Zealot Networks

Zealot Networks
Private
Industry Digital media
Founded August 2014
Founder Danny Zappin
Headquarters Venice, CA
Key people
 Danny Zappin
(president & CEO)
Chad Seymour (CMO)
Bob Vanech (CFO)
Conn Fishburn (CSO)
Number of employees
 100+[1]
Website zealotnetworks.com

Zealot Networks is an American digital-first media and entertainment company based in Venice, California.

History

Zealot Networks was founded in August 2014 by Danny Zappin, the co-founder and former CEO of Maker Studios.[1] Zappin had been working on Zealot for about six months prior to founding the company.[2] In the summer of 2014, he raised $25 million, investing a large portion of the payout he earned from the sale of Maker Studios to Disney,[2] with additional investments from former Maker Studios executives and talent.[3][4][5][6] By the end of the year, Zealot had raised additional capital from UK broadcaster ITV, the largest commercial television network in the UK.[7][8] With the deal, ITV became the company's first media industry investor, acquiring a minority stake and gaining a board position, while helping Zealot expand into the European market. The ITV investment valued the company at over $100 million.[7][9][10]

Zappin has stated that the company is a continuation of his work at multi-channel network Maker Studios. Rather than focusing exclusively on YouTube talent, however, Zealot is a multi-company network, made up of a variety of interconnected digital media companies with different areas of expertise working together while continuing to operate independently, in an effort to accelerate their collective growth.[11][12] Zealot intends to work with content creators and entrepreneurs to help build their businesses and provide synergistic collaboration with Zealot's other companies, which include production firms, technology companies, talent agencies, marketing agencies and advertising agencies.[2][4][13]

Location

Zealot is based in Venice, California.[1] In late-August 2014, the company signed a five-year lease for space at 660 Venice Blvd., a two-building property that sits on the site of author Ray Bradbury's childhood home.[14]

Production

Zealot plans to release its first content in late 2015, with its work to include television shows, feature films, live events and musical artist development. The company intends to create some content with brands, and to create other content on its own, with brands advertising against that content.[1] Zealot will distribute content across its own sites, as well as third-party platforms including YouTube, Vine and Instagram.[10]

Management

Zealot's management team is headed by president and chief executive officer Danny Zappin, chief financial officer Bob Vanech, chief strategy officer Conn Fishburn, and chief marketing officer Chad Seymour.[6] In May 2015, former Google creative director Jeben Berg was hired as Zealot's head of creative and marketing solutions.[15]

Acquisitions

As of May 2015, Zealot has acquired 13 companies, all of which continue to operate under their original names.[1][16][17][18] One of the companies was Christian record-label Gotee Records, founded by tobyMac (Toby McKeehan), Todd Collins and Joey Elwood.[19]


In December 2014, Zealot acquired a majority stake in content-licensing company AudioMicro, the parent company of YouTube music, video and photo licensing business AdRev,[6] for approximately $20 million.[20] In January 2015, Zealot acquired Premier Sports & Entertainment, an agency that represents professional athletes and coaches, including Pete Carroll.[21] The following month, Zealot acquired Converge Media Group, a talent management and production services media company co-founded in 2013 by comedian JB Smoove. The acquisition gave Zealot digital production capabilities and a presence in New York.[9][12] Also in February 2015, Zealot acquired creative marketing agencies Neighbor Agency and Idea Farmer.[22] In March 2015, Zealot acquired digital agency and Ad Age's 2013 Small Agency of the Year Threshold Interactive, Zealot's third advertising agency.[1] In May 2015, Zealot purchased two additional companies: Lord Danger, a Los Angeles-based commercial and music-video production company, which has worked with artists including J. Cole, Steve Aoki and Major Lazer;[16] and Hutch Media, a network of niche content websites, bringing Zealot into the original publishing market.[17]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Tim Peterson, “Zealot Networks Buys Threshold Interactive, Its Third Ad Agency,” Ad Age, March 12, 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 Nicole Laporte, “Maker Studios’ Former CEO Takes Disney’s Millions to Move Beyond YouTube,” Fast Company, August 4, 2014.
  3. ↑ Saba Hamedy, “Ex-Maker Studios CEO launches digital media company,” Los Angeles Times, August 4, 2014.
  4. 1 2 Todd Spangler, “Danny Zappin, Ousted CEO of Maker Studios, Raises $25 Million to Launch Digital Studio,” Variety, August 4, 2014.
  5. ↑ Mike Shields, “Ex Maker Studios CEO Danny Zappin Raises Funding For New Web Video Venture,” Wall Street Journal, August 4, 2014.
  6. 1 2 3 Todd Spangler, “Danny Zappin’s Zealot Networks Buys Majority Stake in YouTube Licensing Firm AudioMicro,” Variety, December 18, 2014.
  7. 1 2 Melissah Yang, “Zealot Networks Valued at $100 Million,” Los Angeles Business Journal, December 22, 2014.
  8. ↑ Michael Wolff, “Why Is the U.K.’s ITV on a Hollywood Buying Spree?” The Hollywood Reporter, May 7, 2015.
  9. 1 2 Todd Spangler, “Danny Zappin’s Zealot Networks Buys Converge Media Group Talent Agency From JB Smoove and Others,” Variety, February 5, 2015.
  10. 1 2 Nancy Tartaglione, “ITV Invests In Ex-Maker CEO’s Zealot Networks,” Deadline.com, December 22, 2014.
  11. ↑ Evan DeSimone, “Danny Zappin Goes Beyond the MCN With Zealot,” NewMediaRockstars, August 4, 2014.
  12. 1 2 Natalie Jarvey, “Zealot Networks Acquires J.B. Smoove’s Converge Media Group,” The Hollywood Reporter, February 5, 2015.
  13. ↑ Mike Shields, “U.K. Media Giant ITV Invests in Ousted Maker Studios Co-founder Danny Zappin’s Media Startup,” Wall Street Journal, December 22, 2014.
  14. ↑ Bethany Firnhaber, “Zealot Networks Leases Former Ray Bradbury Home,” Los Angeles Business Journal, September 22, 2014.
  15. ↑ Garrett Reim, “Zealot Networks Hires Google Creative Director,” Los Angeles Business Journal, May 6, 2015.
  16. 1 2 Sahil Patel, “Zealot Networks Buys Music-Video Production Company Lord Danger,” Video Ink, May 12, 2015.
  17. 1 2 Garrett Reim, “Zealot Buys Small Publisher, Hints at Future,” Los Angeles Business Journal, May 18, 2015.
  18. ↑ Sahil Patel, “Danny Zappin’s Zealot Networks Expands to Nashville, Buys 3 Local Companies,” Video Ink, May 28, 2015.
  19. ↑ http://www.gospelmusic.org/news-zealot-networks-acquires-gotee-records/
  20. ↑ Peter Kafka, “Maker Studios Founder Danny Zappin Is Back in Business and Buying Companies. Here’s His First Deal.” Re/code, December 18, 2014.
  21. ↑ Melissah Yang, “Zealot Networks Acquires Premier Sports & Entertainment,” Los Angeles Business Journal, January 8, 2015.
  22. ↑ Omar Shamout, “Zealot Networks Buys Two Creative Marketing Companies,” Los Angeles Business Journal, February 17, 2015.
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