Company:BAMTech

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BAMTECH, LLC
BAMTech Media
TypeSubsidiary
Industry
FoundedFebruary 2015; 9 years ago (2015-02)
FounderMLB Advanced Media
Headquarters
Chelsea Market, Manhattan, New York
,
United States
Key people
  • Michael Paull (CEO)[1]
  • Joe Inzerillo (Chief technology officer)
  • Eric Lieberman (Senior vice president)
Members
Number of employees
850 (2017)[2]
ParentDisney Direct-to-Consumer and International
SubsidiariesBAMTech Europe (JV) (50%)
Cake Solutions
Websitewww.bamtechmedia.com

Bamtech, LLC, doing business as BAMTech Media (stylized as BAMTECH), is a technology subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company located in Manhattan, New York City .[2] It was established in 2015 as a spin-off of MLB Advanced Media—the digital media arm of Major League Baseball, focused on providing streaming video technology, particularly for over-the-top content (OTT) services. The company's major clients include the NHL, HBO (for its HBO Now service), the PGA Tour, Riot Games, WatchESPN, PlayStation Vue, WWE Network[3][4] and TheBlaze.

It was majority owned by MLB Advanced Media (which is, in turn, a consortium of MLB's principal team owners), with a one-third minority stake held by Disney, and a minority stake held by the National Hockey League. In August 2017, Disney announced its intent to increase its stake to a 75% controlling stake for $1.58 billion. The deal was approved by regulators in September 2017.[5][6]

History

BAMTech was founded in February 2015 through MLB Advanced Media, spinning-out its streaming technology business into a separate company with outside investors. The formation of the company was approved by MLB Advanced Media's board of directors on August 13, 2015.[7] Under the plan, MLB-specific properties (such as MLB.com) would remain under league control.[8] In August 2016, The Walt Disney Company acquired a 1/3 stake in the company for $1 billion, with an option to acquire a majority stake in the future.[9]

On November 1, 2016, BAMTech announced a partnership with Discovery Communications to form a European joint venture known as BAMTech Europe. Its first client is Eurosport, the pan-European rights holder of the Olympic Games beginning 2018.[10] The following month, Riot Games announced a deal with BAMTech for the company to distribute and monetize broadcasts of professional competitions in its multiplayer video game League of Legends through 2023. BAMTech will pay Riot at least $50 million per-year, and split advertising revenue.[11][12]

On February 21, 2017, Michael Paull was named BAMTech's CEO.[13] On August 8, 2017, Disney announced that it would increase its ownership in the company to a 75% controlling stake for $1.58 billion.[14] Disney also reiterated its plan to launch an ESPN-branded over-the-top service in early-2018 followed by a Disney-branded direct-to-consumer streaming service in 2019.[3]

The company formally launched a website and corporate identity in September 2017.[15] On November 7, 2017, BAMTech acquired the Manchester-based software firm Cake Solutions. As part of the corporate re-structuring, former director of Cake Solutions, Ian Brookes departed the company.[16] Bamtech named Kevin Swint as senior vice president and general manager of the Disney forthcoming streaming service in January 2018 with Agnes Chu as programming executive.[17]

