ReedPOP Expands Its Gaming Community Presence with Gamer Network Acquisition
February 26, 2018
ReedPOP, producer of games and pop culture live events, has expanded its business beyond event production for the first time by acquiring Gamer Network and its portfolio of events, websites and video channels.
Home to popular editorial and community websites and YouTube channels, Gamer Network boasts well-known flagship brands including Eurogamer, RockPaperShotgun, GamesIndustry.biz, VG247, Outside Xbox, Digital Foundry and USgamer.
Founded in 1999, the company also organizes EGX, the U.K.’s biggest games event, as well as indie games event, EGX Rezzed.
By combining the two portfolios, ReedPOP will have the opportunity to combine its live games events across four continents with a large, dedicated worldwide online community of more than 50 million monthly users while ensuring its events and digital channels are focused squarely on the communities they serve, according to Reed Exhibitions officials.
“Gamer Network is one of the world’s leading voices for gamers and gaming culture,” said Lance Fensterman, global head of ReedPOP.
He continued, “The opportunity to be in business with Rupert Loman and the brands, events and team he has created is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Bringing ReedPOP and Gamer Network together, PAX and EGX together – these are the kinds of mash-ups you dream of. We are beyond excited to dream up new concepts that will blow the minds of fans all over the world.”
Since the debut of ReedPOP’s first event in 2006, the sold-out New York Comic Con, the group has remained focused on producing one-of-a-kind experiences for passionate audiences and growing the industries surrounding those passions. This has led to consistent audience growth, with the flagship PAX events now known as North America and Australia’s largest consumer games shows.
Besides NYCC and PAX West, East, South and Australia, ReedPOP’s event portfolio includes Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2); Emerald City Comic Con (ECCC); MCM Comic Con; BookCon; Oz Comic Con; Comic Con India; Comic Con Paris; Comic Con Seoul; Star Wars Celebration; TwitchCon and ComplexCon.
Loman, who is founder and CEO of Gamer Network, expressed excitement about joining the ReedPOP group and its company culture.
“The ambition and strategy that we share means we’re extremely excited about what’s next,” Loman said. “The combination of our online channels and European events with their internationally respected U.S. footprint is a powerful one.”
He continued, “I’m so proud that we’ve managed to grow to this point without any external investment and on our own terms. Gamer Network has achieved 18 consecutive years of revenue and audience growth by focusing completely on the needs and passions of our visitors, readers and viewers, and I couldn’t be happier to have found a like-minded partner to take the company further. I’d like to thank everyone who has contributed to our incredible journey and I’m really looking forward to seeing where we can take things from here.”
Loman will remain with the company to focus on ReedPOP’s global games strategy and expansion, while Simon Maxwell is being promoted from his current role as COO to managing director of Gamer Network and vice president of ReedPOP UK. Gamer Network’s new 11,000 square foot headquarters in Brighton is set to open next week.
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