Cosmo DeNicola Companies News


Thursday, April 8, 2021

CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL ENTERTAINMENT’S SCREEN MEDIA RELEASES OFFICIAL TRAILER TO STREET GANG: HOW WE GOT TO SESAME STREET

THE CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED DOCUMENTARY WILL OPEN IN THEATERS ON APRIL 23, 2021 AND ON DEMAND MAY 7, 2021

TRAILER CAN BE VIEWED HERE

New York – Screen Media, a Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment (Nasdaq: CSSE) company, today released the first official footage of the critically acclaimed documentary, STREET GANG: HOW WE GOT TO SESAME STREET. The trailer can be viewed here.

Directed by Marilyn Agrelo (Mad Hot Ballroom) and produced by Trevor Crafts (Experimenter 2015) and Ellen Scherer Crafts, the documentary chronicles the improbable origins and expansion of the groundbreaking show that not only changed children’s television programming, but had real-world effects on equality, education, and representation worldwide. The film is inspired by Michael Davis’ New York Times best-selling book of the same name.

After world premiering at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival, STREET GANG: HOW WE GOT TO SESAME STREET will be released in theaters on April 23, 2021 and on video-on-demand platforms on May 7, 2021.

 Inspired by the activism of the late 1960s, socially conscious television executive Joan Ganz Cooney and Sesame Workshop co-founder Lloyd Morrisett conducted a revolutionary experiment: to harness the burgeoning power of television and create an educational, impactful, uplifting and entertaining show that could reach children nationwide, especially those living in urban areas. Cooney recruited trailblazing Muppets creator Jim Henson and acclaimed children’s television writer and director Jon Stone to craft the iconic and beloved world of “Sesame Street.”

STREET GANG: HOW WE GOT TO SESAME STREET reintroduces this visionary “gang” of mission-driven artists, writers, and educators that audaciously interpreted radical changes in society and created one of most influential and impactful television programs in history.

With more than 20 interviews with original writers, cast, and crew, and never-before-seen behind the scenes footage, STREET GANG is told from the inside with humor and emotion, weaving together personal narratives and eyewitness accounts. The film explores the original mission of the “gang” that created this cultural phenomenon, now spanning more than 50 years and reaching more than 150 countries.

Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment and Screen Media present in association with HBO Documentary Films, a Macrocosm Entertainment production, and in association with the Exchange, Bondit Media Capital, and Citizen Skull Productions. It is directed by Marilyn Agrelo; produced by, Trevor Crafts, p.g.a, Ellen Scherer Crafts p.g.a; with producer Lisa Diamond p.g.a,; executive producers, Brian O’Shea, Nat McCormick, Matthew Helderman, Luke Taylor, Mark Myers, Heather Kenyon; co-executive producer, Michael Davis; editor, Ben Gold. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 



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Thursday, April 8, 2021

Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment Reports Q4 and Full Year 2020 Results

Record results and significant operational progress in 2020 set the stage for a strong 2021

 

COS COB, CT – Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, Inc. (Nasdaq: CSSE), one of the largest operators of streaming advertising-supported video-on-demand (AVOD) networks, today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2020.

 

“The fourth quarter capped off a very successful 2020 as we continued to deliver growth in original and exclusive content on Crackle Plus and expanded our distribution to drive viewership growth into the future,” said William J. Rouhana Jr., chairman and chief executive officer of Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment. “Our strong 2020 results set the stage for what is shaping up to be a year of transformational growth in 2021. Our Distribution and Production business grew over 200% year-over-year and Crackle has seen strong viewership increases in the first quarter with continued increases in viewership of our original and exclusive content.”

 

“We are positioning Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment as a pure play AVOD network operator with a rich trove of content assets, differentiated production capabilities, a deep pipeline of exciting new original and exclusive content, and viewership that we expect to continue growing throughout the year as our new distribution touchpoints deliver results. We are building momentum toward our goal of creating the best AVOD experience.”

