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Tag: Aksel van der Wal

  • Turner, Bigballs deal strengthens former’s digital sports & latter’s international foray

    Turner, Bigballs deal strengthens former’s digital sports & latter’s international foray

    MUMBAI: Turner International’s Digital Ventures & Innovation Group has announced an equity investment in digital media sports company Bigballs Media (BBM), parent company of one of the world’s fastest-growing digital video platforms for football content, Copa90.

    The funding will be used to fuel BBM’s international expansion, content production and distribution and enhance its data capabilities as it continues its growth trajectory. The investment will fuel further international growth and fully establish Copa90 as the definitive football youth media brand.

    Turner’s Digital Ventures & Innovation Group was recently formed to focus on opportunities for innovation, development and acquisition. The investment comes within the group’s first month of operations and signals the company’s commitment to increasing its presence in the digital sports space. Turner is the largest provider of funding for the Series B investment round and the main strategic investor.

    In parallel, Turner and BBM have signed a commercial agreement which embraces multiple opportunities for Turner and BBM to leverage their respective distribution and content production expertise. The partnership expands on an existing commercial relationship with leading digital sports brand Bleacher Report, a division of Turner.

    The cross-platform commercial agreement includes strategic co-branded content production, the development of third party branded content and sponsorship opportunities, and content creation for Turner’s own channels. It also facilitates BBM’s close collaboration across the wider Turner portfolio, including Esporte Interativo, Turner Sports and CNN. Additionally, Aksel van der Wal, head of Digital Ventures & Innovation, will take a seat on BBM’s board of directors, and Bleacher Report COO Alex Vargas, becomes a board observer.

    “Partnering with relevant brands is a core part of our strategy to compete and lead in today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape,” said Turner International executive vice president – digital ventures & innovation Aksel van der Wal.

    “We see really exciting opportunities to work with BBM in developing creative ways to engage new audiences, in particular expanding our growing touchpoints with millennials while also offering innovative new platforms for advertisers. It is exactly the kind of forward-looking partnership we hope to establish more of.”

    BBM CEO Tom Thirlwall said: “Our ambition is to be the world’s most influential football media business by the time the 2018 World Cup kicks off and this investment and partnership with Turner is a decisive step towards making that a reality.

    “We had significant interest in our round but Turner was by far and away the most compelling because of their team, vision and the strategic opportunities for both our businesses. The investment will enable us to accelerate our growth in our core markets, build our data and distribution capabilities and expand our commercial teams in Europe and the US and of course continue to make the best fan culture football content.”

    “Bleacher Report and Copa90 share a passion for global football fan culture. We are very excited about the investment and taking a step forward in expanding our existing relationship. Our hugely popular “Saturdays Are Lit” Snapchat collaboration has set a great benchmark for the kind of exciting opportunities we expect to develop together,” said Vargas.

    The investment in BBM is the latest in a series of investments by Turner in the digital space and the first with a company headquartered outside of the US. It follows on from similar investments in 2016 in Refinery29 and Mashable. The company also acquired a majority stake in iStreamPlanet in 2015. Turner has also recently expanded Bleacher Report and injected new investment in CNN Digital. Internationally it has launched a suite of new digital-first destinations and apps across the broader digital ecosystem to extend its fan engagement around flagship properties such as CNN, Cartoon Network, Boomerang and Adult Swim, as part of the company’s accelerated focus on evolving its digital business interests and capabilities.

  • Turner, Bigballs deal strengthens former’s digital sports & latter’s international foray

    Turner, Bigballs deal strengthens former’s digital sports & latter’s international foray

    MUMBAI: Turner International’s Digital Ventures & Innovation Group has announced an equity investment in digital media sports company Bigballs Media (BBM), parent company of one of the world’s fastest-growing digital video platforms for football content, Copa90.

    The funding will be used to fuel BBM’s international expansion, content production and distribution and enhance its data capabilities as it continues its growth trajectory. The investment will fuel further international growth and fully establish Copa90 as the definitive football youth media brand.

    Turner’s Digital Ventures & Innovation Group was recently formed to focus on opportunities for innovation, development and acquisition. The investment comes within the group’s first month of operations and signals the company’s commitment to increasing its presence in the digital sports space. Turner is the largest provider of funding for the Series B investment round and the main strategic investor.

