Dori Media Group

History

Dori Media was founded in 1996 by Yair Dori (born in Buenos Aires 1947), who in the early 1990s started importing Argentine soaps to the Israeli market, which became a huge success; and led to the creation of cable channels, which dedicate themselves to air Latin soaps.

After the soap opera Chiquititas became a huge phenomenon in Israel, Dori approached producer Cris Morena about developing a new project. At the time, she was seeking finance for her new project, Rebelde Way. In 2001, he accepted an offer to invest in the project, which ended up being a success in Argentina and in Israel. Afterwards, it was sold to over 50 countries and was remade by Mexico (Rebelde) and India (Remix), among others. He also financed another Cris Morena project Rincon de Luz (2003).

In 2003 Morena decided not to produce a third season of Rebelde Way and produced Floricienta with production company RGB Entertainment, while Dori Media only got the distribution rights for it in East Europe. The company then started to co-produce with another Argentine companies; with Pol-ka, Dori Media produced Hombres de honor, Padre Coraje, Sos Mi Vida and Dr. Amor.; and with Central Park Productions SA, the highly successful Lalola; and in October 2007 acquired 50% of the company. In 2009 pilot for an American version of Lalola, entitled "Eva Adams", was filmed as a co-production with Sony Pictures Television, and Fox Broadcasting Company, starring Rhea Seehorn and James Van Der Beek, but wasn't picked up for a regular series.

On 21 March 2005, the company had an initial public offering (IPO) on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange, raising £3.23 million at a market value of £21.82 million, at a price of 118 pence per share; The share price reached a high of 190 pence during 2007, but later gone down below the level of the IPO.

In 2006, Dori Media produced its first TV Series in Argentina independently, El Refugio (de los Sueños); with part of the Rebelde Way cast and staff.

In 2007 Dori Media became the first telenovela partner channel on YouTube, which attracted more than 8m views, few weeks following its launch. Also in 2007 founder Yair Dori sold most of his shares in the company to Mapal Communications Ltd. and Miella Venture Partners Inc.

In 2009 Dori Media created a TV format, "uMan", a cross-platform realty show, where eight contestants enter a "Lab" for 21 days during which their every move is controlled by viewers. The format was sold to few broadcasters in Europe.

In May 2011 Dori Media delisted its shares from the London Stock Exchange.

In 2014 Dori Media establishes the first Multi-Channel Network in Israel - MeMeMe Studios. The company is engaged in the production and distribution of digital content for the Internet and initially via YouTube.

TV Channels

In 1999 Dori Media established two cable channels in Israel, dedicated to airing Latin soaps: Viva and Viva Platina; which also produces local soaps in Hebrew.

In Indonesia, the company established FMN and Baby TV (formerly known as Televiva). In April 2013, American television studio Sony Pictures Television acquired 50% of DMG's operations in Indonesia and in 2014 acquired 50% of the Viva and Viva Platina channels and the VIVA Walla online free video-on-demand (FVOD) service in Israel. The activity was transferred to a new company named Dori TLV. Following a successful period, Dori Media acquires back SPT's 50% stake in Dori TLV in 2020/2021.

In 2024, Telad Jerusalem Studios acquired Dori TLV (including Dori Media Ot).

References

References

1. [https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=UaeKU03SvzMC&pg=PA168&lpg=PA168&dq=Yair+Dori+viva&source=bl&ots=NDtVK0GJPp&sig=zsGnx5VTJzWpB7Q5yWwRfdt1x4g&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjs66237sPMAhUsIcAKHQzbCaQQ6AEIRTAH#v=onepage&q=Yair%20Dori%20viva&f=false TV's Betty Goes Global: From Telenovela to International Brand] Edited by: Janet McCabe, Kim Akass, page 168
2. Ahronovitz, Esti. (2004-10-15). "Making Things Happen". [[Haaretz]].
3. "Dori Media - in the Press".
4. Melamed, Diego. (2004-04-29). "The King of telenovelas". [[The Jerusalem Post]].
5. Newbery, Charles. (2007-03-21). "Dori goes Undergound for telenovela". [[Variety (magazine).
6. Allen, Katie. (2009-08-21). "Dori Media cleans up with gender-bending soap". [[The Guardian]].
7. (2007-10-31). "Dori Media buys 50% of Argentine TV producer". [[Globes (newspaper).
8. Littleton, Cynthia. (October 12, 2008). "Fox tapping Waters for 'Eva Adams'".
9. Andreeva, Nellie. (January 13, 2009). "Rhea Seehorn to star in Fox's 'Eva Adams'".
10. (2005-03-22). "Dori Media raises $6.1m on AIM". Globes.
11. Allen, Katie. (2010-02-25). "Tough year leaves telenovela firm Dori down sharply". [[The Guardian]].
12. Plohn, Cynthia. (2006-01-17). "El refugio de Dori Media arrancó con 27% de share".
13. Allen, Katie. (2007-12-03). "Melodramatic? You ain't seen nothing yet". [[The Guardian]].
14. (2007-11-27). "Dori Media buys Paran Productions stake". Globes.
15. Papapostolou, Apostolos. (2010-08-19). "Reality Format "uMan" Series Sold to Mega Channel".
16. Tsipori, Tali. (2011-04-17). "Telenovela co Dori Media to delist in London". Globes.
17. Carmel, Asaf. (2006-11-06). "Where Have All the Channels Gone?". [[Haaretz]].
18. Roxborough, Scott. (April 23, 2013). "Sony Buys Half of Indonesian Telenovela Channel Televiva". [[MRC (company).
19. (2014-10-21). "Sony takes 50% stake in Dori Media".
20. Barraclough, Leo. (2014-10-21). "Sony Takes Stake in Telenovela Channels in Israel, Indonesia".
21. Tucker, Nati. (2014-10-21). "Sony Buys Stakes in Israeli Telenovela Channels". [[Haaretz]].
22. Keslassy, Elsa. (2020-07-23). "Dori Media Acquires Sony Pictures Television's Stake in Israel's Dori TLV".