 

Fourth Quarter 2020 Financial Summary

 

  • Gross revenue of $20.2 million, compared to $20.0 million in the third quarter of 2020, and $24.8 million in the year-ago period.
  • Online Networks, which include Crackle and Popcornflix, gross revenue of $10.8 million, up 35% from $8.0 million in the third quarter of 2020, and compared to $15.9 million in the year-ago period. Gross revenue included intercompany revenue share payments of $1.7 million, $1.3 million, and $1.0 million, respectively. On a comparable basis, after the deduction of $5.6 million of revenue from the since-shuttered Playstation Vue, the year-over-year gross revenue grew from $10.1 million to $10.8 million, an increase of 7%.
  • Distribution and Production revenue of $11.1 million compared to $13.3 million in the third quarter of 2020, and $9.9 million in the year-ago period.
  • Net loss of $10.1 million compared to a net loss of $13.0 million in the third quarter of 2020, and a net loss of $12.4 million in the year-ago period; $8.9 million net loss before preferred dividends, compared to $12.1 million net loss in the third quarter 2020, and $11.4 million net loss before preferred dividends in the year-ago period.
  • Adjusted EBITDA of $2.8 million, compared to $4.2 million in the third quarter 2020, and $5.9 million in the year-ago period.

 

Full Year 2020 Financial Summary

 

  • Record gross revenue of $68.2 million, compared to $56.6 million in 2019.
  • Online networks generated $35.3 million in gross revenue compared to $41.7 million in 2019. Gross revenue included intercompany revenue share payments of $5.2 million and $1.7 million, respectively. On a comparable basis, after the deduction of $0.3 million and $15.9 million of revenue from the since-shuttered Playstation Vue, the year-over-year gross revenue grew from $25.8 million to $35.0 million, an increase of 36%.
  • Distribution & Production gross revenue was $38.0 million in revenue compared to $16.6 million in 2019.
  • Net loss of $44.6 million compared to $35.0 million in 2019; $40.4 million net loss before preferred dividends, compared to $31.7 million net loss before preferred dividends in 2019.
  • Adjusted EBITDA was $11.8 million, compared to $6.0 million in 2019.

 

Recent Business Highlights

 

  • Continued to expand pipeline of Original & Exclusive content which represented nearly 20.0% of ad impressions for the fourth quarter and 18.5% for full year 2020.
  • Increased distribution of Crackle Plus AVOD networks to 41 touchpoints and expanding this initiative with plans to reach a total of 64 consumer touchpoints.
  • Signed agreement for Crackle-branded button to be included on approximately 2.5 million VIZIO SmartCast TV remotes in 2021.
  • Obtained 100% ownership of Crackle Plus from Sony Pictures Television, strengthening relationship and positioning company for further growth.
  • Strengthened balance sheet and enhanced liquidity with additional equity and long-term debt without covenants.

 

Gross profit for the year ended December 31, 2020 was $14.2 million, or 21% of net revenue, compared to $14.9 million, or 27% of net revenue in 2019.

 

Operating loss for the year ended December 31, 2020 was $44.3 million compared to an operating loss of $26.1 million in in 2019.

 

Net loss for the year ended December 31, 2020 was $44.6 million, or $3.62 per share, compared to a net loss of $35.0 million, or $2.92 per share, in the prior year. Excluding preferred dividends, the net loss in 2020 was $40.4 million, or $3.29 per share, compared to net loss of $31.7 million, or $2.64 per share, in the prior year.

 

Adjusted EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2020 was $11.8 million, compared to $6.0 million in 2019.

 

As of December 31, 2020, the company had $14.7 million of cash and cash equivalents compared to $6.4 million at December 31, 2019, and outstanding debt of $33.6 million as of December 31, 2020 compared to $20.0 million as of December 31, 2019.

 

For a discussion of the financial measures presented herein which are not calculated or presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), see “Note Regarding Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below and the schedules to this press release for additional information and reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures.

 

The company presents non-GAAP measures such as Adjusted EBITDA and Pro Forma Adjusted EBITDA to assist in an analysis of its business. These non-GAAP measures should not be considered an alternative to GAAP measures as an indicator of the company's operating performance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 



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Thursday, April 8, 2021

Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment Announces Accelerated and Expanded Distribution Rollout of Crackle Plus Networks

Crackle Plus Networks Available at 41 Distribution Touchpoints with an Additional 23 Contracted

 

COS COB, CT – Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, Inc. (Nasdaq: CSSE), one of the largest operators of streaming advertising-supported video-on-demand (“AVOD”) networks, today reported that it has increased its distribution of its Crackle Plus AVOD networks to 41 touchpoints, above its prior target, and now is expanding this initiative with plans to reach a total of 64 consumer touchpoints.

