Whom You Know: 5-hour ENERGY® billionaire invests heavily into media

Monday, August 21, 2023

5-hour ENERGY® billionaire invests heavily into media

"Media companies have become so enamored of delivery technology that they have forgotten the basics – advertisers (their customers), their most valuable audience and even content gets a back seat. Sounds like a great opportunity to me." - Manoj Bhargava

Manoj Bhargava, the founder of 5-hour ENERGY®, announced after market trading today that he is expanding his media interests by creating a significant media holdings portfolio with stakes in print and online media, television and radio broadcast, production and distribution, and digital advertising delivery:

Bridge Media Networks logo

Manoj Bhargava, founder of 5-hour ENERGY®

Majority ownership of The Arena Group, Inc. (Sports Illustrated, Parade magazine, Men's Journal, The Street, HubPages, Surfer, and more)

Two national TV networks distributed over-the-air, streaming, and cable: (SportsNews Highlights and NEWSnet… news as it used to be)

50 over-the-air television station ownership, plus over 50 independent affiliates and dozens of streaming and cable outlets

Acquisition of the parent of ShopHQ TV

Major stakes in the #2 and #3 radio broadcasters: Audacy, Inc (was CBS radio), and Cumulus Media

Acquisition of iMedia Digital Services, or iMDS – programmatic and OTT, software services.

Merging television broadcast network with The Arena Group:

Via Simplify Inventions LLC and its subsidiaries, IV Media LLC and Bridge Media Networks LLC, he has signed a binding LOI to combine its broadcast networks with The Arena Group Holdings, Inc. a technology platform and media company home to more than 265 brands, including Sports Illustrated, TheStreet, Parade Media ("Parade") and Men's Journal. At closing, the company will own a roughly two-thirds majority stake in the combined company.

Acquistion of iMedia Brands:

IV Media LLC acquiring iMedia Brands, and its flagship property, Shop HQ TV, via a successful bid for the company. This includes iMedia Digital Services, or iMDS a global video advertising platform that monetizes over 200-million monthly users for its online publishers, MVPDs and ISPs by utilizing its proprietary technologies and interactive websites to drive engagement, traffic, conversion and revenue for its publishers. Float Left, iMedia's end-to-end OTT technology partner, is now part of iMDS.

Major stake in radio broadcast:

As reported upon July 21, 2023 SEC Form 13G/D, via the Renew Group Private Ltd., has acquired 829,618 shares (or 5.15%) of Cumulus Media, Inc stock, the nations third-largest radio broadcaster, becoming one of the largest investors in the company, which includes 403 owned-and-operated radio stations across 85 markets, and they deliver nationally-syndicated sports, news, talk, and entertainment programming.

Adding to the radio portfolio is $60-million of first-lien Term B debt (about 10% Entercom Media debt) of the nations second-largest radio broadcaster (formerly branded CBS Radio), Audacy, Inc. a leading multi-platform audio content and entertainment company with the country's best collection of local music, news and sports brands, a premium podcast creator, major event producer, and digital innovator. Audacy engages 200 million consumers each month.

Bridge Media Networks, owns and operates two 24/7 national headline news and sports networks (through OTA, MVPD, and cable outlets), NEWSnet and Sports News Highlights as well as the automotive and travel properties Driven and TravelHost. Bridge News, LLC also owns and operates 50 TV stations nationally, with an additional over 50 independent broadcast affiliates nationally.

Altogether, these investments create a portfolio of companies and services that is now an end-to-end media ecosystem of production, distribution, and advertising delivery solutions globally.

About Manoj Bhargava:

Manoj Bhargava is the founder 5-hour ENERGY®. He is a global philanthropist and has dedicated most of his wealth to help the poorest third of the world. He also owns Stage2 Innovations (invention shop), and Bleecker Street (entertainment). His global philanthropy is centered around the Billions in Change movement (www.BillionsInChange.com).

About Bridge Media Networks

Bridge Media Networks is a media group that delivers the latest news, sports, automotive, and travel content. The portfolio includes over-the-air television affiliates, two national television networks streaming platforms, and websites. The company is committed to providing viewers with the most comprehensive and impartial content possible through their flagship brands: NEWSnet, Sports News Highlights, Driven Automotive, and TravelHost.com. (www.BridgeMediaNetworks.com)

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