MobiTV, a US-based online television streaming platform operator that counts media group Hearst as an investor, has secured more than $50m in funding from investors including financial services provider Ally Financial.
Private equity firm Oak Investment Partners and real estate investment firm Cedar Grove Partners also contributed to the round.
MobiTV has developed a cloud-hosted, customisable software engine called Connect which is used by paid TV broadcasters to stream subscription video content, meaning their revenue and visibility is protected as more viewers choose to access programs online.
Connect is currently used by broadcasters including Disney, Showtime and Viacom, and is compatible with video streaming devices such as Roku and Amazon Fire TV, in addition to certain smart TVs.
The capital injection will go towards growing MobiTV’s presence in international markets, as the company aims to enhance Connect’s appeal to cable broadcasters looking to reinforce their businesses amid the growth in internet video broadcasting.
MobiTV has now raised $215m altogether, according to press releases and securities filings, including $10m in debt financing in March 2018, according to a securities filing, just over a year after Hearst joined Ally Financial subsidiary Ally Corporate Finance and Oak Investment Partners for a $21m round in February 2017.
Hearst and software producer Adobe had provided $30m of the $100m in series C funding MobiTV received in 2006, in a round that included Oak Investment Partners, Menlo Ventures, Redpoint Ventures and Gefinor Ventures.
Adobe no longer lists MobiTV as a portfolio company, though Hearst’s corporate venturing unit, Hearst Ventures, remains a backer, as does investment firm Leader Ventures, having supplied $5m in funding in 2008.