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Digital Media Companies Group Nine and Refinery29 are Planning to Merge

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Digital media companies Group Nine and Refinery29 are planning to merge, three close people aware of this news revealed. As most of the digital ad share is going to Google and Facebook, so a lot of venture-funded digital media companies are planning to merge. Such speculations are in new since the last few months. However, there is no clear message from the heads of both the companies namely, Group Nine and Refinery. Even the heads of both the companies said earlier this year that they only believe in the acquisition.

Although a lot of companies are planning to merge, which is not an easy task. Any type of merger involves a lot of challenges which both the merger companies need to tackle. Similar to this, the merger between Group Nine and Refinery doesn’t seem to come in the near future. Both companies need to understand the values of each other before coming together to make their merger successful. However, in the case of these two companies, investors namely, Discovery and Turner have to agree on terms as both of these backed Group Nine and Refinery.

As the two companies belong to different cultures so it is hard to combine and if it happens, then it would be a challenging task. One of the possibilities that experienced media mergers and acquisitions suggests is that both the companies could combine in a stock deal without changing money from one hand to another. However, if this merger happens, the chances for the growth of both companies would increase manifold. There is a huge demand for digital media and hence the  responsibility for digital footprint also resides on the shoulders of both the companies. Reacting to this merger news, both Group Nine and Refinery representative said they have not decided anything about the merger. They said they are discussing the opportunities to merge with their peers.

The nature of the two companies, Group Nine and Refinery29 are the same, as the two make videos for the audience. Out of the two, Group Nine makes more profit, although the industry watchers don’t consider this fact. The relation between the two companies is on the grounds of links between investors. Group Nine CEO Ben Lerer joins the team of Lerer Hippaeu, which has made an investment in Refinery.

Group Nine, which is a product of Nowthis, The Dodo, Thrillist, and Seeker. It got started due to the $100 mn investment of Discovery Communications and post this, discovery continued to invest more money into it. In order to diversify, it is planning to sell its video studio output and branching out to e-commerce. On the other hand, 2005 founded company, Refinery is a women’s lifestyle publisher. Refinery gets its revenue from advertising and organizing other events. The company is planning to increase its profitability by expanding its live events and selling high-quality video for streaming services globally.

The companies are talking about a merger because these venture-backed digital media are not getting enough money out of their business and hence their profitability is not very high. One way to get profit is to get cheap distribution on Facebook. But Facebook has refused to allow free distribution and the major part of advertising is going into the hands of Facebook and Google. Hence, companies are only left with the option of mergers so that they could remove redundant staff to increase their profitability.

Jenny is one of the oldest contributors of Bigtime Daily with a unique perspective of the world events. She aims to empower the readers with delivery of apt factual analysis of various news pieces from around the World.

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Business

What to Look for in an Enterprise Webcasting Solution

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The modern workplace doesn’t stand still. Teams are global, employees are remote, and companies must communicate faster and at scale. That’s why enterprise webcasting has gone from a niche tool to an essential part of internal communication strategies.

Reliability is the starting point when broadcasting to hundreds or thousands of employees, stakeholders, or partners. The platform you choose needs to deliver more than a stable video feed; it must offer security, accessibility, scalability, and real engagement.

For enterprises navigating this decision, here’s what to consider before committing to a webcasting platform.

Scale and Performance Matter More Than You Think

It’s one thing to host a video call with your immediate team. It’s another to run a high-stakes webcast for your entire global workforce. Enterprise webcasting means reaching large, often geographically dispersed audiences, sometimes tens of thousands of people at once. And when that’s the case, performance isn’t negotiable.

Your platform should offer proven scalability with minimal lag, buffering, or outage risk. Many organizations underestimate the bandwidth and technical infrastructure needed to deliver seamless webcasting at scale. Look for solutions that utilize global content delivery networks (CDNs) and redundant systems to guarantee smooth streaming, regardless of your viewers’ location.

The reality is, your message only lands if the technology holds up under pressure.

Security Isn’t Optional

In a world of growing cyber risks and data privacy concerns, security must be front and center, especially for enterprise webcasts. Not every message is meant for public ears, from internal town halls to sensitive investor briefings.

Leading webcasting platforms provide enterprise-grade security features like encrypted streams, password protection, login authentication, and customizable access controls. Depending on your industry, you may also need to meet specific regulatory requirements for data protection and compliance.

Ultimately, your webcasting solution should provide peace of mind, knowing that confidential information stays where it belongs.

User Experience Makes or Breaks Engagement

Let’s face it: no one wants to wrestle with clunky software minutes before a big company update. The best webcasting platforms make life easy for both presenters and attendees.

Intuitive interfaces and simplified workflows reduce stress and help presenters focus on delivering the message. The process should be frictionless for attendees, with one-click access, mobile compatibility, and no need for complicated installations.

But accessibility isn’t just technical, it’s also about inclusivity. Your platform should offer features like captions, translations, or on-demand playback options to ensure your workforce can engage with the content.

Because if people can’t easily join or follow along, your webcast risks becoming background noise.

Engagement is More Than Just Showing Up

In enterprise settings, communication can’t be one-way. True engagement requires interaction.

Modern webcasting solutions offer features like real-time Q&A, live polls, and chat functions to turn passive viewers into active participants. These elements keep audiences focused and create opportunities for meaningful feedback.

Especially for company-wide meetings or virtual events covering important updates, giving employees a voice makes the experience feel collaborative, not just another broadcast.

Data and Insights Drive Improvement

One of the most overlooked aspects of enterprise webcasting is analytics. But without data, it’s impossible to measure success or spot opportunities for improvement.

Look for platforms that provide detailed reporting, including attendance metrics, engagement rates, audience locations, and performance benchmarks. Over time, these insights help refine your communication strategy, adjusting formats, reworking content, or targeting specific groups with follow-up resources.

The more visibility you have into how people interact with your webcasts, the better equipped you are to make those events impactful.

Flexibility for Different Event Types

Not all webcasts are created equal. Some are formal, high-production events with large audiences. Others are more casual, interactive sessions for smaller groups.

The platform you choose should give you the flexibility to manage both scenarios. Whether you’re hosting a polished executive briefing, a technical product demonstration, or a virtual town hall, the tools should scale to fit your needs, without requiring entirely different systems or workflows.

Many providers also offer managed services for high-profile events, giving you access to technical experts who handle the backend so your team can focus on the message.

Final Thoughts

Webcasting has become a critical tool for modern businesses, but choosing the right platform requires more than just comparing price tags. It’s about finding a solution that delivers reliability, security, engagement, and scalability while making the process simple for both your team and your audience.

With enterprise webcasting, companies can ensure their most important messages are delivered securely and at scale, whether to employees down the hall or stakeholders around the globe.

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