Cineverse Announced Leadership Team for Giant Worldwide, A Matchpoint™ Company

Rhea-AI Summary

Cineverse (Nasdaq: CNVS) announced the leadership team for recently acquired Giant Worldwide, integrating Giant's services into Cineverse's Matchpoint™ ecosystem effective Jan 12, 2026. Senior execs Meri Hassouni, Michael Nack, and Chris Jayasinghe will join Cineverse reporting to Michele Edelman. Each received 20,000 RSUs vesting 1/3 on Jan 7 of 2027, 2028 and 2029. Giant operates in NYC, LA, and Warsaw and supports delivery across OTT/AVOD/SVOD/EST platforms. Matchpoint™ supports delivery to 125+ platforms via AI-driven workflows.

Positive

• Integration preserves Giant leadership, reducing execution risk
• Each executive received 20,000 RSUs vesting 2027–2029
• Giant provides global operations in NYC, LA, Warsaw
• Matchpoint™ delivers content across 125+ platforms with AI automation

Negative

• None.

News Market Reaction

+1.46%

1 alert

+1.46% News Effect

On the day this news was published, CNVS gained 1.46%, reflecting a mild positive market reaction.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Key Figures

RSU grant size: 20,000 shares Total RSU grants: 60,000 shares Vesting schedule start: January 7, 2027 +5 more

8 metrics

RSU grant size 20,000 shares Restricted stock units per executive (Hassouni, Nack, Jayasinghe)

Total RSU grants 60,000 shares Aggregate RSUs for three executives joining Cineverse

Vesting schedule start January 7, 2027 First vesting date for granted RSUs

Vesting schedule end January 7, 2029 Final vesting date for granted RSUs

Offices 3 locations Giant Worldwide offices in New York City, Los Angeles, Warsaw

Giant experience Over 20 years Giant Worldwide operating history as digital studio

Distribution platforms Over 125 platforms Matchpoint delivery reach across platforms and models

Current share price $2.05 Pre-news price vs 52-week range $1.95–$7.39

Market Reality Check

Price: $2.00 Vol: Volume 61,290 is about 0....

low vol

$2.00 Last Close

Volume Volume 61,290 is about 0.46x the 20-day average of 133,319, indicating muted trading interest pre-announcement. low

Technical Shares at $2.05 are trading below the $3.61 200-day MA and sit close to the $1.95 52-week low.

Peers on Argus

CNVS fell 4.21% while peers were mixed: LVO up 0.98%, RDI down 3.57%, MPU down 4...

CNVS fell 4.21% while peers were mixed: LVO up 0.98%, RDI down 3.57%, MPU down 4.90%, others flat. The move appears stock-specific rather than a broad sector rotation.

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Jan 07 (Positive)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Jan 07	Acquisition integration	Positive	+0.9%	Acquisition of Giant Worldwide and integration into Matchpoint platform.
Jan 06	Content licensing deal	Positive	+4.4%	Hulu SVOD rights deal for The Toxic Avenger with later windowing.
Dec 22	Product feature update	Positive	-1.4%	CINESEARCH CTV and voice enhancements ahead of CES 2026.
Dec 12	Theatrical release	Positive	+3.4%	Wide theatrical release of Silent Night, Deadly Night reboot.
Nov 18	FAST channel launch	Positive	+3.1%	Launch of JoySauce Network FAST channel using Matchpoint.

Pattern Detected

Recent positive partnership and acquisition news has often aligned with modest price gains, with only one notable divergence on a product update.

Recent Company History

Over the past few months, Cineverse announced several strategic moves leveraging its Matchpoint™ platform. On Jan 7, 2026, it acquired Giant Worldwide, expecting $15–17M pro forma FY2027 revenue, $3.5–4M EBITDA, and $2.5M synergies. Earlier, it secured Hulu SVOD rights for The Toxic Avenger, launched the JoySauce AAPI-focused FAST network, and rolled out new CINESEARCH CTV and voice features. The current leadership announcement for Giant Worldwide fits into this broader integration and growth narrative around Matchpoint™ and studio relationships.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement details leadership continuity and RSU-based incentives as Giant Worldwide’s servic...

Analysis

This announcement details leadership continuity and RSU-based incentives as Giant Worldwide’s services are integrated into Cineverse’s Matchpoint™ platform. It follows the recent acquisition, which projected $15–17M in FY2027 revenue and $3.5–4M EBITDA plus $2.5M in synergies. Investors may track how these executives drive execution, the impact on recurring studio revenues, and whether Matchpoint’s reach to over 125 platforms translates into improved profitability and cash generation.

