Cineverse Launches Matchpoint® Creative Labs, Leveraging Generative AI to Enable Creative Services for FAST and Ad-Supported Streaming Services
MWN-AI** Summary
Cineverse, an independent entertainment technology company, has recently unveiled its in-house agency, Matchpoint® Creative Labs (MCL), aimed at enhancing creative services for free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) and connected TV (CTV) platforms. This new initiative is strategically designed to address the increasing demand for high-quality video advertising as brands shift their marketing budgets from traditional media to streaming environments. With projections indicating CTV ad spending could surpass linear TV by 2028—reaching nearly $46 billion—Cineverse's MCL aims to fill a creative gap in the industry, where many streaming operators lack the resources historically available to conventional broadcasters.
MCL's offerings combine cutting-edge generative AI technology with traditional creative disciplines, facilitating rapid development and deployment of motion-based advertising across various platforms. The lab is projected to generate over $4.5 million in revenue within its first year, capitalizing on the growing need for high-impact creative solutions in the FAST and CTV markets. The services provided by MCL include producing on-air promotional spots, branding packages, and visual assets tailored to enhance audience engagement.
The initiative is part of Cineverse's larger strategy to deepen its involvement in both creative services and operational segments of the streaming economy. MCL will not only serve Cineverse’s existing streaming channels but also offer its capabilities to external partners, thereby broadening its market presence. As the demand for innovative advertising solutions grows, Cineverse positions itself as a significant player in the fast-evolving landscape of media consumption and advertising, leveraging its technological advancements to support clients in achieving impactful marketing outcomes.
MWN-AI** Analysis
Cineverse’s launch of Matchpoint® Creative Labs (MCL) marks a significant strategic move aimed at enhancing its competitive edge in the rapidly evolving landscape of Connected TV (CTV) and ad-supported streaming services. This initiative addresses a critical gap in the market where many streaming operators lack the internal creative resources required to produce high-quality advertising content.
The forecast by MNTN indicating that CTV ad spending will outpace linear TV by 2028 — projected to approach $46 billion — underscores the growing importance of dynamic, engaging content in attracting advertising dollars. Nielsen’s report further reflects a trend where a notable majority of marketers are poised to increase their OTT/CTV budgets. Thus, Cineverse’s proactive approach to create MCL, an in-house agency specializing in motion-first creative, responds to this influx of demand for innovative ad solutions.
Cineverse targets to generate over $4.5 million in revenue in its first year from MCL, driven by the compelling need from both existing and new clients for sophisticated creative services. By leveraging generative AI technology, MCL offers a modernized and scalable solution, allowing brands to produce native-feeling video ads more economically and efficiently.
For investors, Cineverse’s expansion into the creative services realm through MCL represents a dual opportunity: it capitalizes on the lucrative fast-growing advertising market while diversifying the company's revenue streams. The ability to integrate these services across its owned streaming properties will better position Cineverse to increase audience engagement and bolster its brands’ visibility, enhancing overall operational efficiency.
Given the continuous evolution in viewership habits towards digital platforms, investors should closely monitor Cineverse's execution of this strategy. Successful rollout and client adoption will be key indicators of future growth and profitability in this segment.
**MWN-AI Summary and Analysis is based on asking OpenAI to summarize and analyze this news release.
PR Newswire
New In-House Agency Specializes in Developing Motion-First Creative for Advertising,
On-Air Promotions, and Channel Branding
Company Aims for Unit to Generate More than $4.5 Million in Revenue Within First Year
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Cineverse (Nasdaq: CNVS), an innovative and independent entertainment technology company and studio, today announced the launch of Matchpoint® Creative Labs (MCL). Cineverse's new in-house agency, MCL was established to support the growing creative demands of connected TV (CTV), free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) channels, and streaming services.
MCL is focused on producing premium video advertising for CTV, as brands continue to shift budgets away from static display and toward streaming environments. According to recent research from MNTN, CTV ad spend is forecast to top linear TV for the first time by 2028, reaching nearly $46 billion. Nielsen reports that 66% of marketers planned to increase their OTT/CTV spend in 2025 compared to 44% in 2024.
The unit was created to address a persistent shortcoming in the FAST and overall ad-supported streaming ecosystem, where many channel and streaming operators lack the internal creative resources historically available within On-Air Promotions departments at legacy broadcast/cable networks.
Operating within the Cineverse Technology Group, MCL is designed to help advertisers and channel operators create video ads that feel native to CTV—combining creative direction, design, and production with modern, technology-enabled workflows that allow campaigns to scale cost-effectively. MCL also creates motion-first creative across a wide range of use cases, including on-air promotional spots, channel IDs, branding packages, and visual assets for special channel stunts.
These services are being deployed across Cineverse's owned and/or operated streaming properties, and are now available to external and 3rd-party partners, including brands and streaming services.
MCL is expected to generate more than $4.5 million in high-margin revenue in its first year, driven by strong demand from new and existing customers of Matchpoint's growing list of service offerings. SaaS clients who already license the Matchpoint platform can now take advantage of these premium creative capabilities without investing in building internal creative teams, while those with existing teams can now leverage this offering to supplement their internal capabilities. The MCL team is currently engaged with clients on piloting these advanced genAI capabilities.
