SpotX expands footprint in Europe
DENVER–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The two RTL Group companies SpotX and RTL Nederland (RTL) join forces. Today the leading video inventory management platform globally and the all-round media and entertainment company announce the launch of a joint venture for the Benelux region. The joint venture will operate as of mid-March from Amsterdam, where SpotX Benelux will be located, bringing SpotX’s programmatic expertise and sales and account support to premium publishers in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxemburg.
At launch SpotX Benelux provides agencies, advertisers and trading desks with direct access to broadcast quality video inventory of video-on-demand platform RTL XL, and other top gaming, sports, and entertainment publishers affiliated with the Videostrip network. SpotX connects buyers and sellers of video advertising through its platform, and is focused on holistic inventory management for publishers including ad serving, programmatic infrastructure, and advanced analytics.
“SpotX is very focused on becoming the leading video inventory management platform in Europe, and SpotX Benelux is an exciting step toward that goal, as it marks our first office in continental Europe,” said Mike Shehan, CEO of SpotX. “As announced with the acquisition, RTL Group’s decentralized operation will give SpotX the chance to thrive and grow as the last independent digital video ad monetization platform. It provides significant opportunities to work with RTL Group’s leading European broadcast companies. We recognize the unique opportunities and challenges of each market and look forward to finding the best approach to increase uptake of programmatic video across the region.”
Bert Habets, CEO of RTL Netherlands: “Our strategy is to always capitalize on new opportunities in the market and to keep innovating. This strategy doesn’t only concern our B2C activities, but certainly also applies to what we provide advertisers with. We are at the forefront when it comes to trading digital advertising positions and own the largest online video network in the Netherlands. This partnership with SpotX is the next logical step. We will profit from their technology- and data-based competencies.”
Details:
-With more than 4 billion auctions a day, SpotX is one of the largest video advertising platforms worldwide.
-Every month, SpotX displays advertisements to 600+ million people in more than 190+ countries.
-For SpotX, this joint venture for the Benelux region is also a first step toward winning market share in Europe.
-The team of SpotX Benelux will be announced in March.
SpotX Benelux will operate from Amsterdam.
Facts:
-RTL Group, RTL Nederland’s parent company, acquired a majority stake of 65% in SpotX in September 2014.
-RTL Nederland strengthened its position in the digital advertising market in 2012 with the acquisition of Videostrip.
About SpotX
SpotX is a video inventory management platform for premium publishers and broadcasters, helping them manage all of their demand sources from one place, and monetize content across all screens. The SpotX platform offers publishers unprecedented transparency and insight, creating a safe, controlled environment that allows them to connect with advertisers, and achieve the highest revenue possible.
Premium publishers and mobile app developers trust SpotX as the independent solution that helps them better understand the buying behavior of today’s leading brands and maximize inventory yield across private marketplace, programmatic direct and open marketplace deals. SpotX’s ad serving, leading programmatic technology, and open and extensible architecture help simplify the complex digital video ecosystem for global publishers.
Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, SpotX also has offices in New York, San Francisco, London, Sydney, Amsterdam, Hamburg, Belfast and Singapore. In July 2014, leading European entertainment network RTL Group acquired a 65% stake in SpotX, which was founded by CEO Mike Shehan and CFO and COO, Steven Swoboda, in 2007. For updates, please follow SpotX @SpotXchange or visit www.spotxchange.com
About RTL Nederland
With a powerful channel portfolio, a trend-setting news company and a top position in both digital media and the entertainment market, RTL Netherlands is one of the leading all-round media and entertainment companies in the Netherlands. With its seven television channels, RTL 4, RTL 5, RTL 7, RTL 8, RTL Lounge, RTL Crime and RTL Telekids, the company has a firm hold on its market leadership in the Dutch television market. The digital activities are characterized by, among others, RTLXL.nl, Videoland.com and Buienradar.nl, who have also enabled RTL to achieve a top 4 position in the digital market. The RTL Ventures investment division develops activities that bring us into direct contact with the consumer. Through RTL Live Entertainment, the company is active in the entertainment market, and among creating events from scratch, works on the conversion of television brands to live entertainment. Together, all these activities ensure that RTL can inform and entertain millions of consumers, anywhere, anytime.