What changed

Freedom! (YouTube network)

Comparing version 7 (23 October 2026, 15:11 UTC, imported from the content file) with version 8 (23 October 2026, 15:24 UTC, imported from the content file), which is the page as it stands.

28 paragraphs differ. Removed words are struck through; added words are underlined.

1. Type: YouTube multi-channel network
2. Founded: December 2013
3. Founder: George Vanous
4. Gaming sub-network: MGN (headed by Dave Fracchia)
5. Affiliate publisher: Freedom Games (per Freedom! (tips.h.ki))
6. Creator platform: Heartbeat (per Chrome Web Store)
7. Reported channels (Oct 2016): Over 177,000
8. Reported subscribers (Oct 2016): 211 million
9. AID Partners stake (2016): 50.01% of any.TV for US$60 million
10. Founding and operations

11. According to Freedom!, the network operates directly with YouTube as a technology partner for content creators.

    Freedom! launched in December 2013 as a YouTube multi-channel network focused on community engagement, transparency and gaming. It describes itself as working directly with YouTube as a technology partner for content creators.

12. Freedom! was launched in December 2013 as a YouTube multi-channel network focused on community engagement, transparency, and gaming.
13. George Vanous, the founder, is the network's chief executive; his own page covers his biography in more detail.
14. The gaming-focused sub-network MGN is headed by Dave Fracchia.

15. According to the Centre for Digital Media, MGN offers partners up to 95% of revenue.

    The gaming sub-network MGN is headed by Dave Fracchia and, according to the Centre for Digital Media, offers partners up to 95% of revenue. The Centre for Digital Media in Vancouver lists the network as an industry partner under the name "Freedom! / MGN Studios".

16. Freedom! says it pays partners on a weekly cycle and uses an in-house Content ID system called Aegis to flag partner content.

    Freedom! says it pays partners weekly and uses an in-house Content ID system called Aegis to flag partner content.

17. Freedom! is listed as an industry partner of the Centre for Digital Media in Vancouver under the name "Freedom! / MGN Studios".
18. Freedom! introduces its founder The network's own 2014 video introducing its chief executive, published shortly after launch, from where George introduces himself.
19. Reach (2014-2016)

20. As of October 2016, Freedom! stated that the network ran over 177,000 channel partners, 211 million subscribers and 45 billion total views worldwide.

    In October 2016, Freedom! stated that the network had over 177,000 channel partners, 211 million subscribers and 45 billion total views worldwide. Variety reported the same month that the network claimed the same partner and subscriber figures but 46 billion total views.

21. In October 2016, Variety reported that the network asserted it had more than 177,000 channel partners, 211 million subscribers and 46 billion total views across the world.

22. South China Morning Post reported that, in October 2016, 16% of Freedom!'s views came from the United States and 47% of partner revenue was generated there, while Chinese-language markets accounted for 2.2% of viewership.

    According to the South China Morning Post, 16% of the network's views in October 2016 came from the United States, which generated 47% of partner revenue, while Chinese-language markets accounted for 2.2% of viewership. AID Partners said viewership grew 50.2% in the 12 months to June 2016 and that estimated partner revenue was up 43.6% year-to-date.

23. According to AID Partners, viewership grew 50.2% in the 12 months to June 2016 and estimated partner revenue was up 43.6% year-to-date.
24. AID Partners investment

25. On 13 October 2016, the South China Morning Post and Variety stated that AID Partners Technology Holdings would pay US$60 million (HK$468 million) to acquire a 50.01% controlling interest in any.TV, Freedom!'s parent company.

    On 13 October 2016, the South China Morning Post and Variety reported that AID Partners Technology Holdings would pay US$60 million (HK$468 million) for a 50.01% controlling interest in any.TV, Freedom!'s parent company.

26. AID Partners said the acquisition was motivated by a perceived shift in advertising toward video platforms in the Asia-Pacific region.
27. AID Partners chief executive Gilbert Ho Chi-hang said the firm hoped to provide larger resources to Freedom! to facilitate its growth.
28. Freedom! planned to use the funding to broaden its content mix beyond gaming into music, beauty and youth-oriented programming.
29. According to South China Morning Post, George Vanous publicly welcomed the AID Partners investment, saying it would fuel the network's growth.
30. AID Partners said it was investing because it saw advertising shifting toward video platforms in the Asia-Pacific region, and its chief executive, Gilbert Ho Chi-hang, said the firm hoped to give Freedom! larger resources to help it grow. Freedom! planned to use the funding to broaden its content beyond gaming into music, beauty and youth-oriented programming. George Vanous publicly welcomed the investment, saying it would fuel the network's growth.
31. Freedom Games
32. According to Freedom! (tips.h.ki), Freedom Games was founded in 2020.
33. An 80.lv report on the November 2022 funding round quoted Ben Robinson as chief operating officer and co-founder of Freedom Games.

