Kristen Bedno
Australian AVOD monetization platform VA Media (“VA”) has hired Los Angeles-based distribution and marketing executive Kristen Bedno as Head of Content Partnerships & Acquisitions, North America in its first move to expand globally in the Social AVOD space.
In her new role heading up content partnerships and acquisitions, Bedno will help current VA partners expand their monetization capabilities via VA’s diverse offerings while also spearheading new partnerships with rights holders and producers and overseeing corporate communications in North America.
Mark Ashbridge, Managing Director of VA Media said, “Kristen’s unique experience in the distribution, marketing, and acquisitions space will provide VA with vital resources and connections as we continue to expand our business and establish our North American presence. Generating meaningful revenues for our independent client base across the fast-growing social video and AVOD markets is our key focus and I’m excited to have Kristen joining at such a great time for our business.”
“It’s an exciting time in the AVOD space and VA Media is one of the fastest-growing social monetization companies in film, series, and social production with over 15M network subscribers and 300M monthly views,” said Bedno. “I am looking forward to helping VA expand its network of exceptional content providers.”
Based in Sydney and Melbourne, VA Media has built one of the largest networks of movie and unscripted genre channels on YouTube, comprising eight channels and attracting 15M subscribers. Using proprietary knowledge and a team of dedicated YouTube experts, VA Media’s movie network publishes movies to its channels, generating significant revenues for its distributor partners based on the volume of views.
VA Media already has a significant foothold in the US where it helps producers and distributors including The Asylum, Vision Films, Alliance Entertainment’s Distribution Solutions and Indie Rights to monetize their catalogs in the social media space. The company has paid out over US$5M to US independent movie distributors over the past three years, with another US$5M to follow in the next 18 months.
Bedno is founder of Side Hussle Life, a marketing and distribution consultancy which focuses on amplifying diversity in film and television in the independent sector. Her previous roles include Vice President of Distribution and Marketing at Vision Films where she managed producer and platform relationships as well as launching global VOD content.