LONDON — Media localization providers Iyuno Media Group and BTI Studios have announced a merger designed to meet the rapidly growing demand for localized content. The combination creates a worldwide network for dubbing and subtitling of media for streaming, film and television. Each of the companies is among the top five largest in the localization industry globally, so the union will position the new effort as a proven market leader. The two companies will merge under the Iyuno Media Group (www.iyunomg.com) brand and will be headquartered in London.
David Lee, founder and former CEO of Iyuno Media Group, has been appointed executive chairman, while Shaun Gregory, former CEO of BTI Studios, will serve as the CEO of the new IYUNO Media Group. Lee and Gregory’s leadership will ensure seamless integration and innovative technology solutions to fundamentally enhance the overall media ecosystem. Combined, the companies have 40 facilities located across 30 countries.
The new Iyuno Media Group will use artificial intelligence-driven machine learning to serve the variation of different quality tiered projects or lead times that clients face. The new company will also use its investment in technology for future markets such as corporate, gaming and e-learning, where demand for media localization is growing.
Investors Shamrock Capital and Altor will join SoftBank Ventures Asia in backing the new entity, providing financial support, experience and knowledge in the media industry for global growth. All three institutions are keen to grow the new Iyuno Media Group and support the overall media industry.
“Clients need a better solution,” states Lee. “The current media localization industry's fragmented, manual and non-systematic approaches are outdated and inefficient. Our combined experience and long-standing commitment to diverse global markets makes our products and services second-to-none. The merger with full support of our investors Altor, Softbank Ventures Asia and Shamrock Capital, further strengthens us to take our place as the unparalleled global leader.”
“Quality, efficiency, and security are key themes for content owners as the need to differentiate themselves becomes more prevalent in the fast-paced race to localize content on a global scale,” adds Gregory. “The merger provides a global network of owned and operated creative studios, never seen before in the market, which now allows us to support the increasing demand for localization services worldwide in the entertainment industry.”