Quickflix seeks funding to grow Australasian presence
By Paul McBeth
Aug. 22 (BusinessDesk) - Quickflix, the ASX-listed streaming and on-demand video supplier, has engaged advisers to kick
off discussion on how to attract new investment to help it grow its presence on both sides of the Tasman.
The Sydney-based company is looking at ways to accelerate subscriber growth through wider marketing channels and broader
access to content from more working capital, it said in a statement to the Australian stock exchange. The company has
kicked off a formal process with local and international investors with a view to attracting new investment or entering
into a strategic partnership or merger to grow its Australasian presence.
"We have invested heavily in building the platforms for future growth of our video on demand platform, which includes
both streaming and pay per view services," executive chairman Stephen Langsford said. "Additional investment in
marketing and content will enable the business to rapidly expand."
Quickflix, which counts US pay-TV company Home Box Office as a cornerstone investor, launched its service into New
Zealand this year. The company has been critical of local content arrangements between pay-TV operator Sky Network
Television and internet service providers, which prevent it from offering HBO.
The company has grown paying subscribers 59 percent to more than 110,000 with annualised revenue run rates of $20
million in the 2012 financial year, and is banking on significant growth from about 6 million Australian homes without
pay-TV services.
"Quickflix believes that its business model of combining subscription online DVD rental by mail and on-demand streaming
accessible over a wide range of connected devices including smart TVs, games consoles and mobile platforms is the right
model for the market," Langsford said.
New Zealand and Australia are expecting a boom in content delivered over the internet after both governments embarked on
taxpayer-subsidies major fibre network builds to stoke broadband uptake and improve the level of online services
available.
Quickflix shares rose 30 percent to 5.6 Australian cents on the ASX today.
(BusinessDesk)