WOWIO, Inc., a website that allows users to share and use digital media content, such as eComics and eBooks announced they have acquired the webcomics community DrunkDuck from Platinum Studios. Following last week’s acquisition of social networking site WEvolt, the acquisition of DrunkDuck will expand WOWIO’s existing library of content available for viewing, as well as broaden the site’s user base through its 95,000 community members.
“We have been exploring ways to enhance our consumer experience with additional and relevant content,” said Brian Altounian, CEO and President of WOWIO. “This acquisition provides advertisers with additional avenues to brand an even broader range of content and publishers with a new and growing digital distribution platform.”
DrunkDuck maintains one of the leading webcomics communities, where creators are able to post comics and interact with their fans daily on forums to discuss the latest news, releases, content and even collaborate on ideas. WOWIO purchased DrunkDuck from Platinum Studios, an entertainment company that controls a large international library of comic book characters. Platinum continues to focus on film and television projects such as the just-completed, self-financed DYLAN DOG: DEAD OF NIGHT film and the upcoming COWBOYS & ALIENS feature film project with DreamWorks, Imagine Entertainment and Universal, set to begin production this month. The graphic novel of COWBOYS & ALIENS is currently available for free download on WOWIO.
“DrunkDuck’s primary goal has always been to provide the community with the content and tools they need to create the stories they want to tell,” said Scott Rosenberg, Platinum Studios’ Chairman and CEO. “WOWIO shared our original vision and will now provide a platform to continue to grow the community and strengthen the DrunkDuck brand. We couldn’t have asked for a better opportunity and are thrilled that DrunkDuck is now going to be an official part of the WOWIO family.”
“The DrunkDuck site, community and existing library of content will remain unchanged,” added Altounian. “Fans, publishers and advertisers will be pleased to know that it will be business as usual for DrunkDuck as well as WOWIO, and with our recent integration plans with WEvolt, we are unifying known entities and melding them into one superior comic and eBook destination.”
Do you remember when Platinum bought Wowio? I do, and you can still find articles about it dating back to 2008 by just doing a search on the phrase ?Platinum buys Wowio?.
So Platinum bought Drunk Duck, then bought Wowio, and now Wowio has bought Drunk Duck.
I’m not the only one who noticed this, either:
http://www.fleen.com/archives/2010/06/09/for-those-of-you-that-still-care/
When WOWIO first started up it was great because you could download free books or comics like Gutenberg. Something which didn’t last very long as you now have to pay for many of them (which is not a big deal if it actually goes to the artists) and the ones that are free are nothing I would even read when standing in line at the store and being bored enough to read cereal box backs! DD will probably go to big subscription fees now like King comics and go comics.