Media & Entertainment Acquisitions

Nazara Technologies acquired UK-based mobile free-to-play game studio Fusebox Games for $27.2 million. Nazara said the deal supports its strategy to build an IP-based global gaming business, leveraging capabilities in India such as user acquisition, data analytics, and live operations to support global studios.

PlayAGS, Inc. announced that its stockholders approved the company’s acquisition by affiliates of Brightstar Capital Partners at a special meeting on August 6, 2024. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2025, subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. Following closing, AGS will become privately held and its shares will be delisted from public markets.

Duckworth Books has acquired U.K.-based September Publishing for an undisclosed sum. September’s team, led by founder and publisher Hannah MacDonald, will transition to Duckworth, and September will continue operating as an imprint under MacDonald’s leadership.

V Sports S.C.S., the holding company that owns Aston Villa FC Limited and Aston Villa Women's Football Club Limited, has entered into an agreement for Atairos to invest as a minority partner. V Sports will continue to own 100% of Aston Villa FC and retain full control of all decisions post-closing, with Atairos' capital intended to fund growth and infrastructure investments. The transaction is subject to Premier League approval and customary regulatory conditions.

Find.co announced it has acquired 100% of Salon.com, a long-running digital media outlet founded in 1995. Salon will continue operating as a standalone U.S.-based brand within Find.co’s media portfolio, with existing editorial staff remaining in place and former co-owner Drew Schoentrup staying on as CEO for six months while Chris Richmond serves as an advisor for a year.

Patreon has agreed to acquire Los Angeles-based livestream ticketed events platform Moment for an undisclosed amount. The deal is intended to add ticketed digital/livestream experiences to Patreon's creator toolkit, with Moment employees joining Patreon and product integration planned.

FLYING Media Group (FMG) acquired AvBuyer, a business aircraft listing marketplace and business aviation media brand. The deal also includes GA Buyer Europe and GA Buyer Africa, expanding FMG’s global reach in classified aircraft listings, marketplaces, and aviation market intelligence.

Dubin Clark has sold its portfolio company InProduction to ZMC Management. Based in Chicago, InProduction provides special event transformation services for large-scale corporate, social, and sporting events, including design, fabrication, delivery, installation, and on-site execution and tear-down.

Better Collective acquired American sports and entertainment media platform Playmaker HQ for total consideration of up to $54 million, including $15 million paid upfront. The deal includes deferred and performance-based earn-out payments over three years and will be accounted for as an asset purchase, with consolidation effective July 3, 2023.

WTWH Media, a portfolio company of Mountaingate Capital, announced the acquisition of PMQ Pizza, a leading B2B media brand focused on the pizza restaurant industry. The deal expands WTWH Media’s Foodservice, Retail, and Hospitality media portfolio and represents WTWH Media’s first add-on acquisition since partnering with Mountaingate Capital in December 2022.

BroadcastMed announced the acquisition of Texere Publishing Ltd., a specialist B2B media business serving scientific and healthcare markets across the UK, Europe, and the US. The deal expands BroadcastMed’s reach to more than 3 million healthcare professionals worldwide and was announced with support from growth capital firm 424 Capital. The acquisition also provides an exit for Texere’s investors Mercia and AXM Venture Capital.

Equine Network, a portfolio company of Growth Catalyst Partners, acquired Pink Buckle and Ruby Buckle, a series of barrel racing competitions. Stellus Capital Management provided senior debt (unitranche) financing through its affiliates to support the transaction. The acquisition expands Equine Network’s Western Sports Group offerings and supports its broader growth strategy in the equine industry.

Keywords Studios acquired Seattle-based game development studio Hardsuit to expand its US presence and add AAA development capabilities to its Create service line. Hardsuit will continue operating under the leadership of founders Andy Kipling and Russell Nelson, providing external development, co-development, and porting services.

Savvy Games Group agreed to acquire mobile games developer Scopely in a transaction valued at $4.9 billion. Savvy, which is wholly owned by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, said the deal will strengthen its global position while enabling Scopely to accelerate growth, subject to regulatory approval.

NewSpring Mezzanine, a dedicated mezzanine strategy of NewSpring, invested subordinated debt in AbelCine, an equipment and services provider to cinematic content creators. The proceeds will be used to expand AbelCine’s rental division through additional video equipment purchases and to facilitate a recapitalization of inactive shareholders.

AMI Entertainment Network (AMI), a digital jukebox and in-venue music/video entertainment and advertising provider for bars and restaurants, has been acquired by Coral Tree Partners. The transaction was completed with Coral Tree purchasing AMI from The Gores Group, which had partnered with AMI since 2017.

