Cinedigm Takes Over Majority Interest in CONtv

LOS ANGELES: Cinedigm has taken ownership of 85 percent of CONtv, a multiplatform OTT service geared toward the Comic-Con community, with Wizard World retaining a 10 percent interest.

Wizard World had previously held a 42.5 percent interest in the service. Wizard World will remain an event and marketing partner for the OTT channel.

CONtv currently boasts 2,500 hours of original programming, catering to Comic-Con attendees, entertainment enthusiasts and so-called "super fans." It features curated films and TV episodes as well as exclusive Comic-Con panel coverage from dozens of annual nationwide conventions and original episodic series. Earlier this month, CONtv announced that the service would focus heavily on live and exclusive content, much of it produced at Comic-Cons and fandom events across the nation, including streaming panels, interviews, Cosplay events and more.

“We appreciate all that Wizard World brings to CONtv—from exclusive event access to marketing support to their legions of followers,” said Chris McGurk, the chairman and CEO of Cinedigm. “Going forward, we all agreed it makes sense for our companies to focus on what we do best…. For Cinedigm that is running OTT channels, and for Wizard World it’s all about putting on top-notch events and conventions. We look forward to our continuing partnership with John and his team.”

“We remain extremely supportive of Cinedigm and CONtv and look forward to helping them grow with access to exclusive events and content generated at all of our Comic-Cons next year,” added John Macaluso, the CEO of Wizard World.