Peter Chernin-backed online-video network Fullscreen is bringing its YouTube stars new ways to sell tickets, merchandise and memberships directly to fans, with the acquisition of startup StageBloc, the company said Thursday.
Financial terms weren’t disclosed.
StageBloc, started in 2013, is a company that provides people like artists, musicians and video makers with tech tools to sell and market themselves directly to consumers.
The Fullscreen takeover is the latest move by a digital media company to move into booming offline side industries like live events and direct-to-consumer sales. In October, radio giant Pandora bough online ticketing company Ticketfly for $450 million, while niche media properties like Comic-Con and the company that runs the Tribeca Film Festival have launched their own subscription video services.
“Today’s creators reach millions of fans across disparate platforms, and this direct-to-consumer approach is the future of the creator business,” said Beau Bryant, Fullscreen senior vice president of talent and programming, said in a statement.
Fullscreen is controlled by Otter Media, the Web video joint venture between Chernin and AT&T. Fullscreen’s stable of 75,000 online personalities rack up 600 million subscribers for more than 5 billion videos each month. Traditional stars like Kenny Chesney and Keith Urban have used StageBloc for direct-to-fan sales.
StageBloc will be renamed Fullscreen Direct as part of the deal.