NextTrip Acquires JOURNY TV Channel, Expanding Its FAST Media Footprint

Rhea-AI Summary

NextTrip (NASDAQ:NTRP) has acquired the JOURNY trademark and associated assets from Ovation, , who will maintain involvement through an ownership stake in NextTrip. JOURNY, a premier FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV) channel focused on travel and adventure content, reaches over 17 million active devices monthly.

The acquisition strengthens NextTrip's existing Compass.tv platform and expands its content portfolio in the growing FAST market, which is projected to reach $12 billion in U.S. revenues by 2027. The FAST industry is expected to grow at a 15.4% CAGR from 2023 to 2032, with Statista forecasting 79.8 million FAST viewers.

This strategic move combines JOURNY's travel-focused programming with Compass.tv to create a comprehensive content and commerce ecosystem, offering enhanced opportunities for tourism boards, advertisers, and travel partners to reach engaged audiences.

Positive

• Expansion into growing FAST market with $12B revenue potential by 2027
• Immediate access to 17M+ monthly active devices
• Strategic synergy between JOURNY and Compass.tv platforms
• New revenue streams through expanded advertising opportunities
• Additional partnership opportunities with tourism boards and travel brands

Negative

• Financial terms of acquisition not disclosed in press release
• Potential share dilution due to restricted shares issued in transaction

Insights

Media and Digital Advertising Strategist

NextTrip's acquisition of JOURNY TV represents a strategic expansion of its digital footprint in the rapidly growing FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV) market. This move significantly enhances NextTrip's media ecosystem by combining JOURNY with its existing Compass.tv platform, creating a more robust content delivery system reaching over 17 million active devices monthly.

The acquisition demonstrates NextTrip's dual-revenue approach: enhancing advertising opportunities while simultaneously creating a content-to-commerce pipeline. By acquiring established travel-themed content that inspires viewers, NextTrip can potentially convert entertainment engagement into actual travel bookings – essentially monetizing inspiration.

The FAST channel market presents substantial growth potential, with U.S. revenues projected to reach $12 billion by 2027 and a forecasted 15.4% CAGR through 2032. This acquisition positions NextTrip to capture value in this expanding market while creating synergistic opportunities across its travel booking ecosystem.

Particularly noteworthy is Ovation maintaining an ownership stake in NextTrip rather than making a clean exit, suggesting confidence in the combined entity's future prospects. This structure aligns incentives between content creation and monetization strategies.

While financial terms weren't disclosed in the announcement, this acquisition represents a calculated move to strengthen NextTrip's position at the intersection of media and travel commerce – potentially creating multiple monetization pathways through advertising, sponsorships, and direct travel bookings.

Travel Industry Analyst

NextTrip's acquisition of JOURNY represents a calculated vertical integration play that strengthens its position in the travel discovery and booking ecosystem. By expanding its media holdings, NextTrip is building a more comprehensive top-of-funnel strategy to attract and engage potential travelers before converting them to paying customers.

The strategic rationale appears sound – travel content naturally inspires booking behavior. By controlling both inspiration (content) and fulfillment (booking platform) sides of the customer journey, NextTrip can potentially create seamless pathways from watching aspirational travel programming to booking actual trips.

This acquisition also diversifies NextTrip's revenue streams beyond traditional travel bookings by tapping into the booming advertising market within FAST channels. For context, most travel companies operate on relatively thin margins, so creating multiple monetization channels is a prudent business strategy.

The structure of the deal – with Ovation maintaining an ownership stake – suggests a partnership approach rather than just an asset purchase. This alignment potentially maintains content quality while providing distribution scale, benefiting both parties.

For NextTrip, whose market capitalization stands at approximately $9 million, this represents a meaningful strategic bet on content-driven customer acquisition. This approach mirrors larger industry players who've recognized that owning the inspiration phase of travel planning creates competitive advantages throughout the booking lifecycle. The key success factors will be effective integration of JOURNY into the broader NextTrip ecosystem and converting content viewers into actual travel customers.