    In parallel, Turner and BBM have signed a commercial agreement which embraces multiple opportunities for Turner and BBM to leverage their respective distribution and content production expertise. The partnership expands on an existing commercial relationship with leading digital sports brand Bleacher Report, a division of Turner.

    The cross-platform commercial agreement includes strategic co-branded content production, the development of third party branded content and sponsorship opportunities, and content creation for Turner’s own channels. It also facilitates BBM’s close collaboration across the wider Turner portfolio, including Esporte Interativo, Turner Sports and CNN. Additionally, Aksel van der Wal, head of Digital Ventures & Innovation, will take a seat on BBM’s board of directors, and Bleacher Report COO Alex Vargas, becomes a board observer.

    “Partnering with relevant brands is a core part of our strategy to compete and lead in today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape,” said Turner International executive vice president – digital ventures & innovation Aksel van der Wal.

    “We see really exciting opportunities to work with BBM in developing creative ways to engage new audiences, in particular expanding our growing touchpoints with millennials while also offering innovative new platforms for advertisers. It is exactly the kind of forward-looking partnership we hope to establish more of.”

    BBM CEO Tom Thirlwall said: “Our ambition is to be the world’s most influential football media business by the time the 2018 World Cup kicks off and this investment and partnership with Turner is a decisive step towards making that a reality.

    “We had significant interest in our round but Turner was by far and away the most compelling because of their team, vision and the strategic opportunities for both our businesses. The investment will enable us to accelerate our growth in our core markets, build our data and distribution capabilities and expand our commercial teams in Europe and the US and of course continue to make the best fan culture football content.”

    “Bleacher Report and Copa90 share a passion for global football fan culture. We are very excited about the investment and taking a step forward in expanding our existing relationship. Our hugely popular “Saturdays Are Lit” Snapchat collaboration has set a great benchmark for the kind of exciting opportunities we expect to develop together,” said Vargas.

    The investment in BBM is the latest in a series of investments by Turner in the digital space and the first with a company headquartered outside of the US. It follows on from similar investments in 2016 in Refinery29 and Mashable. The company also acquired a majority stake in iStreamPlanet in 2015. Turner has also recently expanded Bleacher Report and injected new investment in CNN Digital. Internationally it has launched a suite of new digital-first destinations and apps across the broader digital ecosystem to extend its fan engagement around flagship properties such as CNN, Cartoon Network, Boomerang and Adult Swim, as part of the company’s accelerated focus on evolving its digital business interests and capabilities.

  • Turner gets into digital ventures; announces key execs in leadership positions

    Turner gets into digital ventures; announces key execs in leadership positions

    MACAO:Turner International yesterday announced a new division to lead its digital innovation internationally and promoted with Aksel van der Wal, presently senior vice-president and chief financial officer, to the new role of executive vice-president, to lead the initiative effective 1 January, 2017.

    Under his leadership the new division will focus on driving profitable growth through international consumer-centric initiatives, including all of Turner’s international multiplatform suite of digital properties and its direct-to-consumer product strategy, Turner said in a statement during the on-going CASBAA Convention 2016 here yesterday.

    In close co-operation with the Turner International presidents, van der Wal has the responsibility for the existing portfolio of international products and services on the web, for smart phones, games, apps and OTT, and he will also be charged with developing new digital direct-to-consumer businesses leading a cross-platform business intelligence function that drives consumer insight and helping to implement the strategy of the non-linear ad sales business.

    Additionally, van der Wal will identify new opportunities for Turner and decide on how to engage in those new areas through technological product innovation and/or acquisitions.

    “As our industry undergoes huge evolution, the impact of digital disruption and changing consumer behaviour continues to put audience insight right at the heart of our business strategy,” Gerhard Zeiler, President, Turner International said in the statement about van der Wal’s new assignment and the company’s fresh outlook.

    “This new division will ensure that we assess new opportunities for innovation, development and acquisition through the lens of relevant, robust consumer data and through a realigned, agile organisational structure. Aksel’s experience in transformative management, his first-class understanding of both the linear and digital media landscapes and his detailed knowledge of Turner’s international operation all combine to make him a superb fit for this new role,” Zeiler said.

    In his role as chief financial officer for Turner International, van der Wal, who will report to the Turner president, will be succeeded by Trey Turner, presently Senior VP, Corporate Finance, Mergers and Acquisitions. Al the new changes will be effective 1 January, 2017.

