Stagwell (STGW) Acquires Freestar, Leading Publisher Advertising Services Company
Key Highlights
- ➤Stagwell acquires Freestar, expanding its Owned Media and Media and Commerce capabilities
- ➤Freestar has driven over $1 billion in revenue for publishers
- ➤Freestar integrates pubOS and publisher monetization services into Stagwell's ecosystem
- ➤Freestar customers gain more direct access to advertisers and monetization tools
Expert Statements
Ben Berentson, CEO, Owned Media, Stagwell
“Publishers are essential to a healthy media ecosystem, and we believe their long-term success is critical to the future of our industry”
Ben Berentson, CEO, Owned Media, Stagwell
“Freestar has built an exceptional global business helping publishers increase revenue and improve operational efficiency in a complex programmatic landscape. Together, we'll continue investing in that mission while bringing new capabilities to support their growth and their clients' success.”
Kurt Donnell, CEO, Freestar
“Freestar has always been focused on helping publishers unlock more value from their businesses”
Kurt Donnell, CEO, Freestar
“The best outcomes happen when advertisers know exactly what they're buying, and publishers are rewarded for the quality they deliver. Stagwell understands that. Joining them lets us offer publishers new capabilities, while staying true to the publisher-first approach that has always been our north star.”
NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / October 26, 2026 / Stagwell (NASDAQ:STGW), the global challenger network transforming marketing through AI, today announced the acquisition of Freestar, a leading services and monetization partner to many of the world's most trusted digital media brands. Freestar will further strengthen Stagwell's Owned Media offering as the larger Media and Commerce segment continues to expand its media capabilities and offerings for clients, while Freestar customers will have more direct access to advertisers and tools, providing better outcomes for both the buy and sell side of the market.
Founded in 2015 by David Freedman, Freestar partners with the world's top digital brands, from news to gaming to utilities, including Boston Globe Media, Fortune Media, Legacy, and Enthusiast Gaming. Powered by pubOS, its proprietary Publisher Operating System, Freestar combines enterprise-grade technology, an integrated marketplace of partner offerings, and high-touch customer service to help publishers unlock new revenue opportunities, strengthen their performance with tailored monetization strategies, and navigate the rapidly evolving digital media and AI landscape.
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