"As FAST and streaming services continue to scale, the need for high-quality on-air creative has become critical, but the traditional broadcast model simply doesn't exist for many of these operators," said Tony Huidor, President of Technology & Chief Product Officer of Cineverse. "The advent of Connected TV has changed how audiences watch television, but on-air creative hasn't kept pace. As genAI technology has rapidly matured over the past 18 months, we have focused on developing in-house expertise, with continual support from our LLM partner, that can provide a scalable solution that solves this problem. As a result, Matchpoint Creative Labs was established to bring broadcast-grade creative services to modern streaming services on a far more cost-effective basis."
The Creative Labs unit blends traditional creative development, storyboard design, and human-led scriptwriting with genAI-enabled workflows that allow motion-based creative to be developed, versioned, and deployed quickly across ad campaigns and streaming channels.
While MCL is brought to market and incorporated into the Matchpoint SaaS and Cineverse 360 Ad Solutions sales process, it will initially be utilized across Cineverse's streaming networks, including SCREAMBOX (horror), RetroCrush (classic anime) and Dove Channel (women's entertainment) – supporting ongoing channel branding, programming promotion, and audience engagement initiatives.
"With the launch of Matchpoint Creative Labs, Cineverse extends its capabilities beyond entertainment technology and into the creative services ecosystem—positioning the company to participate more deeply in both the operational and creative segments of the Connected TV, On Demand and FAST economy," added Michele Edelman, Cineverse EVP Technology & General Manager of Matchpoint.
About Cineverse 360 Ad Solutions
Cineverse's advertising offerings unlock the world's most dedicated fandoms wherever they are, offering direct contextual advertising and a premium programmatic advertising network and ad-tech platform, C360. Cineverse's custom marketing integrations offer scalable opportunities to reach enthusiastic audiences across multiple touchpoints. These include audio opportunities via the Cineverse Podcast Network, display, social, experiential in-person events, and connected TV (CTV) advertising on the company's lineup of more than two dozen free, ad-supported streaming television (FAST) channels. Matchpoint® Creative Labs, the company's in-house agency, blends creative direction, design, and production with technology-enabled workflows that allow creative to be developed, versioned, and deployed quickly across channels and campaigns.
About Cineverse Technology Group
Cineverse develops proprietary technology that powers the future of entertainment, leveraging the Company's position as a pioneer in the video streaming industry along with the industry-leading strength of its development team in India. This team has dedicated years building and refining technology solutions that have pioneered streaming content management and distribution while leaning into advances in AI to set the company apart from the competition. This includes the award-winning media supply chain platform Matchpoint®; the AI-powered search and discovery tool for film and television, CINESEARCH, which makes deciding what to watch as entertaining as the entertainment itself; cineCore, a dataset of more than two million titles, including extensive proprietary AI-generated film and TV metadata; and the C360 programmatic audience network and ad-tech platform that provides brands the opportunity to target and reach key fandoms wherever they are.
About Cineverse
Cineverse (Nasdaq: CNVS) is an entertainment technology company and studio. Fiercely innovative and independent, Cineverse develops and invests in technology and content that drives the future of the industry. Core to its business is Matchpoint® – a growing tech ecosystem powered by AI and designed to prepare, distribute, monetize, and continuously improve content across any platform. Matchpoint helps studios large and small operate at scale and improve performance and efficiency in an increasingly fragmented distribution environment. Additionally, Cineverse distributes more than 71,000 premium films, series, and podcasts, across theatrical, home entertainment, and streaming; operates dozens of digital properties that super serve passionate fandoms around the world; and works with leading brands to connect them with audiences they value. From award-winning technology to the highest-grossing unrated film in U.S. history, Cineverse has created a playbook that marries tech and content to redefine the next era of entertainment. For more information, visit home.cineverse.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding expected revenue, adjusted EBITDA, revenue mix, platform expansion, and long-term strategy. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Factors that may affect results are described in Cineverse's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Cineverse undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements.
Media Contact:
The Lippin Group for Cineverse
cineverse@lippingroup.com
Investor Contact:
Julie Milstead
investorrelations@cineverse.com
SOURCE Cineverse Corp.
FAQ**
How does Cineverse Corp. CNVS plan to leverage generative AI in its Matchpoint® Creative Labs to enhance video advertising for CTV and FAST channels, and what unique advantages does this offer over traditional creative development models?
With a goal of generating over $4.5 million in revenue within its first year, what specific strategies will Cineverse Corp. CNVS implement to attract both existing clients and new customers to its creative services offerings?
Can Cineverse Corp. CNVS provide insights on how its Matchpoint Creative Labs will address the creative resource challenges faced by many FAST channel operators, and what benefits can clients expect from utilizing these services?
As the demand for high-quality on-air creative continues to rise, how does Cineverse Corp. CNVS plan to ensure that its generative AI-driven creative workflows stay ahead of industry trends and deliver effective results for its streaming partners?
**MWN-AI FAQ is based on asking OpenAI questions about Cineverse Corp. (NASDAQ: CNVS).
NASDAQ: CNVS
CNVS Trading
-2.89% G/L:
$2.69 Last:
56,410 Volume:
$2.70 Open:
