 | This article needs to be updated. (August 2022) |
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| Formerly | Alloy Digital |
|---|---|
| Company type | Private |
| Industry | Digital media |
| Predecessors | Break Media Alloy Digital |
| Founded | 1996 |
| Defunct | November 6, 2018 |
| Fate | Dissolved |
| Headquarters | , U.S. |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Matt Diamond[1] |
| Products | Digital media, merchandise, broadcasting, advertising media networks, apps |
| Owners | ABS Capital Partners (36%) Lionsgate (19%) Viacom (7%) Wellington Management Company (38%)[2][3][4][5] |
Number of employees | 400[6][7] |
| Subsidiaries | The Escapist Smosh Break.com Shockwave.com Clevver Entertainment |
Defy Media was an American digital media company that produced original online content for the 12–34 age group. Originally founded in 1996 as Alloy Online (later Alloy Digital), the final company was formed in 2013 by its merger with Break Media.
On November 6, 2018, the company ceased operations after its assets were frozen by creditors, leaving channels like Smosh without a company. Several former employees blamed poor financial management, while high overhead from YouTube, legal troubles, overly aggressive expansion, and a shrinking advertising market were also described as contributing factors.[8][9]
- ^ "Who We Are". DEFY Media. Archived from the original on August 28, 2018. Retrieved February 11, 2018.
- ^ Spangler, Todd (June 9, 2014). "Viacom Acquires Stake in Defy Media". Archived from the original on December 14, 2017. Retrieved December 7, 2017.
- ^ "Smosh Owner Defy Media Raises $70M". hollywoodreporter.com. September 13, 2016. Archived from the original on September 4, 2017. Retrieved September 4, 2017.
- ^ "DEFY Media Closes $70MM Series B Investment". defymedia.com. Archived from the original on August 28, 2018.
- ^ "Portfolio - ZMC". Archived from the original on July 16, 2016. Retrieved July 13, 2016.
- ^ Spangler, Todd (September 13, 2016). "Defy Media, Digital Studio Behind Smosh, Raises $70 Million and Eyes Shows on Traditional TV". Variety. Archived from the original on February 11, 2018. Retrieved February 11, 2018.
- ^ "How Defy Media defied the YouTube network label". Digiday. September 22, 2016. Archived from the original on February 9, 2017. Retrieved February 11, 2018.
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