remain president of FC Lorient, and the deal furthers BKFC's multi-club integration and strategic collaboration across its platform.

Blue Ant Media Corporation completed its acquisition of Thunderbird Entertainment Group Inc. by plan of arrangement, acquiring all outstanding Thunderbird shares in exchange for 5,857,979 subordinate voting shares of Blue Ant and up to $40 million in cash. The deal gives Blue Ant 100% ownership of Thunderbird, includes leadership appointments (Jennifer Twiner McCarron to a Blue Ant Studios role), targets ~$7 million in synergies, and will result in Thunderbird’s delisting from the TSX Venture Exchange.

CherryRoad Media has acquired The Carrollton Democrat from Main Street Media (MSM). The deal, which closed January 28, 2026, expands CherryRoad's community newspaper footprint in Missouri and transfers ownership from long-time owner Frank Mercer to CherryRoad Media (a subsidiary of CherryRoad Technologies).

3STEP Sports has acquired War Combat, a Southeast-based combat sports event operator, and launched Combat Life — a national platform combining War Combat with existing portfolio brand Nuway Combat to host 40+ wrestling and jiu-jitsu events across 11 states. The deal expands 3STEP's event footprint and creates a connected pathway for athletes through professionally managed combat sports competitions.

Chicago private equity firm GTCR has agreed to acquire LiveBarn, a Montreal-based youth and amateur sports streaming service, in a deal valued at roughly $400 million. The acquisition advances GTCR’s strategy to build a platform in the fragmented youth sports ecosystem (Ascent Sports Group); Ares is providing part of the financing and existing investors including Susquehanna Growth Equity and Ares are reported participants in the sale process.

Datavault AI Inc. (NASDAQ:DVLT) has completed its acquisition of API Media Innovation Inc., a New Jersey–based provider of media infrastructure and event technology solutions. The acquisition expands Datavault AI's capabilities in live-event audio/visual, audience intelligence and data-monetization services to better serve sports, entertainment and venue customers.

Future plc has acquired SheerLuxe, a UK-based digital fashion and lifestyle publisher, adding the brand to its Women & Luxury vertical. The deal brings Future a Gen Z-skewed, social-first audience and content capabilities to accelerate content monetisation and expand reach across fashion, beauty and luxury end markets.

SiteMedia, Canada’s unified B2B platform for industrial and construction intelligence, has acquired STOREYS, the country’s leading online real estate news site. The deal brings STOREYS into SiteMedia’s portfolio of publications to expand coverage across the built environment and add data, events, and premium products to the SITE portfolio.

Curated Events, a luxury tent, event rental and decor company headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina, has acquired See-Hear Productions, a scenic production firm based in Covington, Louisiana. The acquisition adds custom scenic design, premium draping, audio-visual production, lighting, and fabrication capabilities to Curated Events and strengthens its national reach and regional leadership.

Allwyn International AG has completed the acquisition of a 62.3% stake in PrizePicks for $1.533 billion, subject to customary post-closing adjustments and excluding performance-based earnouts. PrizePicks, headquartered in Atlanta, will retain leadership continuity and expand its regulated prediction markets and new product offerings as part of Allwyn's strategy to grow its casual gaming entertainment footprint in the United States.

VERSANT (Nasdaq: VSNT) has completed its acquisition of Free TV Networks (FTN), a U.S. owner/operator of free over-the-air digital broadcast networks (diginets) and FAST channels. Financial terms were not disclosed; FTN will operate as a dedicated business within VERSANT and founder Jonathan Katz has joined VERSANT to continue leading FTN's operations.

SuperAwesome has acquired Starglow Media, an independent kids and family audio content network that delivers over 120 million annual listens across 45+ shows. The deal expands SuperAwesome's cross-channel youth engagement offering by adding audio capabilities and positions Starglow to scale monetization and brand-safe advertising across kids and family audio.

Applied Real Intelligence (A.R.I.) has acquired a controlling majority interest in Lights Out Sports and expanded its governance role. Under the transaction, Dr. Zack Ellison has been appointed Chairman, President, and CEO as A.R.I. looks to scale Lights Out's combat-sports promotion, live events, and streaming media business (Lights Out XF and LightsOutSportsTV.com) and leverage a new multi-year media rights deal with ESPN/Disney+.

SANDOW Companies has acquired ARCHITONIC, the global design and specification platform for architects and designers, from DAAily Platforms. The acquisition positions ARCHITONIC within SANDOW's portfolio to accelerate international expansion, enhance premium offerings, and enable collaboration across SANDOW's ecosystem of design platforms.

Nineteen Group has acquired The Lead, a U.S.-based media and events business focused on executive-level retail and brand leadership forums. The acquisition expands Nineteen Group’s presence in the U.S. retail events market and aims to scale The Lead's flagship events, community and editorial offerings while preserving the brand's continuity.

Hall of Fame Resort & Entertainment Company completed a previously announced merger with an affiliate of HOFV Holdings, LLC and is now privately owned by HOFV Holdings. The take-private transaction is intended to provide the company greater flexibility to pursue long-term growth and continued investment in its Hall of Fame Village destination operations.