Sphere Abacus buys digital distributor Rocket Rights to expand global reach

What's the deal? Bell MediaDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →'s Sphere AbacusDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → has acquired 100% of Rocket Rights/Rights BoosterDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, a digital distribution and content monetisation firm. The deal was announced in September 2026; terms were undisclosed.

What changes? The acquired business will operate as Rocket BoosterDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, a Sphere Abacus company. It will lead multi-platform digital and social media distribution across both firms' combined catalogues, while traditional TV and licensing move to the Sphere Abacus sales team.

Who's running it? Former chief operating officer Cat Davie becomes managing director, and founder and former chief executive officer Matthew Frank becomes executive director. Both report to Sphere Abacus managing director Jonathan Ford.

What's the endgame? Sphere Abacus is targeting the global digital market. "This significant move is yet another step in the development of Sphere Abacus and highlights our ambition to further penetrate the global digital market," Ford said.

Bruno Dubé, chief executive officer of Sphere MediaDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, framed the deal as more than a catalogue play. The acquisition adds "talent and a content catalogue," he said, plus expanded "capability for distributing existing content."

The signal: The deal underscores how traditional TV distributors are buying digital-native specialists to keep pace with social and streaming platforms — folding niche monetisation expertise into larger catalogues rather than building it in-house.

Read more: seenit.co.uk

Image credit: Generated with Gemini