Acquisition Accelerates NextTrip Media Growth, Strengthening Audience Reach and Advertising Opportunities

SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO / ACCESS Newswire / April 7, 2025 / NextTrip, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTRP) ("NextTrip," "we," "our," or the "Company"), a leading travel technology company dedicated to transforming how travelers plan, book, and experience trips, today announced it has acquired the JOURNY trademark and associated domain names and other assets related to the business from Ovation, LLC. Ovation will remain involved with the channel via an ownership stake in NextTrip. This strategic acquisition enhances NextTrip's content portfolio, expands its advertising reach, and further strengthens its existing Compass.tv platform, reinforcing the Company's commitment to delivering premium travel discovery content that drives engagement and travel bookings.

JOURNY, a premier established adventure and travel-themed FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV) channel, curates immersive programming centered on exploration and global culture. Available on leading smartphones and FAST channel platforms that reach over 17 million active devices each month, JOURNY captivates a diverse and engaged audience with high-quality travel storytelling.

"We are thrilled to welcome JOURNY to the NextTrip family as we continue to expand our portfolio of high-quality, travel-centric content," said Bill Kerby, CEO of NextTrip. "This addition perfectly complements Compass.tv and enhances our ability to connect with a broader audience through compelling and inspiring travel narratives. We believe that JOURNY's established presence in the FAST space aligns with and accelerates our strategy to drive deeper audience engagement and create valuable opportunities for advertisers and travel package bookings."

Ovation CEO, Charles Segars, commented, "We are proud of JOURNY's evolution into a premiere destination for travel storytelling. As fans of the genre, we're excited to watch the service continue to grow as NextTrip leverages their library and production opportunities. As investors in NextTrip, we're excited to see JOURNY's distribution and reach contribute to the growing success of NextTrip's content and commerce ecosystem."

The addition of JOURNY to NextTrip's portfolio significantly bolsters NextTrip's presence in the booming FAST market, which reaches over 50 million active monthly users, exemplifying the immense potential of ad-supported streaming. Unlike traditional television, FAST channels offer viewers free, on-demand access to premium content in exchange for intermittent ads, fostering larger audiences and robust revenue generation for content providers.

The FAST industry is experiencing unprecedented growth. According to TBI, U.S. FAST channel revenues are projected to hit $12 billion by 2027, with Statista forecasting 79.8 million FAST viewers. Allied Market Research further reports a projected 15.4% CAGR for global FAST channels from 2023 to 2032, reflecting a surge in advertiser interest and investment in the space.

With JOURNY's travel-focused programming and Compass.tv's expanding ecosystem, the Company believes that NextTrip is well positioned to amplify its reach and advertising potential. This strategic synergy offers new opportunities for travel partners, content creators, and brands seeking high-impact digital exposure.

"We're excited about the expanded reach and new partnerships that JOURNY enables," added Kerby. "JOURNY and Compass.tv together create a powerful top-of-funnel discovery vehicle for travel brands, tourism boards, and advertisers looking to connect with engaged, adventure-seeking audiences."

Beyond delivering top-tier content, JOURNY serves as a platform for tourism boards, advertisers, and influencers to showcase destinations and experiences across digital, television, and social channels. With a growing roster of travel filmmakers and content creators, the channel provides a dynamic space for storytelling that inspires global exploration.

This addition of JOURNY marks a milestone in NextTrip's evolution, reinforcing its commitment to innovation, content diversification, and user engagement. By integrating JOURNY with Compass.tv, NextTrip continues to redefine the intersection of media and travel, making global discovery more accessible and inspiring for audiences and travel consumers worldwide.

The full terms of the JOURNY acquisition, including details on cash and restricted shares of NextTrip issued in the transaction, are available in NextTrip's Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC").

