ZOO Digital explained

Type:Public
Founded: in Sheffield, UK

ZOO Digital Group PLC is a provider of cloud software based subtitling, dubbing, and media localization services to the TV and movie industry.[1] Its production facilities are located in El Segundo, Los Angeles; London and Sheffield, UK and Dubai, U.A.E. The company employs more than 500 employees worldwide and utilizes a global network of over 5,000 freelance translators and dubbing artists.

History

2001–2003: Founding and incorporation

In 2001, Gremlin Interactive founder Ian Stewart led a merger of Kazoo3D PLC and ZOO Media Corporation Ltd to form ZOO Digital Group PLC.[2] In 2003, two co-divisions were formed. ZOOtech Ltd was established to develop software for interactive DVDs. ZOO Digital Publishing, an operating division of the group, was established to create video games.[3]

2003–2005: Success with interactive video games and software for DVD

In 2003, ZOO Digital Publishing published the interactive DVD for the game show, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.[4] [5] In the same year, ZOO Digital Publishing won the award for Navigation Design and Implementation Excellence at the DVD Association Excellence Awards, New York.

In 2004, ZOOtech launched DVD EXTRA Studio enabling new levels of interactivity on DVDs.[6] [7] ZOOtech also opened an office in Paris in order to give the business a base for expanding DVD EXTRA applications for European markets. In the same year, ZOO Digital Publishing released Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? 2nd Edition for Game Boy Advance.[8] In 2004, for a second year, the company won the Navigation Design and Implementation Excellence, DVD Association Excellence Awards, New York.[9] ZOOtech was also crowned the overall winner at the Sheffield Business Awards and picked up the Sheffield Business Award for Innovation.[10] [11]

In the same year ZOO Digital Publishing bought Hothouse Creations, a computer games developer based in Bristol which had developed computer and video games including Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? on PlayStation 1 and Pop Idol and American Idol on PlayStation 2.[12] [13] [14]

In 2005, 60% of the interactive DVDs on the market were being made using ZOOtech's DVD Extra Studio.[15] In the same year, ZOO Digital Publishing won three awards at the DVD Association Excellence Awards ceremony in New York City: Guinness World Records 2005 won the DVD Video Game Excellence Award, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? 2nd Edition won the Navigation Design and Implementation Excellence Award and Manchester United, The Official Interactive-DVD won the Technical Achievement Excellence Award.

2006–2012: Refocus on technology for media and entertainment

In 2006, Dr Stuart Green took over as Chief Executive Officer of ZOO Digital Group and Ian Stewart stepped down. ZOO Digital Group sold two of its subsidiaries. ZOO Digital Publishing, the division creating video games was sold following a decline in the traditional DVD market. ZOO Interactive Video, also formerly part of ZOO Digital Publishing, was sold.[16] [17] [18] The company adopted the operating name ZOO Digital. In the same year, ZOOtech won the Annual DVDA Excellence Award at Digital Hollywood for DVD EXTRA Studio.[19]

In 2007, ZOO Digital acquired Los Angeles-based Scope Seven, a media production and design company providing compression and authoring services to video publishers including a number of Hollywood studios.[20] [21] ZOOtech announced a deal with Mattel Inc. (MAT) to develop DVD games, including the High School Musical 2 DVD Board Game and 1 vs. 100 DVD Game.[22] [23] [24]

In 2008, ZOO Digital announced a 15-year contract with Walt Disney Studio Motion Pictures International to deliver its software automation products to DVD film releases. Sony Pictures Entertainment also licensed ZOO's Templated Authoring System ("TAS") in order to produce standard definition DVD titles.[25]

In 2010, ZOO Digital's new iTunes toolset was adopted by a major Hollywood studio. The iTunes toolkit was designed to automate the production of menus and bonus features.[26] In the same year, Multi Packaging Solutions (MPS) partnered with ZOO Digital to use its software for managing brand identity and marketing for multinational brands. ZOO Digital's software was designed to integrate "language translation, localization, proofing, global collaboration, version control, and archiving."[27]

In 2011, the decline in the DVD market saw ZOO Digital report a half-year loss.[28]

2012–Present: Cloud localization services

In 2012, ZOO Digital launched cloud subtitling services for TV and movie content with ZOOsubs.[29] 2014 saw ZOO announced by Apple as one of four vendors selected to provide new iTunes packaging services to its Compressor users.[30] [31] 2015 saw ZOO sign a deal with BBC Worldwide to provide it with a new subtitling and captioning platform.[32] In 2016, ZOO became a Netflix Preferred Vendor; this changed to a Netflix Preferred Fulfilment Partner in 2018.

