DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc has agreed to purchase teen- oriented YouTube network AwesomenessTV, to secure an online platform to showcase family-focused movie franchises such as "Shrek" and "Kung Fu Panda." DreamWorks said on Wednesday it will pay about $33 million in cash to acquire AwesomenessTV, with additional payments of up to $117 million if earnings targets are met in 2014 and 2015. The transaction is expected to be completed this month, it said.AwesomenessTV is a network of 55,000 YouTube channels, with 14 million subscribers, that feature online talk shows, sketch comedy, and scripted and reality series aimed at teens. It is among the original channels that Google-owned YouTube helped bankroll over the past year and a half.YouTube has spent more than $100 million to help about 150 media partners create and promote specialized YouTube video channels dedicated to topics ranging from food to sports. The idea is to improve the quality of videos on YouTube and to attract a bigger share of television advertising dollars.Under the deal with DreamWorks, AwesomenessTV founder and Chief Executive Brian Robbins will take an executive role at the movie studio to develop a digital family channel. DreamWorks movie franchises include "Shrek," "Kung Fu Panda," "Madagascar" and current box office hit "The Croods."
DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. (DreamWorks Animation) is engaged in the development, production and exploitation of animated films and their associated characters in the worldwide theatrical, home entertainment, television, merchandising and licensing and other markets. Shares of DWA traded higher by 8.04% or $1.55/share to $20.83. In the past year, the shares have traded as low as $15.90 and as high as $22.98. On average, 1219650 shares of DWA exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 4176325.
Source
