Sky strengthens partnership with 1Mainstream

Sky has invested a further $5 million in start-up company 1Mainstream as it looks to build on its ongoing investment in start-ups and gain market share.

1Mainstream’s automated platform enables content companies to launch over-the-top services across multiple internet-connected platforms – such as Apple TV, Xbox, Android TV and Samsung.

Since its initial $2 million investment in August 2013, Sky has used the platform to broaden distribution of services such as Sky News and NOW TV to its growing digital audience.

“Our partnership is a great example of the way in which we find innovative and forward-looking start-ups that support our key business goals,” said Emma Lloyd, Sky’s director of corporate business development and start-up investments.

“We’ve already seen the real value by extending the distribution of our content onto new platforms and into new geographies. The 1Mainstream team have some exciting new product ideas in the pipeline and we look forward to exploiting those in the future.”

Rajeev Raman, CEO and co-founder of 1Mainstream, said that it is “hard to overstate” Sky’s role in the company’s development and growth.

“Their spirit of innovation and ability to partner with a young organisation is a rare and potent combination that we are very excited to be a part of,” Raman said.

“The opportunity to jointly define and build the next generation of digital OTT services is phenomenal. We are very much looking forward to expanding our partnership.”