# DEFY Media

> DEFY Media was a US digital entertainment company formed in 2013 by the merger of Alloy Digital and Break Media. It owned brands including Smosh, Clevver and Screen Junkies, producing online comedy, lifestyle and gaming programming and selling advertising, branded content and licensed shows. It ceased operations on November 6, 2018; several brands continued under new owners.

- **Founded:** 2013
- **Headquarters:** New York, United States
- **Founders:** Matthew Diamond (Formation leader and CEO; previously Alloy Digital CEO), Keith Richman (Formation leader and President; previously Break Media CEO)
- **Products:** Smosh, Clevver, Screen Junkies, Branded content and advertising, Screen Junkies Plus
- **Notable:** Formed an owned-brand entertainment portfolio through the 2013 Alloy Digital-Break Media merger., Raised a USD 70 million Series B in September 2016., Reported more than 72 weekly original series in September 2016.

## Products & services

- **Smosh** — Sketch comedy and recurring entertainment formats, including Every [Blank] Ever; inherited through Alloy Digital.
- **Clevver** — Personality-led entertainment news, beauty and lifestyle video channels; inherited through Alloy Digital.
- **Screen Junkies** — Film and television commentary, including Honest Trailers and Movie Fights; sold to Fandom in July 2018.
- **Branded content and advertising** — Custom video campaigns, sponsorships, distribution and promotion for advertisers seeking young audiences.
- **Screen Junkies Plus** — Historical paid video service; reported pricing was $4.99 monthly, $59 annually, or $99 annually with merchandise.
- **Smosh: The Movie** — Feature-length comedy released in 2015 and subsequently distributed through Netflix.
- **Program production and licensing** — Original series for streaming buyers and licensed programming for third-party distributors.

## Achievements

- Formed an owned-brand entertainment portfolio through the 2013 Alloy Digital-Break Media merger.
- Raised a USD 70 million Series B in September 2016.
- Reported more than 72 weekly original series in September 2016.
- Honest Trailers earned Emmy recognition during the DEFY era.
- Sold and licensed programming beyond YouTube to streaming and traditional media partners.

## Latest updates

- **2018-11** — DEFY ceased operations on November 6 after a creditor froze its assets, according to contemporary reporting.
- **2019-02** — Hearst acquired the former DEFY brand Clevver; Mythical Entertainment acquired Smosh.
- **2023-06** — Smosh founders Ian Hecox and Anthony Padilla acquired majority ownership from Mythical. This was a former-brand development, not a DEFY restart.

## Links

- Website: http://www.defymedia.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/defy-media/
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/defymedia
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DefyMedia/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/defy-media
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-04