Defy Media was an American digital media company that produced original online content for the 12–34 age group. Originally founded in 1996 as Alloy Online (later Alloy Digital), the final company was formed in 2013 by its merger with Break Media. On November 6, 2018, the company ceased operations after its assets were frozen by creditors, leaving channels like

Smosh Smosh () is an American YouTube sketch comedy-improv collective, independent production company, and former social networking site founded by Anthony Padilla and Ian Hecox. In 2002, Padilla created a website named "smosh.com" for making Flas ...

without a company. Several former employees blamed poor financial management, while high overhead from

YouTube YouTube is an American social media and online video sharing platform owned by Google. YouTube was founded on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim who were three former employees of PayPal. Headquartered in ...

, legal troubles, overly aggressive expansion, and a shrinking advertising market were also described as contributing factors.

History

1996–2009: Alloy, Inc.

Alloy, Inc. (also known as Alloy Online) was founded in 1996 by James K. Johnson and Matthew Diamond as a

holding company A holding company is a company whose primary business is holding a controlling interest in the Security (finance), securities of other companies. A holding company usually does not produce goods or services itself. Its purpose is to own Share ...

for ''Alloy'', a teen-oriented magazine and website. By the time the company went public in May 1999 (its

NASDAQ The Nasdaq Stock Market (; National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations) is an American stock exchange based in New York City. It is the most active stock trading venue in the U.S. by volume, and ranked second on the list ...

symbol was ALOY), the website earned $15.5 million in monthly revenue and 1.3 million registered users. In January 2000, they purchased book publisher 17th Street Productions, renaming it

Alloy Entertainment Alloy Entertainment, LLC (formerly Daniel Weiss Associates and 17th Street Productions) is a book packaging and television production unit of Warner Bros. Television Studios. It produces books, television series, and feature films. Alloy Entert ...

. Alloy's additional early assets included Delia's (acquired 2003, spun-off in 2005), CCS.com (acquired 2000, sold to

Foot Locker Foot Locker, Inc. is an American multinational retailer of footwear, sportswear, urban youth apparel and accessories headquartered in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, and operating in over 40 countries. Although established in 1974, and ...

in 2008), and

Channel One News Channel One News was an American news content provider. The daily news program was accompanied by commercial advertising for marketing in schools, with supplementary educational resources. The Peabody Award, Peabody award-winning Channel One New ...

(acquired 2007, sold to

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company ( ; HMH) is an American publisher of textbooks, instructional technology materials, assessments, and reference works. The company is based in the Financial District, Boston, Boston Financial District. It was fo ...

in 2014).

2009–2013: Alloy Digital

In 2009, Alloy created a division called Alloy Digital Networks to hold its online properties. Alloy was then made private through acquisition by an investment group led by ZMC in 2010 and was re-incorporated as Alloy Digital in 2011. Within the next two years, Alloy Digital acquired

, Themis Media (parent company of ''The Escapist'' and

WarCry Network WarCry Network (or WarCry.com per the URL) was a web portal centered on the MMO (massively multiplayer online) genre of video games. It boasted a large community of professional web sites and databases for these games. One of the regular features ...

Generate LA-NY Generate is a Los Angeles–based entertainment studio that produces content for distribution across media, including the Internet, television, web television, film, video games, mobile devices and books. The company completed a $6 million Series A ...

, and Clevver Media. ZMC sold the Alloy Entertainment division to

Warner Bros. Television Warner Bros. Television Studios, operating under the name Warner Bros. Television (abbreviated as WBTV; formerly known as Warner Bros. Television Division), is an American television production and distribution studio and the flagship studio o ...

in 2012.

2013–2017: Merger and investment

In October 2013, Alloy Digital and Break Media merged to become Defy Media. The deal was brokered by

RBC Capital Markets RBC Capital Markets is a global investment bank providing services in banking, finance, and capital markets to corporations, institutional investors, asset managers, and governments globally. Locations span 58 offices in 14 countries across North ...

, and the resulting entity was owned in part by ZMC,

ABS Capital Partners ABS Capital Partners is an American private equity firm focused on investments in software and tech-enabled services businesses across a range of industries, including FinTech, Healthcare, EdTech, eCommerce, cybersecurity, and Smart Cities. Found ...

, and

Lionsgate Lions Gate, Lion Gate or similar terms may refer to: Gates *Lion Gate at Mycenae in Greece *Lion Gate, one of the entrances to the ancient Hittite city of Hattusa, now in Turkey *Lion Gate, one of the entrances to the gardens of Hampton Court Pala ...

