Corus Entertainment Announces Strategic Partnership with Leading Multichannel Network for Women's Lifestyle on YouTube, KIN Community

• Corus invests in U.S.-based lifestyle digital media company, KIN
• Corus and KIN launch KIN Canada and Corus becomes exclusive media representative for Canadian advertisers on YouTube certified partner KIN Community
• Partnership includes joint online series and talent development opportunities between KIN Community and W Network

TORONTO, Sept. 18, 2014 /CNW/ - Earlier today, it was announced that Corus Entertainment Inc. (TSX: CJR.B) has led a Series C round of funding in the Santa Monica-based lifestyle digital media company, KIN. With this agreement, Corus and KIN have also entered into a strategic partnership to launch KIN Canada, bringing the company's multichannel network ("MCN"), KIN Community, as well as KIN's lifestyle creators, award-winning programming and advertising opportunities to the Canadian marketplace. As part of this agreement, Corus becomes the exclusive Canadian media representative for KIN Community. In addition, W Network and KIN will collaborate on developing talent and content targeted to the women's demographic.

"Our investment and strategic partnership with KIN allows us to leverage the combined reach of our complementary brands as well as jointly develop and utilize compelling, short-form premium-branded content," says Doug Murphy, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Corus Entertainment. "Corus is an established leader in the women's space and by partnering with KIN's top-tier influencers and talent-driven channels we are able to connect with women wherever they are consuming their entertainment."

This partnership aligns two market leaders in media targeted to the women's demographic.  As the #1 female-focused lifestyle network on YouTube, with verticals that include food, fashion, beauty, DIY and home, KIN Community attracts more than 200 million collective views from over 25 million unique visitors per month. Corus' portfolio of leading women's brands, which includes Canada's #1 network for women, W Network, is a driving force in television, delivering a lineup of internationally successful original series such as Property Brothers and Love it or List It to audiences across Canada. 

"Our new funding and strategic partnership will further accelerate our vision to be the global leader in lifestyle," said Michael Wayne, Co-Founder and CEO of KIN. "We're thrilled that Corus recognizes the unique value KIN Community brings content creators, brands and consumers as a lifestyle platform, and we are looking forward to working with them as a partner."

"The strength of Corus Entertainment's established brands coupled with KIN's roster of digital creators on YouTube deliver a broad and impressive audience that will appeal to advertisers seeking the highly-coveted female demographic," said Gerry Mackrell, Vice President and Head of Airtime Sales, Corus Entertainment. "As Canada's exclusive sales representatives for KIN, we can design and sell fully integrated 360 degree packages for clients that include media buys, branded content, multi-channel collaborations and the creation of new original online series delivered across broadcast and YouTube platforms."

With this alignment, advertisers will gain access to media campaigns and brand content integrations with the world's top digital video creators, and to KIN Community's prominent social reach, which includes 28 million Twitter followers, 14.5 million Pinterest followers and 17 million Facebook fans.

This collaboration will provide more opportunities to showcase talent both online and on W Network, as well as help build out and foster the network of digital creators developing content in Canada. Current contributors to KIN Community include Canadian creator Melissa Maker's CleanMySpace channel, an online cleaning community with over 200 videos on YouTube, and Rosanna Pansino, creator of the leading baking channel on YouTube with 2.5 million subscribers and representing one of the fastest growing female channels on the platform. Three of the top 10 most viewed food videos on YouTube for 2013 were produced by Rosanna. Other prominent channels include Wayne Goss's makeup channel, which has 1.7 million subscribers on YouTube. In October, Women's Wear Daily named Goss one of the top 20 rising global YouTube Beauty Stars. 

About KIN/KIN Community
Founded in 2007, KIN is the global leader in lifestyle, empowering lifestyle creators around the world to do what they love. Based in Santa Monica, CA, KIN is backed by Corus Entertainment, Mayfield Fund, General Catalyst Partners, Rustic Canyon Partners, Atomico and Emil Capital.

KIN Community is the number one lifestyle network on YouTube, delivering high-quality, female-focused video content across lifestyle verticals including food, health, beauty, parenting, home and entertainment. KIN Community reaches consumers in honest and inspiring ways through world-class original lifestyle video and Emmy award-winning scripted series. In addition, KIN Community incubates new online video talent and produces custom content programs with major brand advertisers. Since 2011, KIN Community has attracted more than 20 million network subscribers and over 4 billion lifetime video views. More information can be found at: www.kincommunity.com

About Corus Entertainment Inc.
Corus Entertainment Inc. is a Canadian-based media and entertainment company that creates, broadcasts and licenses content across a variety of platforms for audiences around the world. The Company's portfolio of multimedia offerings encompasses specialty television and radio with additional assets in pay television, television broadcasting, children's book publishing, children's animation and animation software. Corus' brands include YTV, TELETOON, ABC Spark, W Network, OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network (Canada), HBO Canada, Historia and Séries+, as well as Nelvana, Kids Can Press, Toon Boom and 39 radio stations including CKNW AM 980, 99.3 The FOX, Country 105, 630 CHED, Fresh FM London, JUMP! 106.9, Q107 and 102.1 the Edge. A publicly traded company, Corus is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (CJR.B). Experience Corus on the web at corusent.com.

Follow Corus PR on Twitter @CorusPR
Follow W Network on Twitter @W_Network and Facebook facebook.com/wnetwork

SOURCE: Corus Entertainment Inc.

Sally Tindal, Corus Entertainment, 416 479 6107, [email protected]; Owen McCorquodale, Corus Entertainment, 416 479 6068, [email protected]