Discovery Communications Announces Acquisition of Espresso Education, the Leading Provider of Primary School Digital Education Content in the U.K. Espresso Purchase Represents Further Expansion of the Company’s Discovery Education Products and Services Beyond the U.S.
Discovery Communications announced today it has acquired Espresso Group Limited, the leading provider of primary school digital education content in the U.K. Discovery Education, the company’s education division and a global leader in providing curriculum-based digital content to classrooms, will oversee the business. Terms were not disclosed.
The purchase of Espresso Education represents Discovery Communications’ first international education-focused acquisition and highlights the company’s commitment to providing educators worldwide with quality digital resources, professional development and networking tools to help them accelerate student achievement.
In the 16 years since its founding, and as digital education becomes the standard in classrooms around the world, Espresso Education has become a leader in e-learning, transforming the way students learn through a blend of visual media and interactive resources throughout the U.K. market. Espresso Education has grown to become the U.K. leader in supplemental digital education services and is available in almost 11,500 schools, with brands including Espresso Primary, Clipbank and Channel 4 Learning. The company specializes in taking educational concepts and applying a “real world” context to support understanding through a combination of video and multimedia resources. It serves nearly 50 percent of primary schools in the U.K. with its Espresso Primary services. Espresso Education’s growth has been supported by its major shareholders, including the growth capital investor Beringea, ITN and Channel 4.
Following the acquisition, Espresso Education will continue its mission to transform education by encouraging the true integration of technology into classroom instruction through the use of powerful and compelling digital content.
For nearly 25 years, Discovery Communications has been steadfastly committed to rich, education-focused programming with producers and institutions within the U.K. such as the BBC, the British Film Institute and the Imperial War Museum. Discovery also is a proud steward of U.K. founded and based businesses, including its television business, which consists of 11 channel brands consisting of Discovery Channel, Discovery Science and Discovery History and the factual entertainment television production hothouse, betty.
Discovery Education is the global leader in standards-based digital content for K-12, transforming teaching and learning with award-winning digital textbooks, multimedia content that supports the implementation of Common Core, professional development, assessment tools, and the largest professional learning community of its kind. Available in over half of all U.S. schools, community colleges and in 50 countries around the world, Discovery Education partners with districts, states and like-minded organizations to captivate students, empower teachers, and transform classrooms with customized solutions that accelerate academic achievement. www.discoveryeducation.com.
Espresso Education is the UK market leader in the provision of video-based digital curriculum services to primary and secondary schools, featuring Espresso Primary, Clipbank, and Channel 4 Learning. Its international division licenses and distributes content into more than 40 countries worldwide. Espresso’s mission is to provide classrooms with the highest quality digital educational resources and tools, thereby adding meaning and relevance to the curriculum delivered in schools. Our vision is to raise standards in the classroom with high-quality resources and tools that are fun-to-use and engaging yet firmly grounded in the curriculum and ICT skill development. Espresso aims to become the trusted provider of educational ICT. www.espressocoding.co.uk
SOURCE Discovery Communications