Cineverse Corp. (originally Access IT Digital Media, Inc., and later, Cinedigm) is an American entertainment company headquartered in Los Angeles, California. Cineverse’s businesses encompass digital cinema, streaming channels, content marketing, and distribution.[1][2]
History
Early years
The company was founded in 2000, under the name Access IT Digital Media, Inc., through a group led by Bud Mayo. Mayo served as director until his retirement in 2010, and subsequently founded Digital Cinema Destinations Corp. In September 2013, the company changed its name to Cinedigm Corp.[3] In January 2011, Chris McGurk became the new chairman and CEO.[4]
In July 2011, the company sold its physical and electronic distribution business to Technicolor.[5] The following month, Screenvision acquired UniqueScreen Media, Inc. (USM), the cinema advertising division of Cinedigm Digital Cinema Corp. The companies entered into a long-term agreement, with Cinedigm providing distribution and promotion for Screenvision.[6]
In April 2012, the company acquired distributor New Video.[7]
In May 2014, Cinedigm established Docurama, an OTT documentary channel,[9][10][11][12][13][14] focused on documentaries and film festival coverage.[15][16] Later that year, Jeffrey Edell would join as CFO,[17] and the company began trading on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbol.[18]
In December 2017, control of Cinedigm was given to Bison Capital of Hong Kong to start one of the first China-U.S Studios.[23]
On February 5, 2019, Cinedigm acquired streaming service Viewster and its Viewster Anime subsidiary.[24] Viewster would eventually merge with CONtv and rebrand as CONtv Anime on June 13, 2020.[25][26][27]
In April of that year, Cinedigm licensed content from Chinese firms CCTV, China Lion, Starrise Media and Youku, in order to launch an entertainment and film service called Bambu; the service would launch on October 22, 2019.[28][29][30][31]
In February 2021, Cinedigm acquired the horror-genre streaming service, Screambox.[33] Later that year, on September 21, 2021, Cinedigm acquired Bloody Disgusting. As part of the acquisition, Screambox would be relaunched under the curation and management of Bloody Disgusting.[34]
In August 2021, Cinedigm announced a partnership with Robert Rodriguez to relaunch the former cable and satellite-based El Rey Network as a streaming channel.[35][36][37]
In December 2021, Cinedigm signed a deal with SideStream, a live video streaming service.[38]
In March 2022, Cinedigm acquired streaming, advertising and distribution company, Digital Media Rights; including the ad-supported streaming services Cinehouse (originally known as YuYu), AsianCrush, RetroCrush, Midnight Pulp, Cocoro (now discontinued), and KMTV.[39]
Cineverse launch and rebranding
On September 15, 2022, Cinedigm launched Cineverse, marketed as the company's flagship streaming service, featuring programming from across its AVOD (ad-supported video on demand) and FAST (free, ad-supported, television) brands.[40]
In May 2023, the company rebranded to Cineverse Corp. and began trading on NASDAQ under CNVS. The company stated that it was an "important step forward" in its "evolution into a streaming content and technology company".[41]