About JOURNY

JOURNY is a travel-entertainment app at the intersection of travel, art, and culture! Watch award-winning television series and popular shorts focused on immersive experiences and unique storytelling for FREE! Powered by Ovation and designed for the conscientious traveler, our programming centers on world travel, cultural tourism, and global citizenry. Utilizing a network of talented and passionate travel filmmakers, producers and creators, JOURNY brings together the voices and stories that make us connected and human. JOURNY is also available as a FAST channel destination, with hours of bingeable, curated programming. For more information visit JOURNY.tv

About NextTrip

NextTrip (NASDAQ: NTRP) is a technology-driven platform delivering innovative travel booking and travel media solutions. NextTrip Leisure offers individual and group travelers' vacations to the most popular and sought-after destinations in Mexico, the Caribbean, and around the world. The NextTrip Media platform - Travel Magazine - provides a social media space for viewers to explore, educate, and share their "bucket list" travel experiences with friends. Additionally, NextTrip is launching an end-to-end content ecosystem that utilizes AI-assisted travel planning to capture advertising, build brand awareness, reward loyalty, and drive bookings. For more information and to book a trip, visit www.nexttrip.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (which Sections were adopted as part of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). Statements preceded by, followed by or that otherwise include the words "believe," "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "plan," "project," "prospects," "outlook," and similar words or expressions, or future or conditional verbs such as "will," "should," "would," "may," and "could" are generally forward-looking in nature and not historical facts. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements are risks relating to, among other things, the Company's ability to effectively integrate the JOURNY business with its own; the Company's development efforts related to its Compass.tv platform, JOURNY channel and its other platforms; changes in the FAST industry, including changes in demand, viewership and revenue generating opportunities; changes to acceptance of NextTrip's products and services; changes in travel trends; changes in domestic and foreign business, market, financial, political and legal conditions; unanticipated conditions that could adversely affect the company; the overall level of consumer demand for NextTrip's products/services, and Compass.tv and JOURNY TV channel in particular; general economic conditions and other factors affecting consumer confidence, preferences, and behavior in the travel industry; disruption and volatility in the global currency, capital, and credit markets; the financial strength of NextTrip's customers; NextTrip's ability to raise additional capital to fund its operations; NextTrip's ability to implement its business strategy; changes in governmental regulation; NextTrip's exposure to litigation claims and other loss contingencies; stability of consumer demand for NextTrip's products and services; any breaches of, or interruptions in, NextTrip's information systems; fluctuations in the price, availability and quality of products as well as foreign currency fluctuations; NextTrip's ability to maintain its Nasdaq listing; and changes in tax laws and liabilities, tariffs, legal, regulatory, political and economic risks. NextTrip disclaims any intention to, and undertakes no obligation to, revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, a future event, or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. For additional information regarding risks and uncertainties that could impact NextTrip's forward-looking statements, please see disclosures contained in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 29, 2024 filed with the SEC on September 4, 2024 and our other filings with the SEC which may be viewed at www.sec.gov.

Contacts

Chris Tyson
Executive Vice President
MZ Group - MZ North America
949-491-8235
NTRP@mzgroup.us
www.mzgroup.us

SOURCE: NextTrip

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

FAQ

What is the projected market size for FAST channels that NTRP is targeting?

U.S. FAST channel revenues are projected to reach $12 billion by 2027, with a 15.4% CAGR from 2023 to 2032.

How many active devices does JOURNY TV reach monthly after NTRP's acquisition?

JOURNY reaches over 17 million active devices each month through leading smartphones and FAST channel platforms.

What strategic benefits does the JOURNY acquisition bring to NextTrip (NTRP)?

The acquisition enhances NextTrip's content portfolio, expands advertising reach, strengthens Compass.tv platform, and creates new opportunities for travel partners and content creators.

How will Ovation remain involved with JOURNY after the NTRP acquisition?

Ovation will maintain involvement through an ownership stake in NextTrip following the acquisition.