 

The Crackle Plus networks, including Crackle and Popcornflix, are available on a variety of platforms and services as both linear and VOD offerings. Crackle Plus networks are always free and offer a wide selection of hit movies, TV series, and original and exclusive programming. Expansion of Crackle Plus’s distribution is a key part of the Company’s broader marketing strategy to drive more viewers to its original and exclusive content.

 

“Our company has found that distribution has proven to drive increased viewership of our networks, and can bring up to hundreds of thousands of new viewers over time. From leading digital platforms to major cable providers and smart TV manufacturers, we are adding partners that we expect to drive new viewers to our Crackle and Popcornflix networks. As a result, we have reset our goal to now target 64 total touchpoints by the end of this year,” said William J. Rouhana, chief executive officer of Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment. “We are seeing encouraging early results from our overall efforts to increase viewership, including a significant increase in viewership of our Crackle network in February over January of this year.”

 

“Our aim is to make our free movie and TV content available to all viewers on all available platforms, including streaming devices, game consoles, connected TVs and FAST networks. As we add new distribution touchpoints and develop both new AVOD and linear channel offerings, we continue to make it easier for consumers to find us,” said Philippe Guelton, president of Crackle Plus. “In doing so, we are capturing a growing audience of unique, hard-to-reach consumers for our advertising partners.”

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 



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Tuesday, March 2, 2021

Crackle Plus Adds SpotX to Monetize OTT Inventory Across New Distribution Channels

Leading Global Video Advertising Platform Connects Advertisers with Crackle Plus Premium Inventory Distributed Across FAST Channels

 

NEW YORK, NY — SpotX, the leading global video advertising platform, today announced a strategic partnership with Crackle Plus to serve as a primary supply-side platform (SSP) to power the video monetization of Crackle Plus inventory across both existing and new distribution channels.

 

Crackle Plus, a Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment (Nasdaq: CSSE) company, linear and VOD networks are available in the US and can be accessed on up to 29 devices and services including Amazon FireTV, RokuTV, Apple TV, Smart TVs (Samsung, LG, and VIZIO), gaming consoles (PS4 and XBox One), iOS and Android mobile devices, and on desktop at Crackle.com. Crackle is also available in approximately 500,000 hotel rooms in the Marriott Bonvoy chain.

 

Crackle Plus is enhancing Crackle and Popcornflix’s video-on-demand (VOD) experiences, as it expands its marketing activities into the new world of free, ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channels. Crackle Plus recently announced new VOD and linear distribution on fuboTV, Philo, Plex, VIDAA, VIZIO Watch Free, and XUMO.

 

By unlocking content on these platforms and making it easily discoverable, Crackle Plus is making its content available to up to 60+ million new viewers across these new linear and VOD distribution channels in 2021.

 

As part of the part of the agreement, Crackle Plus will use Total Connect+, a new capability SpotX has brought to market powered by joint efforts between video ad server SpringServe and SpotX, to intelligently route inventory across these new distribution channels while powering the programmatic enablement of the newly unlocked inventory. Total Connect+ enables server-to-server connections with SSPs, as well as advanced podding features, synced campaigns, united audience data, and forecasting.

 

Crackle Plus is also packaging premium content and overlaying third-party data via SpotX’s Audience Management Engine (AME) to enrich its inventory and create audience-enabled programmatic guaranteed campaigns with specific market segments. Crackle Plus’ programmatic capabilities include targeting by genre and deal IDs powered by SpotX, data-layered measurement support for attribution and analysis transparency, with series- and show-level reporting capabilities currently in development.

 

“SpotX’s programmatic infrastructure, data enablement capabilities, and expert service have positioned them as a highly-valued monetization partner,” said Darren Olive, EVP of National Advertising Sales & Strategy at Crackle Plus. “Together, SpotX and SpringServe also offer state-of-the-art ad serving and inventory management, and we are excited to deploy SpotX’s sophisticated header bidding solution, Total Connect+, to maximize yield and campaign performance for all our ad partners.”

 

“Crackle Plus continues to lead the AVOD streaming service providers in delivering unique reach across its top original and exclusive programming. Their content has exceptionally high engagement and time spent on the platform by audiences is growing rapidly,” said Mike Laband, SVP of Platform at SpotX. “Their premium, brand-safe inventory is particularly appealing to advertisers because it offers little overlap with traditional broadcasters, thus providing incremental reach against the increasing audience of cord-cutters. We are also very excited to add Crackle’s new live streaming supply that will further increase the scale of its private marketplaces.”