References

  1. ↑ Spangler, Todd (February 21, 2017). "MLB, Disney Tap Amazon’s Michael Paull as CEO of BAMTech Streaming Venture". Variety (Penske Media Corporation). https://variety.com/2017/digital/news/michael-paull-ceo-bamtech-mlbam-disney-1201992713/. Retrieved August 17, 2017. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 BARNES, Brooks; KOBLIN, John (2017-10-08). "Disney’s Big Bet on Streaming Relies on Little-Known Tech Company". The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/08/business/media/bamtech-disney-streaming.html. Retrieved 2018-03-09. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Spangler, Todd (August 8, 2017). "Disney to End Netflix Deal, Sets Launch of ESPN and Disney-Branded Streaming Services" (in en-US). Variety (Penske Media Corporation). https://variety.com/2017/digital/news/disney-netflix-end-acquires-bamtech-espn-ott-services-1202519917/. 
  4. ↑ Spangler, Todd (December 9, 2014). "HBO CTO Otto Berkes Resigns After Network Enlists MLB to Build OTT Platform" (in en-US). Variety (Penske Media Corporation). https://variety.com/2014/digital/news/hbo-cto-otto-berkes-resigns-as-network-enlists-mlb-to-build-ott-platform-1201375255/. 
  5. ↑ Munson, Ben (September 20, 2017). "Disney gets OK from FTC for $1.58B BAMTech buy" (in en-US). Variety (Penske Media Corporation). http://www.fiercecable.com/online-video/disney-gets-ok-from-ftc-for-1-58-billion-bamtech-buy. Retrieved September 20, 2017. 
  6. ↑ Eggerton, John (September 20, 2017). "Feds OK Disney's BAMTech Buy" (in en-US). Variety (Penske Media Corporation). http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/washington/feds-ok-disneys-bamtech-buy/168773. Retrieved September 20, 2017. 
  7. ↑ Ben Popper. "The Change Up: How baseball’s tech team built the future of television". The Verge. Vox Media. https://www.theverge.com/2015/8/4/9090897/mlb-bam-live-streaming-internet-tv-nhl-hbo-now-espn. 
  8. ↑ "MLB considers spinning off its powerful streaming business". Vox Media. https://www.theverge.com/2015/2/23/8092439/mlb-considers-mlbam-spinoff. Retrieved August 4, 2015. 
  9. ↑ Ben Rains (2016-07-01). "Disney Prepares To Adapt To Cord Cutters With New MLBAM Deal". Sporttechie.com. https://www.sporttechie.com/disney-prepares-to-adapt-to-cord-cutters-with-new-mlbam-deal/. Retrieved 2018-03-09. 
  10. ↑ "Discovery, MLB's Streaming Business Partner to Launch BAMTech Europe". The Hollywood Reporter. Eldridge Industries. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/discovery-mlbs-streaming-business-partner-launch-bamtech-europe-942862. Retrieved November 1, 2016. 
  11. ↑ "League of Legends’ maker inks rich broadcast contract, with an eye on premium content". Vox Media. http://www.polygon.com/2016/12/18/13998614/league-of-legends-premium-tv-service-mlb. Retrieved December 18, 2016. 
  12. ↑ "‘League of Legends’ E-Sports Contests Lure Newest Fan: Major League Baseball". News Corp. https://www.wsj.com/articles/league-of-legends-e-sports-contests-lure-newest-fan-major-league-baseball-1481889603. Retrieved December 18, 2016. 
  13. ↑ Todd Spangler (2017-02-21). "MLB, Disney Tap Amazon’s Michael Paull as CEO of BAMTech Streaming Venture". Variety. https://variety.com/2017/digital/news/michael-paull-ceo-bamtech-mlbam-disney-1201992713/. Retrieved 2018-03-09. 
  14. ↑ "Marvel and Star Wars films will ditch Netflix for Disney's own service" (in en). CNET (CBS Interactive). https://www.cnet.com/news/marvel-and-star-wars-films-will-ditch-netflix-for-disney/. 
  15. ↑ "BAMTech Gets a Website, Logo" (in en). NewBay Media. http://www.multichannel.com/blog/bauminator/bamtech-gets-website-logo/415499. 
  16. ↑ Evison, Peter. "Cake Solutions Joins BAMTECH Media" (in en). Cake Solutions. https://www.cakesolutions.net/teamblogs/cake-solutions-joins-bamtech-media. 
  17. ↑ Jarvey, Natalie (January 19, 2018). "BAMTech Taps Apple Veteran to Lead Disney OTT" (in en). The Hollywood Reporter (Prometheus Global Media). https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/bamtech-taps-apple-veteran-lead-disney-ott-1076109. Retrieved March 9, 2018. 

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