In 2017, ZOO launched the entertainment industry's first cloud dubbing service, powered by its proprietary ZOOdubs software platform[33] [34] [35] and won a NewBay Media Best of Show Award at the NAB Show 2017[36] and an award at IBC Show 2017 at the IABM Design & Innovation Awards in the Post Production category.[37]

In 2018, ZOO Digital's ZOOdubs cloud dubbing service won an IABM award in the ‘Publish’ category[38] and ZOO won the Best Performing Share Award at the AIM Awards 2018 and Company of the Year at the Small Cap UK Awards.[39] [40]

In March 2021, Zoo Digital has announced plans to boost its progress after a £7.4 million IPO on the London Stock Exchange.[41] It plans to collect funds from a placement by issuing 7.0 million shares at a price of 100 pence each, for a total of GBP7.0 million.[42]

In 2022, the company reported growth of 78% from the previous year.[43]

Software

Services (current)

Development grants

References

  1. News: BBC Worldwide inks Zoo Digital subtitling deal. Broadcast. 2018-11-06.
  2. News: Zoo Digital: Ian Stewart – Startups.co.uk: Starting a business advice and business ideas. Startups.co.uk: Starting a business advice and business ideas. 2018-11-07.
  3. Web site: Zoo Digital: Ian Stewart. Startups.co.uk: Starting a business advice and business ideas. 2018-12-19.
  4. Web site: Zoo Digital Publishing Company Information – GameFAQs. gamefaqs.gamespot.com. 2018-12-19.
  5. Web site: It's game on for optimistic Zoo Digital. www.yorkshirepost.co.uk. 2018-12-19.
  6. Web site: GamesFirst! DVD-EXTRA STUDIO – An Interview with Clynton Hunt DVD. www.gamesfirst.com. 2018-12-19.
  7. News: Talking points. 2004-04-22. The Times. 2018-12-19. 0140-0460.
  8. Web site: Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? 2nd Edition. GamesIndustry.biz. 13 September 2004 . 2018-12-19.
  9. Web site: A Hat-trick for ZOO. GamesIndustry.biz. 4 August 2005 . 2018-12-19.
  10. Web site: Another first for ZOOtech. www.thestar.co.uk. 2018-12-19.
  11. Web site: FE Investegate Zoo Digital Group Announcements Zoo Digital Group: European Expansion. www.investegate.co.uk. 2018-12-19.
  12. Web site: ZOO Digital acquires Hothouse. SPOnG. 2018-12-19.
  13. Web site: Pop Idol video game rights awarded to Codemasters. Neowin ·. Neowin Staff. Neowin. 2018-12-19.
  14. Web site: Codemasters Bags American Idol. Perry. Douglass C.. 2003-04-03. IGN. 2018-12-19.
  15. Web site: Available interactive DVD titles jump by 800% – gaining own shelf space. HEXUS. 26 November 2005 . 2018-12-19.
  16. Web site: Interactive DVDs are death knell for Zoo Digital titles. www.yorkshirepost.co.uk. 2018-12-19.
  17. Web site: Zoo Digital in decline sell-off. www.thestar.co.uk. 2018-12-19.
  18. Web site: Zoo Digital exits PC, console market. GamesIndustry.biz. 6 April 2006 . 2018-12-19.
  19. Web site: DVD EXTRA Studio Wins Annual DVDA Excellence Award.
  20. Web site: Hadley Partners, Inc. ® 2011. www.hadleypartners.com. 2018-11-06.
  21. Web site: Disney teams up with Zoo to create digital beast TheBusinessDesk.com. 2008-04-10. Yorkshire. 2018-12-19.
  22. Web site: ZOOtech Announces Deal With Mattel To Develop Several High-profile DVD Games – Quick Facts. RTTNews. 2018-12-19.
  23. Web site: Mattel High School Musical DVD Board Game 2: Amazon.co.uk: Toys & Games. www.amazon.co.uk. 2018-12-19.
  24. Web site: Mattel 1 Vs. 100 DVD Board Game: Amazon.co.uk: Toys & Games. www.amazon.co.uk. 2018-12-19.