My Code announced it has completed the acquisition of Veranda Entertainment, a technology and entertainment company that distributes multicultural and Spanish-language film and television content across Connected TV platforms. The deal expands My Code’s owned and operated multicultural media portfolio and strengthens its connected TV advertising offerings for U.S. Hispanic audiences through access to Veranda’s channels and AVOD platform.

BroadcastMed, a healthcare media company, has acquired Harborside, a medical publishing and communications company specializing in oncology. Backed by growth capital partner 424 Capital, the deal expands BroadcastMed’s reach to more than 2.8 million healthcare professionals and strengthens its specialty-focused clinical content and communications offerings.

BroadcastMed acquired AEGIS Dental Network, expanding BroadcastMed’s healthcare professional audience by adding approximately 400,000 dental clinicians to its existing physician membership. The strategic investment backing the transaction was provided by 424 Capital, described as BroadcastMed’s growth capital partner.

3STEP Sports acquired First Scout Productions, a game film and highlight video production company serving youth sports events. The acquisition adds First Scout to 3STEP’s portfolio and is intended to bolster 3STEP’s video division, including collaboration with Next Level Video.

K1 Speed acquired Pole Position Raceway, including its two company-owned indoor karting centers in Las Vegas, Nevada and Corona, California. The locations will be rebranded as K1 Speed centers and upgraded with new electric karts, permanent track barriers, and Paddock Lounge cafés while remaining open during the transition.

Five Star Parks & Attractions, a portfolio company of Fruition Partners, acquired three Malibu Jack's Indoor Theme Parks locations in Lexington, Louisville, and Ashland, Kentucky. The deal expands Five Star's portfolio to 16 family entertainment centers across eight states, with Malibu Jack's founders and leadership expected to remain involved in developing additional parks.

Jagex, a Cambridge, UK-based video game developer and publisher, announced the acquisition of US-based Pipeworks Studios, a game development studio headquartered in Eugene, Oregon. The deal is intended to expand Jagex’s production capabilities and strengthen its footprint in North America, while Pipeworks will continue operating under its existing independent development and co-development model. Financial terms were not disclosed.

An affiliate of Black Bear Sports Group, Inc. acquired the Deep Freeze Ice Arena in Boardman, Ohio. The facility includes an Olympic-sized ice sheet and hosts Extreme Air Trampoline Park, and it will serve as the official practice and training facility for the USHL’s Youngstown Phantoms, which is co-owned by Black Bear.

The Fuse Group, parent of visual effects studios including FuseFX, FOLKS, and Rising Sun Pictures, acquired Madrid-based visual effects studio El Ranchito (which also has an office in Barcelona). Transaction terms were not disclosed, and El Ranchito’s co-founder Félix Bergés and the existing partners will continue to lead the business under the El Ranchito brand. The Fuse Group is a portfolio company of EagleTree Capital.

Saltwater announced that it has acquired Quillt Media as part of its strategy to build a platform in the content-to-commerce media space. Quillt Media, based largely in St. Louis, Missouri, operates brands including Suggest.com, TravelAwaits.com, and SeniorsMatter.com.

TA Associates has signed a definitive agreement to acquire TouchTunes, an in-venue interactive music and entertainment platform. The company is being acquired from funds advised by Searchlight Capital Partners and Newlight Partners, with the parties aiming to accelerate TouchTunes’ growth and innovation; financial terms were not disclosed.

Trifecta Collective LLC, a partnership between private equity firm GreyLion and trade show industry veterans Rick McConnell and Jennifer Hoff, acquired the North American Trailer Dealers Association (NATDA). NATDA operates a major trailer industry trade show, a membership organization, and a trade publication, and its co-founders Amy and Andy Ackerman will remain involved in a consulting role.

Sony Pictures Television (a division of Sony Pictures Entertainment) signed an agreement to acquire Industrial Media, an independent nonfiction and documentary television production group. Sony Pictures will acquire a majority controlling interest in Industrial Media in a transaction valuing the company at $350 million, subject to customary adjustments and closing conditions. Upon closing, Industrial Media executives Eli Holzman and Aaron Saidman will join Sony Pictures Television to lead its nonfiction entertainment operations.

3Play Media acquired Captionmax, a provider of live and recorded captioning, localization, and audio description services. The transaction also includes National Captioning Canada (NCC), Captionmax’s Canadian subsidiary, expanding 3Play Media’s footprint and live captioning scale in Canada and North America. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Deluxe Media Inc., backed by Platinum Equity, acquired Post Haste Digital, an English dubbing and post-production services provider. The deal expands Deluxe’s owned dubbing capacity and mastering/audio services to support growing demand for local-language content and strengthens its North American presence.