Viacom Viacom, an abbreviation of Video and Audio Communications, may refer to: * Viacom (1952–2005), a former American media conglomerate * Viacom (2005–2019), a former company spun off from the original Viacom * Viacom18, a joint venture between Pa ...

purchased a stake of Defy Media in 2014, in exchange for ownership of

GameTrailers ''GameTrailers'' (''GT'') was an American video gaming website created by Geoffrey R. Grotz and Brandon Jones in 2002. The website specialized in multimedia content, including trailers and gameplay footage of upcoming and recently released v ...

, Addicting Games, and

Shockwave In physics, a shock wave (also spelled shockwave), or shock, is a type of propagating disturbance that moves faster than the local speed of sound in the medium. Like an ordinary wave, a shock wave carries energy and can propagate through a me ...

. In 2016, Defy settled a $70 million investment by

Wellington Management Company Wellington Management Company is a private, independent investment management firm with client assets under management totaling over US$1 trillion based in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. The firm serves as an investment advisor A fi ...

, and ZMC exited from investment in 2017.

2018: Decline and dissolution

In March 2018, Defy Media laid off 8% of its headcount, exiting its programmatic advertising and video licensing and syndication businesses. Joe Bereta, creative director of

, left his position and was replaced by a former comedy partner, Luke Barats. In June, multiple publishers claimed that Defy had not paid them for advertising. One of those publishers,

Topix The , commonly known as the TOPIX, is an important stock market index for the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) in Japan, along with the Nikkei 225. The TOPIX tracks the entire market of domestic companies and covers most stocks in the Tokyo Stock Exc ...

, filed a lawsuit for $300,000. In July, Defy sold ''The Escapist'' to

Enthusiast Gaming Enthusiast Gaming Holdings Inc. is a Canadian digital media company specializing in video game journalism. Founded in 2014 by entrepreneur Menashe Kestenbaum, the company owned the websites ''Destructoid'' and ''Escapist Magazine'' from 2014 to ...

, and

Screen Junkies Screen Junkies is an online movie magazine and YouTube channel, owned and operated by Fandom, that focuses primarily on movies and television. Screen Junkies produce numerous shows now spread across two YouTube channels, including ''The Screen J ...

Fandom A fandom is a subculture composed of Fan (person), fans characterized by a feeling of camaraderie with others who share a common interest. Fans typically are interested in even minor details of the objects of their fandom and spend a significan ...

. In fall 2018, former CEO Matt Diamond, along with other employees, made multiple offers to the company's senior creditor, Ally Bank, to purchase the company. The bank ultimately rejected those offers, and on November 6, 2018, Defy Media announced that it was shutting down operations effective immediately and laying off all employees at its

Beverly Hills Beverly Hills is a city located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. A notable and historic suburb of Los Angeles, it is located just southwest of the Hollywood Hills, approximately northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Beverly Hil ...

production office. Less than a day after this announcement, the company's assets were frozen by creditors. Former employees and executives blamed poor financial practices and unrealistic investments. An over-reliance on major social media platforms and changes in market space for new media were also described as contributing factors. Smosh CEO Ian Hecox stated that he was looking to find a new outlet for the Smosh brand. On February 22, 2019, Mythical Entertainment acquired Smosh."the rumors are true...We Found a Home!"
Smosh. February 22, 2019. Retrieved March 20, 2019. Defy Media's former head of audience development, Matthew "MatPat" Patrick, stated that the company stole 1.7 million dollars from him and other

YouTuber A YouTuber is a content creator and social media influencer who uploads or creates videos on the online video-sharing website YouTube, typically posting to their personal YouTube channel. The term was first used in the English language in 2006 ...

s. He claimed that the company was a

Ponzi scheme A Ponzi scheme (, ) is a form of fraud that lures investors and pays Profit (accounting), profits to earlier investors with Funding, funds from more recent investors. Named after Italians, Italian confidence artist Charles Ponzi, this type of s ...

and was using YouTube creators' money in order to look more attractive to outside investors.

Content

Defy Media owned and operated online brands including

Shut Up! Cartoons Shut Up! Cartoons was a YouTube animation channel project created with 2 people from the Smosh crew ( Anthony Padilla, Ian Hecox) and Barry Blumberg that features various animated videos. Shut Up! Cartoons launched on April 30, 2012, with ''Do's ...

