Germany’s Rosebank takes minority stake in digital content specialist Drive beta

L-R: Hannes Jakobsen, Jan Kromschröder and Stefan Oelze

Berlin-based digital studio Drive beta has agreed a strategic partnership with Cologne production outfit Rosebank Entertainment.

Rosebank will acquire a minority stake in Drive beta, which specialises in digital-first content such as documentary series YouTube Changed My Life (NDR) and Better than Human? (ARD). Despite the company’s name, it is not part of German production and distribution giant Beta.

Founded in 2013, Beta-owned Rosebank produces both scripted and unscripted content through its labels Brot&Butter Entertainment, Bantry Boy and Dreamtool.

Rosebank will support Drive beta’s business development plans in key areas such as finance, business and legal, while Drive beta will bring its distribution and social media expertise to the partnership.

Hannes Jakobsen, founder and CEO at Drive beta, said: “From the outset, our aim with Drive beta was to produce contemporary media with a clear signature and great appeal. Together with our fantastic clients and broadcasters, we have consistently succeeded in doing so as a team.

“The partnership with Rosebank enables us to build on this success, and, with the help of the holding company’s structures, to focus even more strongly on developing new projects and genres, as well as on entrepreneurial development.”

Jan Kromschröder and Stefan Oelze, managing partners at Rosebank Entertainment, said: “With its clear focus on on-demand content and distribution, Drive beta complements Rosebank’s existing creative portfolio – and thus also has a promising unique position within the entire Beta Group.”