You are probably aware of Publishers Clearing House. It’s that direct-marketing company with the Ed McMahon and the big checks that change the lives of little old ladies. Well, the company is going mobile to keep its business thriving in the future.
Publishers Clearing House has acquired the mobile app LivteoWin, which is an iOS and Android game that lets people enter sweepstakes by watching videos and answering polls. This is part of the company’s efforts to reach out to a younger demographic that PCH claims is already enjoying LiveToWin. Along with the app, the Boston-based development team, also called LiveToWin is also included as part of the acquisition.
This is Publishers Clearing House’s second major acquisition along these lines this year. It previously bought a mobile-advertising company called Plethora Mobile to help it get a foothold in that $17 billion market.
“We are accelerating our investment in cutting-edge media, entertainment, and commerce offerings, and establishing PCH as a premier destination for digital entertainment,” Publishers Clearing House general manager of digital Mark Cullinane said. “As such, we are looking to acquire industry leading digital properties and talent, as well as expand into key markets. This acquisition accomplishes all of that – it provides us with a best-in-class digital entertainment app, the talented team who developed it, and it gives us a Boston presence, which we are already leveraging as a market rich in talent.”
Publishers Clearing House is not just acquiring products. In late 2014, the company brought on board Hasbro digital media and gaming veteran, James Jones, former VP of marketing at deal site Gilt, Jason John, and ex-business development vice president at Fiksu, Steve Bagdasarian.
The company wants to establish itself firmly as a digital company, and these hires and acquisitions are a big part of that.