, Smosh Games, Clevver Media, Break.com, '' The Escapist'', AddictingGames.com, Gurl.com, MadeMan, CagePotato, The Warp Zone, and Chickipedia, with some brands being inherited from Break Media. Each of these brands operated a dedicated website and

channel in or about comedy, filmed entertainment, news, video games, viral content, girl culture, men culture, or

MMA Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact fighting sport based on striking and grappling; incorporating techniques from various combat sports from around the world. In the early 20th century, various inter-stylistic contests took place t ...

. Defy Media's online program offerings included ''The Single Life'', '' The Confession'', ''Fashion on the Fly'', ''Dating Rules'', ''Chasing'', ''Style Rules'', ''Wendy'', ''Style Setters'', and ''The Sub''. According to

Comscore Comscore, Inc. is an American-based global media measurement and analytics company providing marketing data and analytics to enterprises, advertising agencies, brand marketers, and publishers. History Comscore was founded in July 1999 in Resto ...

, in 2012, Defy counted more than 38 million followers among its owned brands, reaching 221 million unique visitors each month. Together, its channels reached over 80 million video viewers monthly.

Brands

Defy Media owned various brands including viral video site Break.com, MadeMan.com (a site for young men), flash game sites AddictingGames.com, Shockwave.com, DIY prop, cosplay channel Awe.Me, and Prank It FWD (Forward).

Former sites and channels

Over the years, Defy Media shuttered numerous websites and channels, mostly underperforming ones left over from the Alloy Digital and Break Media merger that formed the company. Among these former sites include MMA website CagePotato, Chickipedia, HolyTaco, AllLeftTuns, and TuVez. Defy Media also sold off some brands to other companies.

Game Theory / Film / GTLive

Game Theory was launched in August 22, 2009. Its founders are Matthew Patrick and Stephanie Patrick. Film Theory was launched in May 12, 2014. Its founders are Matthew Patrick and Stephanie Patrick. GTLive was launched in August 26, 2015. Its founders are Matthew Patrick and Stephanie Patrick.

Shut Up! Cartoons

Shut Up! Cartoons was launched as a spin-off of

in April 2012. It featured original cartoons and animated videos. The channel consistently ranked in the top 25 for weekly views. Original animated series featured on the channel included ''Zombies vs. Ninjas'', ''Pubertina'', ''

Krogzilla ''Krogzilla'' is an adult animated web series, created by filmmaker and actor Cory Edwards for the YouTube channel Shut Up! Cartoons. The series premiered on May 31, 2012 and stars Edwards as a sea monster named Krogzilla, who was shrunk by scien ...

'', ''Oishi High School Battle'', ''Smosh Babies'', and ''Paper Cuts''. The channel ceased operations on June 23, 2017.

Screen Junkies

The site focuses on film and television related topics. The group also includes Screen Junkies News, formerly ClevverMovies. Screen Junkies is home for shows like '' Honest Trailers'' which is a series of parody

trailers Trailer may refer to: Transportation * Trailer (vehicle), an unpowered vehicle pulled by a powered vehicle ** Baggage trailer, a large flatbed baggage trolley ** Bicycle trailer, a wheeled frame for hitching to a bicycle to tow cargo or passen ...

of films, ''The Screen Junkies Show'' which covers a variety of topics in film and television, and '' Movie Fights'' and ''TV Fights'' where cast debates various films or television shows. On October 6, 2017, Andy Signore, the creator of ''The Screen Junkies Show'', ''Honest Trailers'', ''Movie Fights'' and ''TV Fights'' was suspended by Defy Media after accusations of sexual assault and sexual harassment made by female fans and coworkers became public. Several of the women also claimed that complaints made to Defy Media's HR department and management about the incidents had been suppressed or ignored by the company for several months until the women involved made the allegations public. Two days later, Screen Junkies announced on their

Twitter Twitter, officially known as X since 2023, is an American microblogging and social networking service. It is one of the world's largest social media platforms and one of the most-visited websites. Users can share short text messages, image ...

page that Signore's employment was terminated effective immediately as "there is no justification for this egregious and intolerable behavior." On July 2, 2018, it was announced that Defy Media sold Screen Junkies to

''The Escapist''

''The Escapist'' was acquired by Alloy Digital in November 2012. It targets video-game enthusiasts. In 2008, the site won a

Webby Award The Webby Awards (colloquially referred to as the Webbys) are awards for excellence on the Internet presented annually by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, a judging body composed of over three thousand industry experts a ...

and a People's Voice Award. The website generates 28 million page views each month. In 2012, ''The Escapist'' launched the Escapist Expo in

Durham, North Carolina Durham ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the county seat of Durham County, North Carolina, Durham County. Small portions of the city limits extend into Orange County, North Carolina, Orange County and Wake County, North Carol ...