SiriusXM Holdings Inc., through its subsidiary Sirius XM Radio Inc., acquired Cloud Cover Media, Inc., the operator of Cloud Cover Music (a music-for-business service). The acquisition adds Cloud Cover Music’s technology platform and enterprise/self-service offering to SiriusXM’s commercial music portfolio alongside SiriusXM Music for Business and Pandora for Business.

Gaia, Inc. acquired Yoga International, a digital-only yoga content and education platform originally founded by the Himalayan Institute. The deal expands Gaia’s streaming library by adding approximately 4,000 hours of yoga content and brings Yoga International’s subscriber community onto Gaia’s platform.

Global, a media and entertainment group, acquired Captivate, a podcast hosting, analytics, and monetization platform. Captivate will be integrated into Global Player and will expand monetization opportunities for creators through Global’s digital ad platform DAX.

Solotech has acquired XR Studios, a Los Angeles-based full-service agency specializing in extended reality (XR) and augmented reality technologies for live broadcast and virtual production. XR Studios will continue operating as a separate entity and brand, while strengthening Solotech’s newly created Media and Entertainment Technology (MET) Division. The acquisition is supported by Solotech’s shareholders Claridge, Desjardins Capital, and Investissement Québec and is intended to accelerate global expansion of XR studio offerings.

An investor group led by Seaport Capital and including Gray Television formed and provided growth capital to Family Entertainment Holdings, LLC (FEH). The investment supports FEH’s strategy to scale and consolidate its live event formats—Magic of Lights and Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live—under a single holding company structure. FEH is headquartered in Medina, Ohio.

Beringer Capital acquired a majority stake in Benzinga, a tech-enabled financial media platform providing news, investment analytics, and market information. Benzinga founder and CEO Jason Raznick will retain a significant stake and continue in a key leadership role; financial terms were not disclosed.

Mood Media acquired PlayNetwork from Octave Group to expand its audio/visual and in-store media solutions offering. PlayNetwork provides curated music, video programming, content licensing, digital signage, and audiovisual systems for brands globally. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

FilmFreeway, a film festival marketplace, has been acquired by Backstage, a freelancer marketplace and application suite for creators. Following the acquisition, FilmFreeway will operate as a user extension within Backstage’s platform, allowing creators to discover, manage, and submit entries to film festivals and contests.

Wheel Pros, backed by Clearlake Capital Group, announced it has merged with Hoonigan, an automotive lifestyle media and commerce brand. The combination is intended to create an industry-leading digital platform for automotive enthusiasts, with Hoonigan’s leadership team remaining with the combined company. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Arc, a global events, data, and media platform backed by investment funds managed by EagleTree Capital, acquired Farmers Guardian Ltd and LAMMA Ltd from AgriBriefing. The acquired businesses comprise AgriBriefing’s UK agriculture division and include leading UK farming media brands and events such as Farmers Guardian and the LAMMA trade show. The deal marks Arc’s first acquisition as it builds a B2B events and media platform.

NEP Group announced the launch of a new virtual production segment, NEP Virtual Studios, alongside the acquisitions of Prysm Collective, Lux Machina, and Halon Entertainment. The acquired teams will form key business units within NEP Virtual Studios to expand NEP’s global footprint in real-time/virtual production for film, television, broadcast, and live events. NEP noted its commitment to continued investment in this area together with its private equity partner, The Carlyle Group.

OverDrive announced it has completed the acquisition of Kanopy, a video streaming service for public and academic libraries. The deal adds Kanopy’s curated catalog of over 30,000 films to the OverDrive Marketplace, expanding OverDrive’s digital content offerings to libraries and schools worldwide.

Allied Esports Entertainment, Inc. completed the sale of the entities comprising the World Poker Tour to Element Partners, LLC. The transaction, approved by Allied Esports Entertainment stockholders on July 1, 2021, had a total purchase price of $105 million and included 100% of the outstanding capital stock of the WPT entities and associated poker-related assets.

Green Street sold Hedge Fund Alert, a U.S. news publication covering the fund-management and hedge fund industry, to Pageant Media. The acquisition expands Pageant Media’s portfolio of hedge fund-focused information products, and the Hedge Fund Alert editorial team based in New Jersey will continue operating under Pageant Media’s ownership.

The Equine Network completed the acquisitions of subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) training platforms Roping.com and EventingTraining.com; financial terms were not disclosed. The two equestrian training services will augment Equine Network’s existing SVOD offerings (including Horse&Rider OnDemand and Dressage Today OnDemand) and expand its digital education and membership platform for the U.S. equine industry.