  25. Web site: Portfolio Company Zoo Digital Wins Disney Contract. www.foresightgroup.eu. 2018-12-19.
  26. Web site: ZOO Digital's new iTunes toolset adopted by major Hollywood studio. 2010-09-09. Proactiveinvestors UK. 2018-12-19.
  27. Multi Packaging Solutions Partners with ZOO Digital Creates Turnkey Solution for Global Brands. July 7, 2010. multipkg.com. 2019-04-03.
  28. Web site: Hollywood decision on DVDs knocks Zoo Digital figures. www.yorkshirepost.co.uk. 2018-12-19.
  29. Web site: FE Investegate Company News Corporate, London Stock Exchange, Regulatory News Headlines ZOO expands product suite. www.investegate.co.uk. 2018-12-19.
  30. Web site: iTunes Store Package. www.apple.com.
  31. News: ZOO Digital provides new iTunes Store Package delivery services for Compressor users.. 2018-11-07.
  32. Web site: BBC Worldwide inks Zoo Digital subtitling deal. 2015-02-23. Broadcast. 2018-12-19.
  33. Web site: Zoo Digital to launch cloud-based dubbing platform. Priestley. Jenny. TVBEurope. 2018-12-19. 2017-04-10.
  34. Web site: Zoodubs. TvTechnology. 2018-12-19.
  35. Web site: Netflix Preferred Fulfillment Partners. npfp.netflixstudios.com. 2018-11-06.
  36. Web site: TV Technology Announces 2017 NAB Best of Show Award Winners. Staff. TV Technology. TvTechnology. May 2017 . 2018-12-19.
  37. Web site: IABM announces 2017 Design & Innovation Awards winners at IBC. IABM. 2018-12-19.
  38. Web site: BAM Awards – NAB Show. IABM. 2018-12-19.
  39. Web site: AIM Awards Winners.
  40. Web site: Awards 2018. Small Cap UK. 2018-12-19.
  41. Web site: Whitfield. Graeme. 31 March 2021. Sheffield firm Zoo Digital raises £7.4m to accelerate growth. 8 April 2021. Business Live.
  42. Web site: Bhunjun. Arvind. 30 March 2021. Zoo Digital to raise GBP7.0 million to build balance sheet. 8 April 2021. Alliance News Limited.
  43. Web site: Sheffield's Zoo Digital sees huge leap in revenue in "outstanding" year - Business Live. July 7, 2022. Business Live. August 6, 2022.
  44. Web site: ZOO aims at eBooks. www.thestar.co.uk. 2018-12-19.
  45. Web site: DVD and beyond – Video title production 2.0. www.dvd-and-beyond.com. 2018-12-19.
  46. Web site: FE Investegate Company News Corporate, London Stock Exchange, Regulatory News Headlines ZOO Digital in 'unexpected' movie trade win. www.investegate.co.uk. 2018-12-19.
  47. Web site: FE Investegate Company News Corporate, London Stock Exchange, Regulatory News Headlines Zoo Digital licences workflow solution to Hachette. www.investegate.co.uk. 2018-12-19.
  48. Web site: ZOO Digital to present revolutionary cloud-based ZOOsubs subtitling and captioning service at IBC 2014 ProductionHUB. ProductionHUB.com. 2018-12-19.
  49. Web site: Collaboration Systems for Digital Media Production. gtr.ukri.org. 2018-12-19.
  50. Web site: Commercialisation of Motion Pictures Archives (COMPA). gtr.ukri.org. 2018-12-19.
  51. Web site: Persistent And Robust Tracking of Entertainment Content (PARTEC). gtr.ukri.org. 2018-12-19.
  52. Web site: Optimising Production Through Implicit Metadata In Scripts for Television (OPTIMIST). gtr.ukri.org. 2018-12-19.
  53. Web site: Process Automation for Localisation of Dialogue in Entertainment Media (PALODIEM). gtr.ukri.org. 2018-12-19.
  54. Web site: Multimedia Analysis for Unsupervised Dubbing In Entertainment (MAUDIE). gtr.ukri.org. 2018-12-19.

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