Latest in Bertelsmann

Serial Box, a subscription-based startup that offers serialized stories in both written and audio form, has announced a seed investment round of $1.65 million. The round was led by Boat Rocker Media, whose recent investments include CAA Creative Labs, The Outline, MarcoPolo Learning and the acquisition of Fremantle…

Jay and Mark Duplass — whose fiefdom as writers, directors, actors and producers includes HBO’s Togetherness and Amazon’s Transparent — have closed a deal with Ballantine Books to publish an untitled essay collection in 2017. The busy sibs (whose second season of Togetherness is set to premiere in February and whose An…

Demonstrating that Jurassic World isn’t the only insatiable-monster hit of the new summer season, it only took four days for E.L. James' Grey: Fifty Shades of Grey As Told By Christian to ring up sales of more than 1.1 million copies in trade paperback, eBook, and audio editions. "This is an astonishing number of…

If you’re not on commission or the bonus track at Bertelsmann’s toddling Penguin Random House megapublisher, there’ll be a nice tip for you come April 17: An extra $750 in your paycheck, compliments of CEO Markus Dohle. “We are all proud of the positive impact inherent in what we do at Penguin Random House by…

The European media company RTL has bought a controlling stake in StyleHaul, the biggest YouTube multi-channel network focused on fashion and beauty, for $107 million, with further “earn-out” potential that could further raise the total price, the two sides confirmed. The deal has been strongly rumored for the past two…

Angela Lansbury To Topline ‘Blithe Spirit’ On London Stage Angela Lansbury is set to appear on the London stage for the first time in nearly four decades in a new production of Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit. The 88-year-old Brit will play Madame Arcati, a role she played on Broadway in 2009, winning a Tony Award. The…

The world's leading consumer publisher has been formed via the merger of Penguin and Random House. Respective owners Pearson and Bertelsmann announced the merger of the groups last October and today confirm the deal is done. Bertelsmann will own 53% and Pearson 47% of the new company, Penguin Random House. The company…

As it seeks to expand, Europe’s biggest media company, Bertelsmann, plans to spend as much as 3B euros ($3.9B) on acquisitions over the next three years, a move that reflects the current culture of increased media M&A activity in Europe. The company recently said it would reduce its stake in broadcasting giant and Frem…

‘The X-Factor’ Musical Headed To London’s West End The show’s creator Simon Cowell has granted permission for a London stage version of the TV singing competiton. Cowell and Sony Music’s joint venture Syco Entertainment are partnering with Stage Entertainment UK (Oliver!, Hairspray, Singin In The Rain) to launch the…

Despite reported last-minute interest from News Corp., UK-based Pearson has agreed to merge its Penguin with Bertelsmann's Random House. It creates the world's leading consumer publisher. The deal, announced Monday morning, comes after the News Corp.-owned Sunday Times said Rupert Murdoch had indicated he would offer…

Of course both of these publishers provide plenty of source material for Hollywood. Now the Financial Times is reporting that the parent companies of Random House and Penguin are in talks to combine the units. Random House’s Bertelsmann would have more than a 50% stake in any tie-up with Pearson’s Penguin, which…

It sure looks like it. Thomas Rabe, who became CEO of Europe’s largest media company in January, said today that an IPO is one option to help “reshape Bertelsmann over the next five to ten years" — especially to fuel investments in digital ventures. To underscore how serious he is about the idea, Rabe said the…