NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, AOL Inc. announced that it has agreed to acquire RYOT Corp., the immersive media company and virtual reality (“VR”) content studio based in Los Angeles. RYOT will join The Huffington Post, a leading global source of breaking news, opinion, entertainment and community, to deliver award-winning films, linear video, 360°, and VR content. RYOT will also dramatically enhance the content capabilities of Partner Studio by AOL, by providing cutting-edge, immersive solutions for its brand partners.
"The Huffington Post is continuing to reimagine journalism as we move into the next generation of dynamic storytelling,” said Arianna Huffington, Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Huffington Post. “From Day 1, we’ve been committed to using all the tools at our disposal to tell the most important stories of our time. And our work so far with RYOT covering the refugee crisis in Greece, The Crossing, has done just that – combining technology and storytelling to put flesh and blood on a human crisis that, for far too many around the world, had become an abstraction. It’s just the beginning of what we can do together covering news events, leading cultural conversations on a global scale, and going beyond raising awareness to making a difference in people’s lives.”
RYOT shares The Huffington Post’s editorial voice and content philosophy with its action-oriented, cause-driven journalism and provides immediate access to a VR production arm and Oscar-nominated documentary film expertise to complement The Huffington Post’s video operations. RYOT will bring it's 360° and VR capabilities to The Huffington Post's 15 global editions, dramatically changing both how The Huffington Post captures the stories and how consumers engage with the content on a daily basis.
"The Huffington Post blazed the trail by empowering people to tell their own stories in their own voices,” said RYOT Co-Founder Bryn Mooser. “RYOT is born out of that same mission. Together, we'll bring our immersive virtual reality storytelling to their global news network and we couldn't be more excited. It's a game changer.”
RYOT has deep expertise in creating virtual reality content and experiences in partnership with marquee brands as well as global non-profit organizations. Together, Partner Studio by AOL, The Huffington Post and RYOT will help brands tell stories in new and meaningful ways, by spotlighting the world’s most interesting innovators, disruptors and agents for change. Ultimately, AOL Owned & Operated properties including Autoblog, BUILD, Engadget, MAKERS and TechCrunch will also have access to RYOT’s VR capabilities.
Deal terms were not disclosed.
Visit ryot.huffingtonpost.com to learn more. Watch the HuffPost RYOT sizzle here.
About AOL
AOL is a media technology company with a mission to connect consumers and creators through open marketplaces. AOL uses data to disrupt content production, distribution and monetization. The company connects publishers with advertisers across its global, programmatic platforms, tapping into Microsoft inventory and original content brands like TechCrunch, The Huffington Post and MAKERS which reach over 500 million monthly global consumers. Within its mobile advertising network alone, AOL has a reach of roughly 800 million users. A subsidiary of Verizon, AOL is shaping the digital future.
About RYOT
RYOT is an immersive media company based in Los Angeles linking content to action. As humanitarian aid workers, first responders and filmmakers, RYOT founders Bryn Mooser, David Darg and Martha Rogers spotlight the world’s key global and social issues, creating innovative 360° and virtual reality experiences for viewers. From being on the ground in a Syrian war zone to profiling the destruction of the Nepal earthquake, their films span five continents and profile countries in need, bringing new and innovative stories back to the stateside audience. They have received numerous awards for filmmaking, including a 2016 Oscar nomination for Best Documentary Short.
