DramaFever, a US-based online video platform, has increased by $1.5m its $4.5m series B round that initially closed in March with a host of media companies joining the syndicate as strategic investors.
Cable network AMC, Germany-based media group Bertelsmann’s Digital Media Investments corporate venturing unit and NALA Investments, the family office for the Diez Barroso Azcarraga family, which founded US Hispanic networks Televisa and Univision, were the corporate investors joining the B round.
In addition, Machinima co-founder and chief executive (CEO) Allen DeBevoise and LowerMyBills.com founder and CEO Matt Coffin also contributed to DramaFever’s B round extension.
Venture capital firm MK Capital had led the initial $4.5m close in March, which also included YouTube co-founder Steve Chen, Badoo chief operating officer Benjamin Ling, Stubhub founder Jeff Fluhr, GraphEffect president Stephano Kim, Wikets CEO Andy Park and Capital IQ co-founders Randy Winn and Steve Turner.
DramaFever has in total raised $7.8m since its launch in August 2009.
In addition, former Fox Television Entertainment Group chairman Sandy Grushow joined the firm as a strategic adviser.
Grushow will work closely with co-founder Seung Bak on branding, marketing, and distribution development across linear TV and the web for DramaFever, which has specialised in bringing subtitled Asian drama to US viewers.
The company said it expected to leverage the new relationships to further accelerate production underway of offerings across the global entertainment platform, starting with Latin American content, Asian pop music video programming, and Bollywood film.