Songtradr, a B2B music licensing marketplace, has acquired Pretzel, a music licensing and streaming platform providing stream-safe music for livestreamers. The acquisition strengthens Songtradr’s tech-enabled rights management and monetization capabilities, expanding solutions for creators streaming on platforms such as Twitch and YouTube.

FuseFX has acquired Australia-based Rising Sun Pictures (RSP), a high-end visual effects studio headquartered in Adelaide. The deal is intended to position the combined business for global strategic growth, with RSP continuing to operate under its brand and co-founder Tony Clark remaining as studio lead.

Sandbox & Co. acquired Fingerprint, a digital content provider for kids and families, and combined it with existing Sandbox brands to create a new division called Sandbox Kids. Fingerprint CEO Nancy MacIntyre will lead Sandbox Kids, which brings together the Kidomi, Hopster, and Curious World subscription edutainment brands to expand global distribution and partnerships.

An affiliate of Black Bear Sports Group, Inc., a Blackstreet Capital Holdings affiliate, acquired Howell Ice Arena in Howell, New Jersey. The venue is a two-sheet ice rink serving local youth and high school hockey players, and the deal marks Black Bear's ninth ice rink acquisition in New Jersey.

UK mid-market private equity firm LDC has invested in Sohonet, a provider of connectivity, collaboration software, media services and network security for the media and entertainment industry. The investment will support Sohonet’s existing management team to accelerate international growth and pursue complementary acquisitions. Financial terms were not disclosed.

ZMC has acquired The Second City, a premier improvisation and sketch-comedy entertainment and education brand founded in Chicago. Financial terms were not disclosed.

ETFS Capital acquired ETF.com, a media platform focused on exchange-traded fund (ETF) news, analysis, and education, from Cboe Global Markets. The deal adds ETF.com to ETFS Capital’s portfolio of investment-ecosystem businesses; financial terms were not disclosed.

Deluxe Media Inc. acquired UK-based Sundog Media Toolkit, Ltd., a provider of automated, cloud-based mastering and versioning tools for theatrical, television, and OTT content. Sundog’s technology will be integrated into Deluxe’s One workflow to enhance end-to-end content mastering, localization, and delivery capabilities. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Government Executive Media Group (GEMG) has acquired City & State New York (CSNY), a New York-focused politics and policy media brand. The deal was completed with financial support from Growth Catalyst Partners, and is intended to accelerate GEMG’s state and local growth strategy and expansion into additional geographies.

ChannelPro Network, a division of EH Media LLC, acquired technology media brands FindBiometrics and Mobile ID World, along with a related consulting services group, from Canadian-based TopickZ Inc. The acquired brands will be integrated with EH Media’s existing IT media portfolio, including The ChannelPro Network and IoT Playbook, to expand coverage in biometrics and mobile identification markets.

Crafty Apes, a visual effects company and portfolio company of Gemspring Capital, has acquired Vancouver-based CVD VFX. The deal expands Crafty Apes’ presence into Vancouver and adds CVD’s CG, compositing, and design capabilities serving film and episodic/streaming productions.

TodayTix has acquired London-based Encore, Europe’s leading independent theatre ticketing distribution network, for an undisclosed amount. The deal significantly expands TodayTix’s global theatre ticketing footprint—particularly across London and New York—by combining TodayTix’s mobile-first ticketing platform with Encore’s broad distribution and partner network.

Northstar Travel Group acquired Buying Business Travel, a UK business-to-business media brand serving the corporate travel industry with online media, events, and a magazine. The seller was Panacea Media, which is based in London. The deal strengthens Northstar’s presence in the UK and European corporate travel media and events market.

Falfurrias Capital Partners will acquire a majority equity interest in Industry Dive, a Washington, D.C.-based B2B media company. Industry Dive’s management team, led by co-founder and CEO Sean Griffey, will continue to run the business as Falfurrias gains board representation to support the company’s next phase of growth.

CE Holdco, LLC, a portfolio company of Battery Ventures, acquired Stretch Internet LLC. Stretch Internet, headquartered in Gilbert, Arizona, provides streaming services for U.S. collegiate athletics, and the deal supports Battery Ventures’ plan to build a comprehensive college sports division.

Northern Lights Broadcasting, a subsidiary of the Pohlad Companies, acquired BringMeTheNews, LLC’s Minnesota-based local digital and broadcast news curation operation, including the BringMeTheNews name and related local assets. Following the sale, founder Rick Kupchella announced his remaining company would be renamed PresentNation to focus on national digital news curation.