In its first major acquisition since being spun off from Time Warner, AOL is living up to its promise to focus more on a content play. AOL this morning announced a deal to acquire StudioNow, an online
platform for creating and distributing video programming, and said it would integrate it into its recently launched content management system Seed.com.
The deal, which AOL said closed on
Friday, is valued at $36.5 million in cash and stock, and AOL said StudioNow would continue to develop its existing business as an independent provider of online video content creation, management,
storage and syndication services for other commercial enterprises.
"Premium original video creation is a fundamental part of AOL's strategy to offer consumers world-class, stimulating content at
scale and the integration of StudioNow into Seed.com will enable us to increase our video content/offerings significantly," stated AOL chief Tim Armstrong.
Founded in January 2007 and
headquartered in Nashville, TN, StudioNow currently connects its clients with its more than 3,000 freelance filmmakers, editors, animators, voice talent and writers/producers to create quality,
professional video.
AOL's newly launched content management system, Seed.com, assigns, buys and distributes video programming for all of AOL's properties.