    Based in Atlanta, Turner will report to Pascal Desroches, Executive VP and CFO of Turner, while working closely with Zeiler. He will be responsible for the company’s financial operations and will be an active partner and contributor in shaping the direction of the company’s international business and implementing its strategy.
    “Trey has the perfect experience to lead the business, capital and budgeting activities for our international businesses,” according to said Pascal Desroches, who added, “He has acquired a depth of knowledge about our company and brings great passion and significant experience to the role. We expect Trey to play a key role in helping us expand our global operations.”

    Aksel van der Wal joined Turner in 2014 as CFO, Turner EMEA and was promoted to S VP and CFO, Turner International, in June 2015. Before joining Turner, van der Wal worked for three years and served as CEO, Time Out, at its two main business sites, London and New York City. Prior to Time Out, he was CFO at online ticket exchange operation Seatwave and previously held senior financial and business development roles at Vodafone, including CFO of partner markets.

    Turner International operates versions of core Turner brands, including CNN, TNT, Cartoon Network, Boomerang and TCM Turner Classic Movies as well as country and region-specific networks and businesses in Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific. It manages the business of pay- and free-TV channels as well as Internet-based services and oversees commercial partnerships with various third-party media ventures.

  • Turner gets into digital ventures; announces key execs in leadership positions

    Turner gets into digital ventures; announces key execs in leadership positions

    MACAO:Turner International yesterday announced a new division to lead its digital innovation internationally and promoted with Aksel van der Wal, presently senior vice-president and chief financial officer, to the new role of executive vice-president, to lead the initiative effective 1 January, 2017.

    Under his leadership the new division will focus on driving profitable growth through international consumer-centric initiatives, including all of Turner’s international multiplatform suite of digital properties and its direct-to-consumer product strategy, Turner said in a statement during the on-going CASBAA Convention 2016 here yesterday.

    In close co-operation with the Turner International presidents, van der Wal has the responsibility for the existing portfolio of international products and services on the web, for smart phones, games, apps and OTT, and he will also be charged with developing new digital direct-to-consumer businesses leading a cross-platform business intelligence function that drives consumer insight and helping to implement the strategy of the non-linear ad sales business.

    Additionally, van der Wal will identify new opportunities for Turner and decide on how to engage in those new areas through technological product innovation and/or acquisitions.

    “As our industry undergoes huge evolution, the impact of digital disruption and changing consumer behaviour continues to put audience insight right at the heart of our business strategy,” Gerhard Zeiler, President, Turner International said in the statement about van der Wal’s new assignment and the company’s fresh outlook.

    “This new division will ensure that we assess new opportunities for innovation, development and acquisition through the lens of relevant, robust consumer data and through a realigned, agile organisational structure. Aksel’s experience in transformative management, his first-class understanding of both the linear and digital media landscapes and his detailed knowledge of Turner’s international operation all combine to make him a superb fit for this new role,” Zeiler said.

    In his role as chief financial officer for Turner International, van der Wal, who will report to the Turner president, will be succeeded by Trey Turner, presently Senior VP, Corporate Finance, Mergers and Acquisitions. Al the new changes will be effective 1 January, 2017.

    Based in Atlanta, Turner will report to Pascal Desroches, Executive VP and CFO of Turner, while working closely with Zeiler. He will be responsible for the company’s financial operations and will be an active partner and contributor in shaping the direction of the company’s international business and implementing its strategy.
    “Trey has the perfect experience to lead the business, capital and budgeting activities for our international businesses,” according to said Pascal Desroches, who added, “He has acquired a depth of knowledge about our company and brings great passion and significant experience to the role. We expect Trey to play a key role in helping us expand our global operations.”

    Aksel van der Wal joined Turner in 2014 as CFO, Turner EMEA and was promoted to S VP and CFO, Turner International, in June 2015. Before joining Turner, van der Wal worked for three years and served as CEO, Time Out, at its two main business sites, London and New York City. Prior to Time Out, he was CFO at online ticket exchange operation Seatwave and previously held senior financial and business development roles at Vodafone, including CFO of partner markets.

    Turner International operates versions of core Turner brands, including CNN, TNT, Cartoon Network, Boomerang and TCM Turner Classic Movies as well as country and region-specific networks and businesses in Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific. It manages the business of pay- and free-TV channels as well as Internet-based services and oversees commercial partnerships with various third-party media ventures.