. The second annual took place in October 2013. The website was part of the AddictingGames Network alongside

flash game A browser game is a video game that is played on the internet using a web browser. They are sometimes referred to more specifically by their format, such as Flash games or HTML5 games. They are generally free-to-play and can be either single-play ...

site AddictingGames.com until July 2018 when ''The Escapist'' was sold to Enthusiast Gaming, the owner of ''

Destructoid ''Destructoid'' is a website that was founded as a video game-focused blog in March 2006 by Yanier Gonzalez, a Cuban-American cartoonist and author. Enthusiast Gaming acquired the website in 2017 and sold it to Gamurs Group in 2022. Histor ...

'' in 2018.

Clevver Media

Clevver Media was founded in 2006 by Michael Palmer and Jorge Maldonado and acquired by Alloy Digital in June 2012. The millennial target platform operates six entertainment and celebrity-focused YouTube channels, including ClevverTV, ClevverMusic, ClevverNews, ClevverMovies, ClevverStyle, and ClevverTeVe. In 2012, Clevver Media ranked in the top 10

networks, according to

. Joslyn Davis served as the executive producer. Hosts and producers have included Deidre Behar, Tatiana Carrier, Lily Marston, Erin Robinson, Katie Krause, Miriam Isa, Dana Ward, Misty Kingma, Drew Dorsey, and Sinead De Vries among others. The Clevver brand was the second-largest YouTube channel group for sponsor content in the Defy Media group of brands. Marston was the main editor in the beginning, and soon enough the company was hiring more employees to do various "behind the scenes" jobs. Employees Erin and Joslyn also appeared on the 28th season of ''

The Amazing Race ''The Amazing Race'' is an adventure reality competition franchise in which teams of two people race around the world in competition with other teams. ''The Amazing Race'' is split into legs, with teams tasked to deduce clues, navigate themselv ...

''. The website also included channels ''Crushable'', ''The Gloss'', ''The Grindstone'', ''Mommyish'', and ''Blisstree'', and was also part of the Clevver Network. On February 15, 2019,

Hearst Magazines Hearst Magazines is a division of Hearst Communications that oversees its magazine publishing business in the United States and abroad. Its headquarters are located at Hearst Tower in the Midtown Manhattan of New York City. It has an audience ...

announced that it has purchased Clevver Media.

Smosh

was founded in 2005 by Ian Hecox and

Anthony Padilla Daniel Anthony Padilla ( ; born September 16, 1987) is an American internet personality, comedian, filmmaker, and actor. With Ian Hecox, he co-founded the YouTube-based video production company Smosh. Padilla and Hecox wrote, directed, and st ...

and acquired by Alloy Digital in July 2011. The channel's core demographic is people ages 12–24. The Smosh website measures 1.5 million visitors monthly. With shows like Every lankEver, The Big What If, and its sketches, Smosh was called ''the Saturday Night Live of YouTube'' by ''

Time Time is the continuous progression of existence that occurs in an apparently irreversible process, irreversible succession from the past, through the present, and into the future. It is a component quantity of various measurements used to sequ ...

'' in 2006. Smosh spin-off channels include Smosh Games, Smosh Pit, El Smosh, and the now defunct Shut Up! Cartoons. Smosh Games was launched as a spin-off of Smosh and relaunch of ClevverGames in September 2012. Hecox and Padilla teamed up with various online gamers to play games, provide reviews and updates, and share commentary. The channel contains gameplay videos and a gaming variation of

' Honest Trailers called Honest Game Trailers. The YouTube channel achieved 1 million subscribers within three months of launching. It has gained more than 350 million video views. On November 12, 2018, the Smosh cast released a video announcing that production of Smosh, Smosh Pit, and Smosh Games content was still ongoing, and that existing videos would be finished and other content would be continued to be released independently by Smosh on their YouTube channels. They subsequently joined Mythical Entertainment after their company was purchased by Rhett & Link.

Gurl.com

Gurl.com was created and launched in 1996 by

Rebecca Odes Rebecca Odes (born September 11, 1969) is an American media entrepreneur, author, and former musician. From 1987 to 1992, she was the bassist and vocalist for the band Love Child. In 1994, she debuted as a solo artist under the stage name Odes ...

