BEVERLY HILLS, California, March 12, 2012 – Vuguru, an independent studio that finances world-class story-driven multi-platform content announced today a deal with Yahoo!, the premier digital media company to develop and finance premium content. Yahoo!, with 20 out of the top 25 most-watched online Web series and 35 million unique visitors a month that view original video programming (comScore Custom Report), will work with Vuguru to develop multiple original scripted series for exclusive U.S. distribution on Yahoo! Screen – the ultimate video destination online.
This multi-project licensing commitment by Yahoo! underscores the strategy of bringing the best storytellers to a global audience and further solidifies Vuguru as a leader in creating high quality content for screens of all sizes.
Vuguru CEO, Larry Tanz, and Yahoo! Inc's Erin McPherson, who serves as the Head of Video, announced the news of the licensing deal at the "Times are a’Changin: Digital Storytelling Today" panel at the South by SouthWest Film & Interactive Conference in Austin, Texas.
“Yahoo! has demonstrated a serious commitment to premium content, and their ability to reach a massive audience world-wide makes them an ideal distribution partner for the upcoming series of Vuguru-financed shows,” said Larry Tanz, CEO of Vuguru. “We look forward to working closely with Yahoo! to develop and produce shows that the Yahoo! audience will love.”
“Our established portfolio of original programming stands to benefit from the creative input and expertise of our newest partner Vuguru,” said Erin McPherson, VP & Head of Video at Yahoo!. “Through this partnership, we will develop stories that are based on our deep knowledge of what our audience wants, in the context of our leading content verticals and we will continue to create unique and compelling content experiences for our users."
As the premier digital media company - with 700 million users worldwide - Yahoo! sets the bar for best-in-class original video programming – which is why its original programs reel in more viewers than many other websites combined. With a recently launched video destination - Yahoo! Screen, the development of Women's and Comedy Slates and partnerships with world-class storytellers and original voices like Tom Hanks, Robert Redford, Bill Maher and others, Yahoo! continues to build on the leadership position in video and to provide our consumers and advertisers with the best premium content on the Web. With creative partners like Vuguru, RedHour, Funny or Die, Broadway Video and others, Yahoo! is continuing to aggressively grow slates of video programming to include shows that will captivate and entertain new online video audiences now and well into the future, and evolve the way we work with Madison Avenue and Hollywood.
The Yahoo! deal comes on the heels of a banner year for Vuguru. The studio recently released the critically acclaimed series The Booth at the End starring Xander Berkley that was distributed by Hulu and Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, a film adapted from the timely one-man Off Broadway show by Marc Wolf, chronicling both sides of the controversial Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell repeal. In 2011, Vuguru financed and produced seven full-length scripted projects and announced a major partnership with Stan Lee’s POW! Entertainment to launch a premium YouTube channel called Stan Lee’s World of Heroes.
About Vuguru
Vuguru LLC is an independent studio that develops and finances scripted, story-driven content for digital and international platforms. Founded by Michael D. Eisner’s Tornante Company and backed by Canada’s Rogers Media, the company brings premium content opportunities to distribution partners, enabling them to bring premium original content to their audiences. Vuguru programming has been distributed in over 40 countries around the world, and in 2010, the company structured a first-of-its-kind international sales & distribution commitment for ten projects with UK-based Content Media Corporation. In the US, Vuguru has a six-project licensing and distribution deal with AOL.
Vuguru’s inaugural series Prom Queen pioneered the online serial space with its unique format and distribution. Most recently, Vuguru’s The Booth at the End was licensed to Rogers Media for multi-platform distribution in Canada, FOX International Channels for distribution across its entire network of pay-TV channels and online sites, and Hulu for streaming distribution in the US. Additional Vuguru series include Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell; Pretty Tough; The Millionaire Tour; Nuclear Family, Off Season, Little Women BIG CARS, Fetching, Crawlspace and the Emmy-nominated Back on Topps.
About Yahoo!
Yahoo! (NASDAQ:YHOO) is the premier digital media company, creating deeply personal digital experiences that keep more than half a billion people connected to what matters most to them, across devices and around the globe. That’s how we deliver your world, your way. And Yahoo!’s unique combination of Science + Art + Scale connects advertisers to the consumers who build their businesses. For more information, visit the pressroom (pressroom.yahoo.com) or the company’s blog, Yodel Anecdotal (yodel.yahoo.com).
Yahoo! is the trademark and/or registered trademark of Yahoo! Inc. All other names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
DKC (for Vuguru Communications):
Ann Hinshaw, 212-981-5160, ann_hinshaw@dkcnews.com
Yahoo! Corporate Communications:
Kristen Morquecho, 310-907-2802, kristenm@yahoo-inc.com, Follow us @YahooInc









