Machinima, a US-based YouTube video entertainment network and app publisher aimed at 18-34 year-old males and claiming to be “a network for the gamer lifestyle and beyond”, has closed an $18m series D financing led by Warner Bros. Entertainment. Also participating in this financing were Machinima’s other existing investors, MK Capital, Redpoint Ventures and Google Capital
In total, Machinima has now raised just over $67m.
Allen DeBevoise, chairman and CEO, Machinima said: “We are thrilled to be partnering with Warner Bros., the leading producer of exactly the type of content that resonates with our global audience of videogamers and millennial males. There are myriad opportunities to connect Warner Bros.’ content to our audience across YouTube and our highly successful apps, and similarly to maximise the value of our content by utilizing Warner Bros.’ expertise in global distribution beyond YouTube.”
The Machinima network features scripted series, original content, weekly and daily shows, official publisher content and gameplay videos, aimed at the 18-34 year-old male demographic.
The Warner Bros. investment builds on an existing relationship with Machinima, which serves as the exclusive distribution partner for two seasons of “Mortal Kombat: Legacy,” the live-action web series based on the Mortal Kombat video game franchise, produced by Warner Bros. Digital Distribution.
“Machinima has been a pioneer and category leader in the YouTube multi-channel networks (MCN) space, with thousands of channel partners and a premium brand that reaches millions of daily users,” said Thomas Gewecke, chief digital officer and executive vice-president, strategy and business development, Warner Bros. Entertainment.