Fullscreen
acquired by Otter MediaCulver City, US · Founded 2011 · 3 known investors
Fullscreen was a US multi-channel network and social content company serving YouTube creators and brands, later part of Otter Media.
Also known as Fullscreen Media · Fullscreen, Inc. · Fullscreen, LLC
Founders & leadership
Fullscreen was founded in 2011 by George Strompolos.
Board
Investors · 3
Also in the syndicate · 1
Reported raises · per SEC filings
Form D private placements$7.8M disclosed across 1 of 2 rounds · 2013–2014
▶$7.8MraisedJan 2014 · 37 investors · Other TechnologyRule 506(b)
- Ezra CoopersteinExecutive Officer, Director
- Jesse JacobsDirector
- Sam LandmanDirector
- George StrompolosExecutive Officer, Director
- Offering amount
- $7.8M
- Amount sold
- $7.8M
- First sale
- Jan 2014
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware, 2011
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
Source: SEC EDGAR Form D. Amounts as filed; amended filings shown once at their latest values.
Company profile
researched Aug 2026Fullscreen was an American digital entertainment company that operated as one of the original YouTube multi-channel networks (MCNs), offering software tools, services and consultation to social media creators and to brands. Its services spanned audience growth and channel optimization, advertising revenue sharing, production support, influencer marketing, branded content and social channel management for brands and media companies. Clients included NBCUniversal, Mattel, Fox, Fremantle, JASH and Fine Brothers Entertainment.
After a 2015 rebranding as Fullscreen Media, the company was organized into three businesses: Fullscreen Creator Network (talent management for established and emerging creators), Fullscreen Entertainment (comprising Fullscreen Live, subsidiary studio Rooster Teeth, Fullscreen Productions and a subscription service), and Fullscreen Brandworks, a branded-content unit. Fullscreen produced a large slate of original programming for digital platforms, including Shane and Friends, Not Too Deep with Grace Helbig, Electra Woman and Dyna Girl, Dr. Havoc's Diary and Cassandra French's Finishing School, and in 2016 launched a subscription video-on-demand app available on Roku, iOS, Apple TV, Android, Chromecast and via Amazon Channels. Following a December 2018 reorganization under Otter Media, Fullscreen was restructured into Creator Services, Brand Studio (influencer marketing and custom content) and Brand Services (social creative and channel management) divisions.
Founding story
George Strompolos, a former YouTube executive who co-created the YouTube Partner Program, left Google to launch Fullscreen in January 2011 in Los Angeles, with James Veraldi cited as co-founder. Peter Chernin was a strategic partner and advisor from the company's inception, and his investment vehicle, The Chernin Group, formally became an investor in May 2011.
Business model
Fullscreen operated a network-and-services model: it aggregated and managed thousands of YouTube channels and creators, providing optimization, monetization and production support, while selling branded content, influencer marketing and social channel management services to brands and media companies. It also owned production studios and, for a period, a direct-to-consumer subscription video service and Fullscreen Direct, an ecommerce and fan-club platform for artists.
Revenue streams described across the portfolio included shares of YouTube advertising sales, brand sponsorships and branded content work, and merchandise sales tied to assets such as Rooster Teeth's series and events; a consumer subscription video-on-demand service operated from 2016 until its closure in January 2018.
Traction
In mid-2013 Fullscreen ran more than 10,000 YouTube channels with over 150 million total subscribers and 2.5 billion monthly views. By 2014 the network spanned more than 50,000 creators, 450 million subscribers and roughly 4 billion monthly views. As of May 2020 it represented about 2,500 creators with more than 7 billion monthly views.
Latest developments
In August 2020 Jukin Media announced partnerships with Fullscreen and BroadbandTV giving their creator rosters discounted access to Jukin's library, dedicated support and early access to features. On November 10, 2020, WarnerMedia laid off most or all of the Fullscreen team as part of a company-wide reorganization aimed at cutting operating costs and focusing on HBO Max. The Fullscreen Creator Network ceased operations as of October 31, 2021, and the business was folded into Ellation.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history, risks & controversies
Market position
Fullscreen was among the earliest and largest YouTube multi-channel networks, competing with Maker Studios, Machinima and ZEFR. By 2014 it worked with more than 50,000 digital creators representing over 450 million subscribers and about 4 billion monthly views; as of May 2020 it represented roughly 2,500 creators generating more than 7 billion monthly views.
Fullscreen combined a large creator network with owned production studios and a brand-services agency, giving it in-house capabilities across talent management, original programming, social creative, influencer marketing and channel optimization. Founder George Strompolos had co-created the YouTube Partner Program before leaving YouTube to start the company, and Peter Chernin was a strategic partner and advisor from inception.
Technology
The company built what its CEO described as scalable technology for online video, including tools for monetizing YouTube videos, channel optimization, social insights and content distribution; the McBeard and Video Labs units added social creative, analytics and distribution capabilities. Its subscription service was delivered through apps on Roku, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Android phones and tablets, Chromecast and Amazon Channels.
Go-to-market
Fullscreen recruited creators into its multi-channel network and paired them with brand and media clients, supplemented by acquisitions of specialist studios and agencies (ScrewAttack, Rooster Teeth, McBeard, Video Labs, Reelio) to broaden gaming, animation, social creative and influencer marketing capabilities. Creator incentives included the Million Dollar Creator Fund, launched in November 2012, which committed $1 million in advertising and promotion, awarding up to $10,000 in pre-roll advertising and promotional campaigns to four network channels each month.
Digital video creators and social media talent seeking management, monetization and production support; and brands, advertisers and traditional media companies seeking to build audiences on YouTube and other social platforms. Its subscription app targeted younger consumer audiences.