Key Terms

restricted stock units, rsus, nasdaq listing rule 5635(c)(4), ott, +4 more

8 terms

restricted stock units financial

"each received restricted stock units ( "RSUs") for 20,000 shares of Cineverse's"

Restricted stock units are a type of company reward where employees are promised shares of stock, but they only fully own these shares after meeting certain conditions, like staying with the company for a set time. They matter because they can become valuable assets and are often used to motivate employees to help the company succeed.

rsus financial

"each received restricted stock units ( "RSUs") for 20,000 shares of Cineverse's"

RSUs, or restricted stock units, are a form of company shares given to employees as part of their compensation. They are typically awarded with certain restrictions, such as a waiting period before they can be fully owned or sold, similar to earning a gift that becomes fully yours over time. For investors, RSUs can impact a company's stock offerings and reflect how much the company relies on stock-based incentives to attract and retain talent.

nasdaq listing rule 5635(c)(4) regulatory

"The grants of RSUs are inducement grants pursuant to Nasdaq listing Rule 5635(c)(4)."

NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635(c)(4) is a rule that requires a company to get approval from its shareholders before selling a large amount of its shares, usually over 20%. This helps protect investors by making sure the company doesn't flood the market with new shares without their say, which could lower the stock's value.

ott technical

"delivery for OTT, AVOD, SVOD, and EST platforms."

OTT stands for “over-the-top” and describes video, audio or other media services delivered directly to users over the internet, bypassing traditional cable or broadcast systems. Investors watch OTT metrics—subscriber counts, viewing time, and churn—because they drive recurring revenue, advertising potential and customer loyalty much like a consumer choosing to subscribe to a gym instead of buying one-off classes. Changes in OTT performance can signal growth opportunities or rising costs for content and marketing, affecting company value.

avod technical

"delivery for OTT, AVOD, SVOD, and EST platforms."

AVOD stands for ad-supported video-on-demand, a streaming business model where viewers watch shows or movies for free or low cost while ads play during the content. For investors it matters because this model trades higher audience reach and faster user growth for lower revenue per viewer and greater dependence on advertising rates and ad-selling performance, much like a free newspaper that earns money from ads rather than subscriptions.

svod technical

"delivery for OTT, AVOD, SVOD, and EST platforms."

SVOD stands for subscription video-on-demand, a service where customers pay a recurring fee to access a library of TV shows, movies or original programs on streaming platforms. For investors, SVOD matters because it creates predictable, ongoing revenue like a membership club — growth depends on gaining and keeping subscribers, how much each subscriber pays, and the cost of securing or producing content, all of which drive a streaming business’s profitability and valuation.

est technical

"delivery for OTT, AVOD, SVOD, and EST platforms."

est is an abbreviation for "estimated," used to indicate a value or outcome that is not final but is a best current guess based on available information. For investors, estimates matter because they set expectations for things like earnings, costs or timelines—like a weather forecast for financial results—and can influence market prices when actual results differ from those expectations.

closed captions technical

"subtitle languages and closed captions (CCs)."

Closed captions are text versions of a program’s spoken words and important sounds displayed on screen, like subtitles that also note music, sound effects, or speaker changes. For investors, captions broaden an audience by making content accessible to people who are deaf, non-native speakers, or watching without sound, and they help companies meet legal rules and boost viewership, advertising revenue and brand reach—similar to adding ramps to widen who can enter a store.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

Senior Execs to Continue, Following Acquisition of Giant Worldwide, as its Services are Integrated into Cineverse's Award-Winning Matchpoint™ Ecosystem

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Cineverse (Nasdaq: CNVS), a next-generation entertainment studio, today announced the leadership team for Giant Worldwide, a Matchpoint™ Company. Recently acquired ahead of CES, Giant is a global media services provider serving the world's leading Hollywood studios and streaming platforms.

As previously announced, the management team of Giant Worldwide and the majority of the existing staff will join Cineverse, greatly reducing the risk of execution. This includes Senior Vice President, Sales Meri Hassouni; Senior Vice President, Studio Operations Michael Nack; and Vice President, Client Management Chris Jayasinghe. The team will report up through Michele Edelman, EVP, Technology and General Manager of Matchpoint™.

Hassouni has played an integral role in the company's evolution for more than 20 years, helping guide its growth from a boutique digital facility into an international operation. She has helped grow the business beyond digital deliveries and physical disc authoring into a comprehensive, end-to-end services provider, overseeing revenue and marketing strategy, leading key client relationships, and partnering closely with the executive team to support sustained growth in a rapidly evolving digital media landscape.

Her impact and leadership have been widely recognized by the industry. Hassouni was named to Media Play News' 50 Women to Watch in the Digital Business, and has served for the past five years as Co-Chair of DEG's Canon Club, an initiative dedicated to supporting and connecting women across the industry, including hosting its annual Academy Museum Tour and Luncheon, and serving on the voting committee of the Hedy Lamarr Awards. She is also an active member of OTT.X, reflecting her ongoing commitment to industry collaboration and progress.

Nack is a seasoned media executive with more than two decades of experience leading the strategic execution and distribution of content across evolving media platforms. His career spans the transformation of the home entertainment industry from physical media to digital streaming, where he has built a reputation for operational excellence, efficient, client-focused workflows, and results-driven leadership aligned with industry standards and market demands.

As Senior Vice President, Studio Operations, he continues to advance the integration of new technologies with a client-focused, high-touch operating model that supports growth, collaboration, and long-term value. He previously worked at Sony Music Studios.