, Esther Drill, and Heather McDonald as an online

zine A zine ( ; short for ''magazine'' or ''fanzine'') is, as noted on Merriam-Webster’s official website, a magazine that is a “noncommercial often homemade or online publication usually devoted to specialized and often unconventional subject ...

featuring

alternative media Alternative media are media sources that differ from established forms of media, such as mainstream media or mass media, in terms of their content, production, or distribution.Downing, John (2001). ''Radical Media''. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publica ...

that included advice on

body positivity Body positivity is a social movement that promotes a positive view of all bodies, regardless of size, shape, skin tone, gender, and physical abilities. Proponents focus on the appreciation of the functionality and health of the human body instea ...

female sexuality Human female sexuality encompasses a broad range of behaviors and processes, including female sexual identity and sexual behavior, the physiological, psychological, social, cultural, political, and spiritual or religious aspects of sexual activ ...

, and other concerns from female teenagers. In 2009, Alloy acquired Gurl.com, and they relaunched it in 2011 with a new logo. The website ceased activity after 2018 with the closure of Defy Media. In 2020, Jamie Petitto, who had been a video editor for Gurl.com from 2012 until its closure, alleged in a video post on her social media accounts that she had offered to buy Gurl.com from Defy Media but could not meet their demand of $3 million.

CagePotato

CagePotato was an news/entertainment focus about MMA. The site officially closed.

Break.com

Break.com is an entertainment and humor focused website aimed at the 18–35 aged male demographic. The website originally launched in 1998 and was acquired by Defy Media in 2013. It was shut down in 2018 following Defy Media's closure. Rights to the website were bought by Yeah1 Network and the website was relaunched in 2019.

References

{{reflist, refs= {{cite web , url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/karstenstrauss/2013/04/29/killing-your-television-inside-alloy-digitals-latest-acquisition/ , title=Killing Your Television: Inside Alloy Digital's Latest Acquisition , work=

Forbes ''Forbes'' () is an American business magazine founded by B. C. Forbes in 1917. It has been owned by the Hong Kong–based investment group Integrated Whale Media Investments since 2014. Its chairman and editor-in-chief is Steve Forbes. The co ...

, first=Karsten , last=Strauss , date=April 29, 2013 , access-date=August 26, 2017 , archive-date=March 4, 2016 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304060145/http://www.forbes.com/sites/karstenstrauss/2013/04/29/killing-your-television-inside-alloy-digitals-latest-acquisition/ , url-status=live {{Cite news, url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/defy-medias-shutdown-provokes-class-action-lawsuit-complaints-late-creator-payments-1160929, title=A Class-Action Lawsuit, Late Creator Payments: Inside Defy Media's Shutdown, last=Jarvey, first=Natalie, date=November 19, 2018, work=The Hollywood Reporter, access-date=November 21, 2018, language=en, archive-date=November 19, 2018, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181119184635/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/defy-medias-shutdown-provokes-class-action-lawsuit-complaints-late-creator-payments-1160929, url-status=live {{cite web , url = http://www.comscore.com/ , title = Media Metrix (Clevver) , url-status = dead , 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, first=Lev, last=Grossman , date=December 16, 2006 {{cite web , url=http://www.cartoonbrew.com/biz/smoosh-announces-youtube-animation-channel-shut-up-cartoons-60976.html , title=SMOSH! Announces YouTube Animation Channel, Shut Up! Cartoons , work=

Cartoon Brew Cartoon Brew is an animation news website created by Amid Amidi and animation historian Jerry Beck that was launched on 15 March 2004. Cartoon Dump It also created '' Cartoon Dump'', a weekly podcast showing poorly made TV cartoons featuring ' ...

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AdAge A proverb (from ) or an adage is a simple, traditional saying that expresses a perceived truth based on common sense or experience. Proverbs are often metaphorical and are an example of formulaic speech, formulaic language. A proverbial phrase ...

, date=July 20, 2013 , access-date=July 25, 2013 , archive-date=July 22, 2013 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130722124715/http://adage.com/youtube/top-25-channels , url-status=live {{cite web , url=http://www.webmarketingassociation.org/iac/winner.asp?eid=8685 , title=Alloy Digital Wins 2012 Best Retail Integrated Ad Campaign, Best Of Show Integrated Ad Campaign Internet Advertising Award for Wendy, The Web Series , work=Web Marketing Association , year=2012 , access-date=July 8, 2013 , archive-date=March 5, 2016 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305205049/http://webmarketingassociation.org/iac/winner.asp?eid=8685 , url-status=live {{cite web , url=http://www.unileverusa.com/media-center/pressreleases/2012/TRESemmeUnveilsTRESemmeStyleSetters.aspx , title=TRESemmé® Unveils TRESemmé Style Setters; New Digital Series Launches with Actress Nikki Reed Taking Viewers Backstage at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week , work=

Unilever Unilever PLC () is a British multinational consumer packaged goods company headquartered in London, England. It was founded on 2 September 1929 following the merger of Dutch margarine producer Margarine Unie with British soap maker Lever B ...