 

About SpotX

SpotX is the leading video advertising platform shaping digital video and the future of TV globally. The company’s solutions enable media owners to monetize content across all screens and streams while providing advertisers with direct access to brand-safe, premium inventory. With best-in-class technology purpose-built for video, SpotX’s trusted, privacy-compliant solutions are employed by some of the largest media owners in the world including A+E Networks, Crackle Plus, The CW Network, Dentsu CCI, Discovery, Fox Corporation, fuboTV, LG, Microsoft, Newsy, Pluto TV, Roku, Samsung, Sling TV, and Vudu. In the US, SpotX works with nearly all major OTT stakeholders and reaches 4 out of 5 viewers of ad-supported CTV, or 70 million households. SpotX is a subsidiary of Bertelsmann’s RTL Group and is headquartered in Denver with 10 offices throughout the US, EMEA, and APAC regions. Learn more at www.spotx.tv.

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 



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Monday, March 1, 2021

Screen Media Acquires Worldwide Distribution Rights to New Series The Uncommon History of Very Common Things

Breakthrough Entertainment Begins Production of Series in Association with Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment and Parkside Entertainment

Will Premiere as Crackle Original in Summer 2021

COS COB, CT – Screen Media, a Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment company, announced today the acquisition of worldwide distribution rights, excluding Canada, to the new series The Uncommon History of Very Common Things, produced by Breakthrough Entertainment in association with Parkside Entertainment and Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment. Breakthrough Entertainment has begun production of the series and will also sub-distribute the series outside of the United States and Canada.

 

The series, which just started production in Toronto, will consist of ten half-hour episodes examining the unknown, sometimes shocking, and always entertaining history of everyday items that make up our lives. What kind of beer did pregnant women drink in the Middle Ages? Audiences will learn that and more with episodes that cover topics like the uncommon history of chocolate, pirates, shaving, toilet paper, football and more.

 

“We’re excited to have partnered with Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment and Parkside Entertainment on a show that is sure to provide international audiences with fun and unusual information and that will have viewers saying, “I’m so glad I know that!” said Craig McGillivray, Breakthrough Vice President of Distribution.

 

“This series should be great fun for Crackle viewers, covering broad ranging topics and showcasing crazy histories about everyday items,” noted David Fannon, president of Screen Media. “There is something for every viewer in any part of the world to enjoy.”

 

The Uncommon History of Very Common Things is a Crackle original series and will premiere on the network in June 2021.

 

ABOUT SCREEN MEDIA

Screen Media Ventures, LLC, a Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment (Nasdaq: CSSE) company, acquires the rights to high quality, independent television series and feature films. Screen Media Ventures acquires worldwide rights for distribution through theatrical, home video, pay-per-view, free, cable and pay television, video-on-demand, and new digital media platforms. The company acquires AVOD rights for third party networks and is the main supplier of content for Crackle Plus and other Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment properties. With a library of over 1,500 television series and motion pictures, Screen Media Ventures is one of the largest independent suppliers of high-quality tv series and motion pictures to U.S. and international broadcast markets, cable networks, home video outlets and new media venues. For more information, visit: www.screenmedia.net.

 

ABOUT BREAKTHROUGH ENTERTAINMENT

Founded 35 years ago, Breakthrough Entertainment is an award-winning producer and distributor of original, premium content for audiences around the world.  It is also one of Canada’s most established and respected production companies.  Breakthrough’s library now boasts 50-plus feature films and 3,000 television episodes which air on major networks and digital channels worldwide. 

breakthroughentertainment.com

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 



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Friday, February 19, 2021

2021 Connecting the Shop Floor with the Top Floor

Fort Washington, PA - 2020 was a challenging year for many businesses in our country.  However, the explosion of online shopping (and subsequent increased demand for packaging) resulted in a renewed focus on improving productivity and increasing uptime for many box makers.  This in turn sparked a large demand for our ScoreKeeper Production Monitoring System, for which we installed a record number of new customers (and machine centers) across the country.  ScoreKeeper is the most cost-effective, easiest to install, “out of the box” IIoT solution tailored to the packaging industry.  Scorekeeper provides a real live view of current production stats alongside detailed date-range analytics of setup, run, and down time.  For managers on the go, it offers an intuitive mobile application that can send alerts on a smartphone such as when a machine is down for a specified amount of time.  In addition to the large TV displays above machine centers, many plants are opting to put additional TV displays showing the status of multiple machines at once in areas like Maintenance, Production, and General Manager’s offices.