Jayasinghe plays a critical role in advancing the company's sales and client engagement strategies across the digital and OTT landscape. Since joining Giant Worldwide in 2023, he has played a central role in shaping project delivery, business strategy, and operational execution, including the development of scalable workflows, enterprise-level RFP efforts, and strategic partnerships.  Looking forward, Jayasinghe will help guide the company's strategic direction, strengthen client partnerships, and support scalable growth as the organization enters its next phase under new ownership.

He was named to Media Play News' 40 Under 40 in 2025, and prior to Giant Worldwide, he spearheaded major client initiatives at Deluxe, and served as Executive Director of Client Services at Premiere Digital Services.

In connection with joining the Company, Hassouni, Nack, and Jayasinghe each received restricted stock units ( "RSUs") for 20,000 shares of Cineverse's Class A Common Stock (the "Common Stock"), vesting 1/3 on January 7 of each of 2027, 2028 and 2029. The grants of RSUs are inducement grants pursuant to Nasdaq listing Rule 5635(c)(4).

Giant Worldwide is a full-service digital studio with offices in New York City, Los Angeles, and Warsaw. With over 20 years of experience, Giant Worldwide specializes in the preparation, localization, quality control, and delivery of premium digital content to global distribution platforms. Services include digital prep and encoding, master QC—including source QC and S&P compliance and end-to-end delivery for OTT, AVOD, SVOD, and EST platforms. Localization services include the creation and conformance of all subtitle languages and closed captions (CCs). Trusted by leading studios, distributors, and content owners, Giant Worldwide ensures content is technically flawless, culturally accurate, and delivered on time to meet live dates and critical deadlines. For more information, visit www.giant-worldwide.com.

Matchpoint™ is Cineverse's award-winning, AI-powered media supply chain platform that is radically changing the way content is managed and delivered. Built on a foundation of artificial intelligence and machine learning, Matchpoint has replaced today's expensive, labor-intensive video content processes with a fully transparent, automated workflow that significantly reduces costs, eliminates human error, and effortlessly facilitates content ingestion with delivery across more than 125 platforms and distribution models. The platform's suite of AI-enhanced products includes Matchpoint Dispatch for automated content management and delivery featuring intelligent QC and AI-driven metadata enrichment, Matchpoint Blueprint for scalable app building, and Matchpoint Insights for AI-powered business intelligence and predictive analytics.

About Cineverse Technology Group
Cineverse develops proprietary technology that powers the future of entertainment, leveraging the Company's position as a pioneer in the video streaming industry along with the industry-leading strength of its development team in India. This team has dedicated years to building and refining technology solutions that have pioneered streaming content management and distribution while leaning into advances in AI to set the company apart from the competition. This includes the award-winning media supply chain platform Matchpoint™; the AI-powered search and discovery tool for film and television, CINESEARCH, which makes deciding what to watch as entertaining as the entertainment itself; cineCore, a dataset of more than two million titles, including extensive proprietary AI-generated film and TV metadata; and the C360 programmatic audience network and ad-tech platform that provides brands the opportunity to target and reach key fandoms wherever they are.

About Cineverse
Cineverse (Nasdaq: CNVS) is a next-generation entertainment studio that empowers creators and entertains fans with a wide breadth of content through the power of technology. The Company has developed a new blueprint for delivering entertainment experiences to passionate audiences and results for its partners with unprecedented efficiency, distributing more than 71,000 premium films, series, and podcasts. Cineverse's proprietary technology suite includes the Matchpoint media supply chain platform, CINESEARCH AI-powered discovery engine, cineCore metadata database, and C360 programmatic audience network. For more information, visit home.cineverse.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company's expectations for revenue, EBITDA, customer transitions, margin improvements, and strategic benefits from the acquisition. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

Contacts:
The Lippin Group for Cineverse
Cineverse@lippingroup.com

Cineverse Investor Relations
ir@cineverse.com

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SOURCE Cineverse Corp.

FAQ

Who did Cineverse (CNVS) name to lead Giant Worldwide after the acquisition on Jan 12, 2026?

Cineverse appointed Meri Hassouni (SVP, Sales), Michael Nack (SVP, Studio Operations), and Chris Jayasinghe (VP, Client Management).

What equity compensation did the new Giant Worldwide leaders receive from Cineverse (CNVS)?

Each executive received 20,000 restricted stock units of Cineverse Class A common stock, vesting one-third on Jan 7 of 2027, 2028 and 2029.

How will Giant Worldwide be integrated into Cineverse's Matchpoint™ platform?

Giant's services and team will join Matchpoint™ under EVP Michele Edelman to integrate global media services into Cineverse's AI-powered supply chain.

Where does Giant Worldwide operate and what services does it provide under Cineverse (CNVS)?

Giant operates in New York City, Los Angeles, and Warsaw and offers digital prep, localization, QC, and end-to-end delivery for OTT/AVOD/SVOD/EST platforms.

What capability does Cineverse's Matchpoint™ platform provide after the Giant Worldwide acquisition?

Matchpoint™ offers AI-driven content management, intelligent QC, metadata enrichment, and delivery to 125+ platforms across distribution models.