, date=March 12, 2012 , access-date=July 8, 2013 , archive-date=August 27, 2013 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130827215220/http://www.unileverusa.com/media-center/pressreleases/2012/TRESemmeUnveilsTRESemmeStyleSetters.aspx , url-status=live {{cite web , url=http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/169857/tresemme-launches-multi-phase-digital-campaign.html#axzz2HUm6QB8y , title=TRESemme Launches Multi-Phase Digital Campaign , work=MediaPost , date=March 12, 2012 , access-date=July 8, 2013 , archive-date=October 3, 2014 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141003014547/http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/169857/tresemme-launches-multi-phase-digital-campaign.html#axzz2HUm6QB8y , url-status=live {{cite web , url=http://www.adweek.com/videowatch/miller64-debuts-web-series-featuring-pro-athletes-150065 , title=Miller64 Debuts Web Series Featuring Pro Athletes Alloy Digital/DBG's 'The Sub' features Terrell Owens, Gary Payton, others , work= AdWeek , first=David , last=Taintor , date=June 7, 2013 , access-date=July 8, 2013 , archive-date=July 28, 2013 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728203715/http://www.adweek.com/videowatch/miller64-debuts-web-series-featuring-pro-athletes-150065 , url-status=live {{cite web , url=http://www.adweek.com/news/technology/alloy-digital-acquires-b5media-139733 , title=Alloy Digital Acquires B5Media Young adult media network doubles down on women's lifestyle content , work= AdWeek , first=Charlie , last=Warzel , date=April 20, 2012 , access-date=July 8, 2013 , archive-date=June 3, 2013 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130603085938/http://www.adweek.com/news/technology/alloy-digital-acquires-b5media-139733 , url-status=live {{cite web , url=https://variety.com/2012/digital/news/alloy-digital-buys-website-escapist-1118062277/ , title=Alloy Digital buys website Escapist , work=

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

, first=Marc , last=Graser , date=November 15, 2012 , access-date=December 7, 2017 , archive-date=June 20, 2017 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170620032901/http://variety.com/2012/digital/news/alloy-digital-buys-website-escapist-1118062277/ , url-status=live {{cite web , url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/dorothypomerantz/2013/01/25/smoshs-ian-and-anthony-are-a-new-purely-digital-breed-of-celebrity/ , title=Smosh's Ian And Anthony Are A New, Purely Digital, Breed Of Celebrity , work=

, first=Dorothy , last=Pomerantz , date=January 25, 2013 , access-date=August 26, 2017 , archive-date=September 12, 2016 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160912000926/http://www.forbes.com/sites/dorothypomerantz/2013/01/25/smoshs-ian-and-anthony-are-a-new-purely-digital-breed-of-celebrity/ , url-status=live {{cite web , url=http://adage.com/article/digital/alloy-digital-snaps-youtube-power-network-clevver-media/235423/ , title=Alloy Digital Snaps Up YouTube Power Network Clevver Media , work=

Ad Age ''Ad Age'' (known as ''Advertising Age'' until 2017) is a global media brand that publishes news, analysis, and data on marketing and media. Its namesake magazine was started as a broadsheet newspaper in Chicago in 1930. ''Ad Age'' appears in ...

, first=Jason , last=Del Rey , date=June 18, 2012 , access-date=July 8, 2013 , archive-date=August 18, 2015 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150818000717/http://adage.com/article/digital/alloy-digital-snaps-youtube-power-network-clevver-media/235423/ , url-status=live {{cite news , last1=Patel , first1=Sahil , title='We wanted people to know we were big': How Defy Media went from YouTube heavyweight to abrupt shutdown , url=https://digiday.com/media/defy-media-youtube-shutdown/ , access-date=January 5, 2019 , work=Digiday , date=November 13, 2018 , archive-date=November 16, 2018 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116001145/https://digiday.com/media/defy-media-youtube-shutdown/ , url-status=live American companies disestablished in 2018 Companies based in New York City Entertainment companies based in New York City Mass media companies of the United States Multi-channel networks