Geography
Headquartered in the Los Angeles area of California, with operations tied to Austin-based Rooster Teeth and Los Angeles-based McBeard; the company stated plans to expand into international markets following its 2013 financing.
History
Fullscreen was founded in January 2011 by George Strompolos, with James Veraldi cited as co-founder and Ezra Cooperstein hired as COO. The Chernin Group became an investor in May 2011 and led a Series A round in June 2013 that also included Comcast Ventures and WPP Digital. In 2014 Fullscreen acquired ScrewAttack (March) and Rooster Teeth (November), and in September 2014 Otter Media, the AT&T-Chernin Group joint venture, took a controlling stake. The company acquired social creative agency McBeard in May 2015, rebranded as Fullscreen Media, launched a subscription VOD app in 2016 (closed January 2018), and acquired influencer marketing firm Reelio in April 2018. Otter Media completed full ownership in January 2018; AT&T bought out The Chernin Group's stake in Otter in August 2018. Strompolos stepped down as CEO into an advisory role in September 2018, Machinima merged into Fullscreen in February 2019, WarnerMedia laid off most or all of the Fullscreen team in November 2020, and the Fullscreen Creator Network ceased operations on October 31, 2021, with the business folded into Ellation.
Risks & controversies
Fullscreen operated in an MCN sector where commentators questioned the sustainability of YouTube-dependent economics, noting YouTube's roughly 45% cut of advertising revenue and reports that MCN advertising was less lucrative than expected. The company was a defendant in Warner/Chappell Music Inc. v. Fullscreen Inc. Under successive owners it experienced repeated restructurings: the subscription VOD service closed in January 2018 with about 25 layoffs, Otter Media cut roughly 140 staff in December 2018 and shut Fullscreen Direct, Machinima's merger into Fullscreen in February 2019 involved 81 layoffs, and WarnerMedia eliminated most or all of the Fullscreen team in November 2020.
Compiled by commissioned research from 7 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Timeline · 21
launches, deals, and filingsFullscreen's website stated the Fullscreen Creator Network ceased operations as of October 31, 2021; the company was folded into Ellation.
As part of a company-wide reorganization under CEO Jason Kilar aimed at cutting operating costs and focusing on HBO Max, WarnerMedia cut most or all of Fullscreen's staff.
Jukin Media announced partnerships with Fullscreen and BroadbandTV giving their creator rosters exclusive discounts on Jukin's library, dedicated customer support and early access to new features.
Machinima, Inc. merged into Fullscreen, laying off its 81 employees and ceasing all operations.
Otter Media laid off about 140 staffers (roughly 10% of its 1,400 employees). Fullscreen was divided into Creator Services (Beau Bryant), Brand Studio (Maureen Polo) and Brand Services (John Holdridge), all reporting to Otter COO Andy Forssell. Otter also shut Fullscreen Direct, a direct-to-consumer platform serving 75 artist clients including Justin Timberlake and Keith Urban.
Strompolos announced in a staff memo that he would transition to an advisor role to Fullscreen and Otter Media; Fullscreen would continue reporting to Otter COO Andy Forssell.
Otter Media purchased the remaining minority stakes, including those of Strompolos and early backer TV Tokyo. Wikipedia reports the company was fully acquired for $845M in 2018.
$845M source ↗
Fullscreen announced its SVOD service would close as of January 2018; the shutdown involved layoffs of about 25 employees.
Fullscreen subsidiary McBeard acquired Video Labs, adding social creative, insights, optimization and distribution services for clients.
Fullscreen partnered with Mattel to create branded social influencer networks, beginning with The Hot Wheels Network.
Fullscreen launched a subscription VOD service available on Roku, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Android phones and tablets, Chromecast and via Amazon Channels, with a free trial for AT&T customers.
Acquisition of Los Angeles-based social media creative agency McBeard, founded 2008, with over 100 employees and clients including Netflix, Warner Bros. and Coca-Cola.
Acquisition of Austin-based animation and gaming studio Rooster Teeth Productions; ScrewAttack was operated as a division of Rooster Teeth.
Otter Media, a joint venture between AT&T and The Chernin Group, acquired a majority stake for an undisclosed amount, reported at $200-$300 million; George Strompolos retained his leadership role and a significant ownership interest.
Acquisition of gaming entertainment company ScrewAttack, which then had over 850,000 YouTube subscribers and more than 215 million views.
Fullscreen raised a Series A led by Peter Chernin's investment group, with Comcast Ventures and WPP Digital participating. The company did not disclose the amount; earlier reporting cited by The Guardian suggested a $30M round at a $110M valuation.
Fullscreen committed $1 million worth of advertising and promotion to network creators, awarding up to $10,000 in pre-roll advertising and promotional campaigns to four channels each month.
$1M source ↗
Peter Chernin had been a strategic partner and advisor since inception; in May 2011 the Chernin Group officially came on board as an investor.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
In the news
▸Research sources · 7
primary sources listed
- Fullscreen (company) - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org · web
7 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Fullscreen do?
- Fullscreen was a US multi-channel network and social content company serving YouTube creators and brands, later part of Otter Media.
- Who founded Fullscreen?
- Fullscreen was founded by George Strompolos in 2011.
- Who are Fullscreen's investors?
- Fullscreen's investors include Comcast Ventures, The Chernin Group (TCG Crypto).
- How much funding has Fullscreen raised?
- Fullscreen has disclosed $7.8M raised across 1 of its 2 known rounds.
- Who acquired Fullscreen?
- Fullscreen was acquired by Otter Media.
- Where is Fullscreen headquartered?
- Fullscreen is headquartered in Culver City, US.