BBTV Provides Content Management Solutions to the Canada Media Fund, Canada’s largest Media Content Funding Agency supporting Canadian Content Creators

CMF is a not-for-profit corporation that delivers $353 million in funding annually to support the Canadian television and digital media industries.

Tuesday, December 8, 2020

Vancouver, B.C.: BBTV Holdings Inc. (TSX: BBTV), a media tech company using technology-enabled solutions to help content owners become more successful, today announced that it will extend its Content Management solutions to the Encore+ YouTube channel, presented by the Canada Media Fund (CMF), in partnership with Bell Media, Deluxe Distribution Canada Ltd., Google Canada, Telefilm Canada and Canada’s film and television producers, distributors, broadcasters, unions, guilds and other industry associations.

CMF is a not-for-profit corporation that delivers $353 million in funding annually to support the Canadian television and digital media industries.
In 2017, the CMF, its industry partners and service providers, including BBTV, launched the “Encore+” YouTube channel to showcase and preserve outstanding classic Canadian content, and make it available to global audiences.
Today, Encore+ boasts over 120,000 subscribers [1] featuring one of Canada’s largest content libraries, comprised of award-winning documentaries, films and TV shows for all ages including Degrassi High, Due South, Student Bodies, Ready or Not, Danger Bay, Mr. Dressup, The Corporation, Johnny Mnemonic, The Old Man and the Sea and The Wars.
A new expanded deal with CMF positions BBTV to grow its Content Management Plus Solutions, across the Encore+ content library, optimizing performance and reporting benefits from both BBTV’s Channel Management and Rights Management solutions.

BBTV provides the Encore+ YouTube channel with both its Channel Management and Rights Management solutions. Under Channel Management, BBTV directly supports the Encore+ YouTube channel strategy, operations, reporting and content development initiatives to stimulate demand and increase global discoverability for popular Canadian shows including Degrassi High, Due South, Big Wolf on Campus, Student Bodies, Edgemont, The Odyssey, Zoboomafoo, Street Legal and Danger Bay.

CMF also benefits from BBTV’s Rights Management solution, which manages fan uploaded copies of CMF funded content, putting CMF’s various clients back in control of their IP. Other enterprise media clients utilizing BBTV’s Content Management solution include the National Basketball Association (NBA) and Sony Pictures. Both are part of BBTV’s Plus Solutions that provide higher margins and enhanced value-adds for BBTV and its partners.

“BBTV is a proud Canadian business and we’re thrilled to be able to work with CMF to put a spotlight on fantastic Canadian content, and take their viewership to the next level,” comments Lewis Ball, VP Strategy, BBTV. “Content owners of all sizes need to ensure that they have a comprehensive solution that includes growing viewership and revenues for content as well as managing the fans who are uploading their IP. We offer a suite of end to end services to help content owners become more successful.”

In addition, the expanded deal sees BBTV collaborating closely with Encore+ to promote and market existing content; creating new and original trailers, and supporting a new suite of Encore+ original productions featuring talent interviews to enhance the public’s appreciation for iconic Canadian film and TV shows in English, French and by Indigenous creators.

BBTV also plays an instrumental role to further drive viewership, including optimization of audio, image and video for important Canadian films including Johnny Mnemonic, New Waterford Girl, The Snow Walker, The Corporation, Malarek, The Wars, My American Cousin and Manufacturing Consent.

“Encore+ is privileged to collaborate with Canada’s finest audiovisual talents: pioneers, trailblazers and new voices alike. We strive to deliver excellence at all levels as we promote their outstanding content to the world.” said Paulina Abarca-Cantin, Programming and Operations Lead for the Encore+ YouTube channel. “Encore+ is truly fortunate to count on BBTV’s creativity, innovative culture and proven expertise. BBTV has been at the heart of its success right from launch.”

Working closely with Canada’s film and television producers, distributors, broadcasters, unions, guilds and other industry associations, Encore+ is spearheaded by the CMF. CMF is a not-for-profit corporation that delivers $353 million in funding annually to support the Canadian television and digital media industries. It promotes, develops and finances the production of Canadian content and relevant applications for all audiovisual media platforms. The CMF receives financial contributions from the Government of Canada and Canada’s cable, satellite and IPTV distributors.

END

Footnotes
[1] YouTube subscribers from Encore+ YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH9jfFz0VzO-sqfh_TLVT7A

About BBTV
BBTV is a media and technology company headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. BBTV is an enabling platform with a stated mission of advancing the world through the democratization of content. From individual content creators to global media companies, BBTV monetizes the media of content owners through end-to-end management, distribution and monetization solutions, powered by its innovative VISO Platform, including related proprietary technology, while allowing content owners to focus on their core competency – content creation. In August 2020, BBTV had the second most unique monthly viewers among digital platforms with 615 million globally, who consumed more than 55 billion minutes of video content, the most among media companies*. www.bbtv.com

*Calculations and classifications made by BBTV based on data from Comscore contained in Comscore’s “Top 12 Countries = August 2020 comScore Video Metrix Media Trend – Multi-Platform – Top 100 Video Properties Report”.

About Encore+
Encore+ invites YouTube audiences to discover – or rediscover – memorable Canadian movies and TV shows, wherever they are in the world. Comedies, dramas (even the romantic kind), children’s shows, documentaries, short films, and feature films – it’s all on Encore+ for fans of all ages to enjoy. Launched by industry pros, the channel brings to life great moments from the past on today’s screens. Check out the various playlists, with hundreds of titles fans won’t want to miss. Subscribe to Encore+ and be first in line for new English and French content added each week. Enjoy hundreds of Canadian productions today at youtube.com/EncorePlusMedia and get the latest updates on Encore+ by following on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

About Canada Media Fund
The Canada Media Fund (CMF) fosters, develops, finances and promotes the production of Canadian content and applications for all audiovisual media platforms. It also guides Canadian content towards a competitive global digital environment by fostering industry innovation, rewarding success, enabling a diversity of voice and promoting access to content through public and private sector partnerships. The CMF receives financial contributions from the Government of Canada and Canada’s cable, satellite and IPTV distributors. Please visit cmf-fmc.ca.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward looking information within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, which reflects the Company’s current expectations regarding future events including the success and benefits of BBTV’s Content Management and Rights Management solutions in enhancing viewership and revenue. There can be no assurance that any projected information will be achieved. Forward looking information is based on a number of assumptions, including but not limited to assumptions regarding the changes and trends in our industry , that are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company’s control, which could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those that are disclosed in or implied by such forward looking information. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risk that the industry or viewers may not behave as anticipated, and that future projects may not be realized, as well as the factors discussed under “Risk Factors” in the final prospectus of the Company dated October 22, 2020. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update such forward looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable law.

Media Contacts
Dan Gamble
Head of PR & Corporate Communications
dgamble@bbtv.com
+1778 873 0422

Ashley Buck
PR and Corporate Communications Specialist
abuck@bbtv.com
+1778 875 1346

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