Media company Asahi Shimbun has acquired Japan-based video production platform Bouncy in an transaction of undisclosed size that enabled corporates Nikkei, Gree, Globis, Dentsu and Yahoo Japan to exit.
Founded in 2013 by its parent company, crowdsourced video production service provider Viibar, Bouncy runs an online streaming platform focused on curated and user-created videos. Its videos collectively receive about 70 million views each month and it has moved into areas like events and signage.
Bouncy’s media operation team will remain at their posts to collaborate with Asahi Shimbun’s video media platform, Moovoo, on search engine optimisation and the development of a more efficient video editing system. Viibar and Asahi Shumbun will also jointly promote video usage in the digital domain.
Viibar raised $3.5m from media company Nikkei (also known as Nihon Keizai Shimbun), as well as Dentsu Digital Holdings and Globis Capital Partners, respective subsidiaries of marketing firm Dentsu and education business Globis, in January 2017.
The company had previously received $5.5m from internet company Yahoo Japan and Gree Ventures, the corporate venturing subsidiary of social network operator Gree, in 2015, having secured $3m from Gree Ventures and Globis the year before.
