ZOO Digital Group plc, a provider of end-to-end cloud-based localisation and media services to the global entertainment industry, has launched facilities in Madrid and Valencia following a strategic investment in established dubbing and localisation company AM Group.
ZOO, which recently raised funds via a share placing, has acquired a 30% stake in AM Group for total consideration of €825,000 to be payable in cash on completion. The investment marks the continued expansion of ZOO’s geographic footprint in EMEA, with AM Group acting as a primary hub for ZOO’s operations in Spain and Portugal.
It will deliver dubbing services as part of ZOO’s global end-to-end offering for major studios and streaming services in Iberia, while also supporting local content creators to expand their reach to global audiences.
Founded in 2004, AM Group has been a partner to ZOO since 2021 and is an approved service provider under the industry-wide Trusted Partner Network. AM Group generated €352,000 in profit before tax for the year ended 31st December 2022.
It boasts state-of-the-art facilities in both Madrid and Valencia, complete with nine recording studios, nine control rooms and two mixing rooms. The facilities also incorporate an adjoining dubbing school that actively provides practical training for voice talent, with courses in dubbing, voiceover and vocal technique.
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Iberia is an increasingly important market for global content producers with Spain establishing itself as a European hub for audiovisual production and distribution. Building on the success of international hits such as Money Heist, Netflix launched its first European hub in Madrid in 2019 and has since doubled the size of its operations.
As well as strengthening capacity for Castilian Spanish and European Portuguese, ZOO’s presence in Iberia will facilitate localisation into the co-official Spanish languages, bringing content from around the world to life in Valencian, Catalan, Galician and Euskera.
“This latest investment under our global growth initiative will allow us to offer increased capacity and expertise in Spain and Portugal, both of which are territories that hold high strategic importance for our major studio clients,” said Stuart Green, CEO of ZOO Digital.
“The launch of ZOO in Madrid and Valencia strengthens our ability to deliver high-quality services at a time of significant growth in the region while also enabling us to cater for regional languages and cultures.”