 

THE YEAR AHEAD

In 2021 we are poised to meet the demand we are already seeing from businesses who want to measure and improve productivity and quality.  We will be introducing a new business intelligence reporting and dashboard system for ScoreKeeper that will dramatically enhance the existing reporting system and allow end users to create their own visualizations of production data.  We are also enhancing our ScrapTrakker system and launching it in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East (EMEA).  ScrapTrakker leverages scales at the baler and allows box plants to track waste by weight and associate it with user-defined reasons.  The system compares calculated waste from your financials (what you bought versus what you sold) to what you reported at the scales to help you identify sources of waste and focus improvement efforts on both closing the gap in reporting and fixing the reasons you create waste.   We continue to invest in our corrugator production control and quality control systems-PCS and QCS.  One such investment is an enhanced reporting system for all reports.  All customers on our Continuous Improvement Program (CIP) are eligible for the new reporting system at no additional cost. 

 

We are enthusiastic about the future and look forward to continuing to provide our customers with leading-edge, plant floor automation solutions and services.  We come to work every day with one mission—connect the shop floor to the top floor—while delivering the results you demand and deserve. 

 

If you would like to hear more about what Amtech Automation can do for your company, please contact us at sales@amtechautomation.com or visit us at www.amtechautomation.com.

 

 

 



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Friday, February 19, 2021

Futura Services Disaster Avoidance, Planning and Recoveries

Fort Washington, PA - 2020 has served many technological challenges to the packaging industry.  COVID-19 has driven employees to working remotely. Companies have had to manage the complexities of quickly shifting their infrastructure to accommodate online access needs and address changes in their workloads.  Not to mention the uptick in cyber security breaches we have seen.   For over the past thirty years we have helped our customers navigate the same type of technological challenges this year has presented with our Cloud Hosting and Remote Technology, Cyber Security Solutions, and Business Continuity/Disaster Recovery Services.

CLOUD AND REMOTE TECHNOLOGY

Our Cloud Hosting Services enables packaging companies to exit the on-premise physical hardware business and migrate their business applications to a remote, virtual, highly-available, and secure environment.  For one fixed monthly fee, you procure only the computing resources needed.  As your business grows and changes, you have the flexibility to modify or expand your computing resources without large capital outlays for on-premise hardware that has a fixed life and requires exhausting ongoing and expensive administration and maintenance.  

CYBER SECURITY

The packaging industry is not exempt from today’s elevated level of cyber-threats and we all know of companies that have been victims. To keep our customers secure, our Cyber Security Solutions consist of leading anti-malware tools, risk mitigating maintenance activities, and intrusion testing protecting valuable assets and information.  Additionally, we offer education programs specifically designed to aid and guide end-user communities to recognize and report possible threats.   This is the time to get ahead of threats and ensure your company is protected with solutions and services provided by experts in this field.

BUSINESS CONTINUITY/DISASTER RECOVERY

Whether you experience a server failure, ransomware event, telecommunication outage, or a natural disaster, Futura’s Business Continuity/Disaster Recovery Service can get your business back up and running.   Our services include proven methodologies to recover your essential business systems and data.  We work with you to identify critical business systems, determine downtime thresholds, and develop comprehensive recovery plans.  Then we test our plans to identify and address gaps before a disruptive event ever happens ensuring a quick and seamless recovery.

Futura Services offers the perfect combination of services and solutions tailored for the packaging industry to keep your technology running and supported 24/7/365 so your business remains operational.    From regular status and review meetings with our customers, to testing, to staying abreast of the latest technological challenges and advancements, our dedication and focus to customer service is unparalleled. Our goal?  To help you focus on what you do best… serving as an essential component of today’s packaging and consumer supply chain.

To learn how Futura Services can help you avoid technological pitfalls contact:  sales@futuraservices.net or visit our website at www.futuraservices.com.

 
 
Friday, February 19, 2021

2020 Protecting and Digitally Transforming Clients

Fort Washington, PA - 2020 has been a triumph of a year for businesses in the packaging industry.  Not only did they meet the new demands and challenges placed on them by consumers, they have quickly adjusted to business impacts dealt by the pandemic.   At Amtech Software, we walked beside our customers and assisted with moving their workforce remote, gaining better control over their costs, improving operational efficiencies, and integrating their systems to drive costs down and improve capacity.   As we step into 2021, we are seeing a greater demand from businesses in the packaging industry to manage to address new supply chain challenges, continue to improve operational efficiency, and boost bottom-line performance. We have the solutions ready to help them do just that. 