34. Freedom Games announced a US$10 million funding round in November 2022, led by Play Ventures with participation from Nashville Capital Network and GFR Fund.

    In November 2022, Freedom Games announced a US$10 million funding round led by Play Ventures, with participation from Nashville Capital Network and GFR Fund. An 80.lv report on the round quoted Ben Robinson as the company's chief operating officer and co-founder. Freedom Games said it would use the money to expand its staff, develop its community platform wiki.gg and grow its catalog of indie games.

35. Freedom Games said in 2022 that it had sold "hundreds of thousands of copies" of its published indie titles.

    Freedom Games, founded in 2020 according to Freedom!, is an affiliated indie game publisher. Before November 2022 it had released the indie games Coromon, Dreamscaper, Dark Deity, Cat Cafe Manager and Symphony of War, and in 2022 it said it had sold "hundreds of thousands of copies" of its published titles.

36. Before November 2022, Freedom Games had released the indie games Coromon, Dreamscaper, Dark Deity, Cat Cafe Manager and Symphony of War.
37. Freedom Games said the November 2022 funding would be used to expand staff, develop its community platform wiki.gg, and grow its catalog of indie games.
38. Heartbeat platform

39. According to Chrome Web Store, Heartbeat is a multi-format publishing platform built by Freedom! that pays creators for content even when it receives no views.

    Heartbeat is a multi-format publishing platform built by Freedom! that, according to its Chrome Web Store listing, pays creators for content even when it receives no views. Its Chrome extension lets users press the H key while watching a YouTube video to save selected moments to their Heartbeat channel; the listing names Freedom! Family Limited as the developer and showed version 2.108.0 as of 23 June 2026.

40. According to Chrome Web Store, the Heartbeat Chrome extension lets users press the H key while watching a YouTube video to save selected moments to their Heartbeat channel.
41. The Chrome extension's developer is listed as Freedom! Family Limited, and the extension was at version 2.108.0 as of 23 June 2026.
42. Freedom! claims a 110% revenue share, equal to 10% more than YouTube's standard share, on videos about games it publishes, even for channels not in the YouTube Partner Program.
43. According to Freedom! (tips.h.ki), Freedom!'s Heartbeat Moments product lets creators convert YouTube videos into monetised blogs under a program called OVOB, standing for "one video, one blog".

44. Freedom! states that it helps reinstate hacked, terminated, YouTube Partner Program-suspended or demonetised YouTube channels, usually within a few days, where the issue was caused by YouTube's automated systems or human review.

    Freedom! claims to pay a 110% revenue share, 10% more than YouTube's standard share, on videos about games it publishes, even to channels outside the YouTube Partner Program. It says its Heartbeat Moments product lets creators turn YouTube videos into monetized blogs under a program called OVOB, short for "one video, one blog". Freedom! also states that it helps reinstate hacked, terminated, YouTube Partner Program-suspended or demonetized YouTube channels, usually within a few days, when the problem was caused by YouTube's automated systems or human review.

45. Heartbeat Moments explained Chapter of Freedom!'s own video introducing Heartbeat Moments, from "let me show you how it works".
46. Heartbeat Photos Chapter of the network's own video covering Heartbeat Photos.
47. Heartbeat Viki Chapter of the network's own video covering Heartbeat Viki.
48. BHAG: Big Hairy Audacious Goal Chapter of the network's own video in which the team outlines its long-term goal.
49. 2013-12-01: According to Centre for Digital Media, Vancouver, Freedom! is launched as a YouTube multi-channel network.
50. 2014-06-01: According to Freedom!, Freedom! publishes a video introducing founder and chief executive George Vanous.
51. 2016-10-13: AID Partners Technology Holdings agrees to acquire a 50.01% controlling stake in any.TV for US$60 million.
52. 2020: According to Freedom! (tips.h.ki), Freedom Games is founded.
53. 2022-11-07: Freedom Games announces a US$10 million funding round led by Play Ventures.

Back to the page · Suggest a change