 

SECURE REMOTE ACCESS

Over the past year our secure, hosting service has significantly grown.  The combined solution of our EnCore ERP, Secure Hosting, and Business Continuity Services enables our customers to remotely manage their operations from order to cash and everything in between. A fully integrated solution allows for easy remote access of important modules such as ecommerce, BI tools, and digital workflows for a low touch and minimal maintenance environment.    

 

UPDATED COST MODELS

In 2020, we released our new Automated Performance Costing module which allows our customers to review, fine-tune, adapt their models, evaluate business change impacts, and more…when they see fit. The tool is simple and easy for any business manager to use without the need for complicated spreadsheets or outside consultants.  In 2021, this will be the number one tool for our customers to have as they face many changes along the supply chain, volumes, and customer mix.

 

IMPROVED BUSINESS EFFICIENCY

Businesses are seeing the benefits of leveraging integrated technology that improves timeliness and accuracy of information flow throughout the enterprise.   This is where our integrated Corrugator, Converting Scheduling, and Shipment Planning Software combined with Amtech Automation’s ScoreKeeperProduction Monitoring Solution provides the right formula of integration.  Customers who have already implemented these solutions are finding greater utilization of machines and improved delivery commitments. Our Intelligent algorithms and automation solutions appropriately balance schedules and increase efficiency at machine centers which greatly improves bottom line performance.

 

SYSTEM INTEGRATION

Looking forward, we are continuing to develop in the areas of digital integration.  With our open API structure, we offer integration with other platforms to enhance day-to-day workflows for our customers. Whether it is integration with Esko’s WebCenter to drive sales and design collaboration or integration between the sheet plant and sheet feeder with real-time updates, we deliver seamless connectivity enhancing operational efficiency and performance. 

 

For more information about how to improve your operations contact: sales@amtechsoftware.com or visit us at www.amtechsoftware.com

 

 



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Thursday, February 18, 2021

Ron Burkle’s Yucaipa Acquires Stake in Steinberg Sports and Entertainment Agency

Partnership will expand firm's activity in content production, marketing and business development

 

Los Angeles, CA - Ron Burkle’s Yucaipa Companies has taken a significant equity stake in Steinberg Sports and Entertainment, the athlete representation and marketing firm headed by superagents Leigh Steinberg and Chris Cabott.

Steinberg Sports intends to use the resources from Yucaipa to expand the scope of its content production as well as its marketing operations and business development initiatives. The goal is for Steinberg Sports to tap into Yucaipa’s network of companies to fuel additional growth. Steinberg and Cabott will remain chairman and CEO, respectively, of Steinberg Sports.

Burkle will join Steinberg Sports as a partner. He has bought out the stakes of the private equity shareholders who helped Steinberg relaunch the business about 10 years ago. At present the primary owners of Steinberg Sports and Entertainment are Steinberg, Cabott and Burkle

Yucaipa in recent years has set investment partnerships with entertainment-related firms, including Hollywood agency APA, touring powerhouse Artist Group International, Rick Yorn’s LBI Entertainment, U.K.’s Independent Talent Group and the Los Angeles-based sports representation and marketing firm Independent Sports and Entertainment. Yucaipa also owns a majority stake in the entertainment-friendly Soho House group of private clubs and the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins franchise.

 

The connection to Burkle’s many companies will allow the Steinberg agency, founded by the legendary sports rep who inspired the 1996 Tom Cruise drama “Jerry Maguire,” to capitalize on the explosion of demand for sports-related content. The agency aims to work with clients on their own off-field pursuits, whether on endorsement deals or investing in startups.

 

“The worlds of business, politics, entertainment and sports are all coalescing,” Steinberg told Variety. “The concept here is we can have a sports studio that produces sports-themed television, motion pictures and documentaries. We can do high-level marketing with greater scope and scale. The alliance with Ron allows us the reach to do better and more exciting projects for them.”

 

Yucaipa’s pact with Steinberg reflects the flurry of activity among private equity investors to dive into the entertainment arena at a time of massive realignment across TV, film, music and digital. To cite but one notable effort, former Disney executives Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs have teamed with $2 billion in backing from Blackstone to roll up smaller content and related firms into a larger operating company.

 

Steinberg Sports made headlines last year when Cabott negotiated a record-setting $450 million, 10-year contract extension for Kansas City Chiefs’ red-hot quarterback Patrick Mahomes. The company has about 16 full-time employees and about 50 football clients. With the Yucaipa partnership, Steinberg aims to expand into other sports, but it will still maintain its boutique approach, Cabott said.

 

“We are going to have greater reach across industries, but still maintain that intimate level of attention with our clients,” Cabott told Variety. Cabott signed on with Steinberg Sports in 2013. He was named president in 2019 and upped to CEO last year.

 

Yucaipa’s activity in the hospitality and commercial real estate sectors could be of great interest to some of Steinberg Sports’ clients over the long term. Cabott stressed that the company’s agents aim to serve as lifelong business advisors to their athletes beyond their work on the playing field.

 

“They label us as agents. I look at us as career managers. This gives us more opportunities to help enhance the lives of our players,” he said.

 

The depth of Steinberg Sports’ relationships with its football stars was part of the appeal to Burkle.

 

“Leigh is a legend in the industry and Chris has quickly become a distinguished and respected agency leader,” Burkle said in a statement. “Culturally and strategically, this is a perfect fit. We look forward to collaborating with them as SSE continues to grow globally.”

 

Steinberg said he was impressed by Burkle’s track record as a philanthropist in Los Angeles and other communities. He also intends to keep pursuing his own “special projects” that are important to the firm, such as being a leading voice in the effort to better protect football players from sustaining concussions on the gridiron.

 

“We’ve been very involved in the fight against concussions,” Steinberg said. “We can help with new projects, whether it’s a new app or a new helmet. We can be involved in what we call ‘special projects’ that can have an impact on sports but also reach out to the larger market.”

 

Steinberg’s deal with Yucaipa also seals a comeback for the agent who saw his life and business torn apart in the mid- to late 2000s by a series of personal tragedies. He has been in recovery for alcohol abuse for more than a decade. After managing his addiction and regaining his prominence as a sports agent, Steinberg has also been fielding offers to tell his own story in narrative form. Or as he put it, “There’s a chance for me to tap into my own brand.”


 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 



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Thursday, February 18, 2021

CRACKLE PLUS ANNOUNCES JEFF MEIER AS HEAD OF PROGRAMMING

ENTERTAINMENT VETERAN TAPPED TO HELM PROGRAMMING EFFORTS FOR STREAMING INDUSTRY LEADER

 

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Crackle Plus, a Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment (Nasdaq: CSSE) company and one of the largest operators of streaming advertising-supported video-on-demand (AVOD) networks, announced today that Jeff Meier has been named head of programming for their Crackle Plus networks, made up of Crackle, Popcornflix, Popcornflix Kids, Truli, Españolflix, FrightPix, and SVOD platform Pivotshare.

 

Meier comes from Sony Pictures where he was general manager and senior vice president of programming, heading up content efforts for their brands getTV, Sony Movie Channel, and cineSony. Before his involvement with Sony, Jeff served in senior programming roles at OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network, TV One and Telemundo.

 

Meier’s role will have him overseeing the extensive Crackle and Popcornflix libraries of studio film titles and classic TV series as well as a growing list of programming that includes exclusive movies such as the Angus MacFadyan medieval action film Robert the Bruce, the Demi Moore/Ed Helms dark comedy Corporate Animals, and Sam Rockwell-starring action comedy Blue Iguana, as well as original unscripted documentaries and series such as the recently launched Bucket List, Lennox Lewis: The Untold Story, Anything is Possible: The Serge Ibaka Story, Road to Race Day, On Point, Cleanin’ Up the Town: Remembering Ghostbusters, and Going From Broke, recently picked up for a second season.

 

“I am excited to welcome Jeff Meier as our new head of programming,” said Philippe Guelton, President of Crackle Plus. “Jeff’s extensive experience acquiring and programming content for premium VOD and linear media platforms makes him a perfect fit for Crackle Plus. He fully understands the diverse Crackle Plus audience and will drive our mission of changing the world one story at a time.”

 

Crackle Plus linear and VOD networks are available in the U.S. and can be accessed on up to 29 devices and services by the end of the year including Amazon FireTV, RokuTV, Apple TV, Smart TVs (Samsung, LG, Vizio), gaming consoles (PS4 and XBoxOne), Plex, iOS and Android mobile devices and on desktops at Crackle.com. Crackle is also available in approximately 500,000 hotel rooms in the Marriott Bonvoy chain.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 



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