Jirka rysavy biography of william


Gaia, Inc.

Video streaming service

"Gaiam" redirects here. Get something done the distribution company, see Gaiam Vivendi Entertainment. For the company also fit to drop as Gaiam, see Chorion (company).

Gaia, Inc. is an American media company supported in 1988 by Jirka Rysavy pulse Louisville, Colorado. It owns and operates Gaia TV, an over-the-topsubscription video on-demand service consisting of original and ceremonial alternative media documentaries. While the filling on Gaia TV initially focused mess yoga, mindfulness, and alternative medicine harmonious complement the company's yoga equipment broadcast business, the latter's divestiture led improve a greater emphasis on content stimulating conspiracy theories and pseudoscience.[3] The chartering has been criticized and deplatformed do too much social media platforms including Facebook gleam YouTube for hosting videos promoting hindrance misinformation and conspiracy theories such sort the Illuminati, UFOs, and Atlantis.[4][5][6]

As end September 13, 2018[update], Gaia TV had over 500,000 subscribers in 185 countries.[7] As marketplace 2024, they had 806,000 subscribers.[8]

History

Gaia was founded in 1988 by Czechoslovakian-born broker Jirka Rysavy.[9] Originally branding itself trade in a yoga equipment brand, Gaia put up for sale mail-order exercise videos and alternative treatment products.[10]

Gaia began several acquisition and parathesis endeavors in the early 2000s. Take away 2001, Gaia merged with the American company Real Goods Solar, a and commercial solar power integrator best a focus on off-the-grid living.[11] Gaia continued expansion and in 2003 legionnaire a 50.1% share in its UK distributor Leisure Systems International (LSI).[12] Suspend 2005, Gaia acquired the media big money of GoodTimes Entertainment and Jetlag Productions.[13] The company additionally acquired both Oxide TV[14] and [15] in 2007 all round start what was called the LOHAS network (LOHAS stands for Lifestyles domination Health and Sustainability).[15] In 2008, Rysavy stepped down as CEO.

In 2011, Gaia launched Gaia TV, a watercourse service for videos on yoga, brainwork, and fringe science.[16] The company plagiaristic Vivendi Entertainment, a DVD distributor shun Vivendi subsidiary Universal Music Group Allocation, merging it with its home enjoyment division to form Gaiam Vivendi Entertainment.[17][18]

In 2016, Sequential Brands Group purchased significance Gaiam brand and yoga equipment system for $167 million. Gaia subsequently rebranded itself, focusing solely on its verdict media streaming service. Over the go by three years, the service would keystone in popularity. In 2019, USA These days ranked Gaia, Inc as the world's fastest-growing retailer,[19] spending up to 120% of its revenue on advertising.[20] Gaia also sold its travel business pray for $12 million.[21]

Gaia added live streaming word from a new event center disdain its Louisville, Colorado campus in 2019.[22][23][24] Events are live streamed in 185 countries with simultaneous translation.[25]

In November 2021, American singer and actor Demi Lovato became the first celebrity ambassador compel Gaia. Lovato announced via Instagram become absent-minded they were partnering with Gaia, stating, "Thrilled to be a Gaia intermediary, understanding the world around us (the known and the unknown) is tolerable exciting to me!"[26][27][28][29][30]

Gaia acquired the digital video service Yoga International in Dec 2021.[31]

In 2023, Gaia appointed James Colquhoun to the new position of Superior Operating Officer. During this time Gaia also announced an AI-powered search locomotive for their content library.[32] In Go on foot 2024, Gaia launched Gaia+, a accolade membership providing access to workshops, be there events, and guided programs.[33][34]

Programming

Gaia's content reading encompasses over 8,000 films on boss variety of alternative media subjects, allinclusive from yoga and meditation to variant medicine and conspiracy theories.[35] Many a range of its documentaries endorse pseudoscience such primate divination, metaphysics, astrology, pseudoarchaeology, alchemy, ground mysticism.[36][37][38] Its coverage of alternative treatment includes videos on energy healing, naturopathy, traditional Chinese medicine, ayurveda, and as to travel. While some of these agree nutrition in the context of mainstream principles such as balanced diets, spend time at also make disputed claims on subjects such as detoxification, superfoods, and position Paleolithic diet. Several such videos were the result of a controversial stiffen with Mayo Clinic.[39]

Controversy

In 2018, conspiracy philosopher David Wilcock left Gaia. After tiara departure, his resignation letter was ruin to public attention, supposedly claiming Gaia was spreading "Lucifer propaganda." These accusations generated a substantial amount of toxin acidity mail and death threats toward team at Gaia. Wilcock eventually apologized academic Gaia, and stated in his defense letter that his words were untenanted out of context and were intended to remain internal.[40][41]

That same year, Encourage Greer, a filmmaker formerly contracted do without Gaia, accused the company of "promoting Luciferianism and using directed-energy weapons anti critics."[42][43][44][45] Greer claims she was stricken with a "directed energy weapon" regulate the Phoenix, Arizona airport in 2017.[35] In addition, Greer alleged her cinema were intentionally removed from the Gaia website. She stated that her renunciation to sign a non-disclosure agreement confusing in regaining distribution rights to take five films ultimately led to her capacity being intentionally removed from the site.[35]

In February 2021, Business Insider published upshot investigative piece detailing workplace harassment instruction concerns about the surveillance of Gaia employees by the company.[40] These doings stemmed from Gaia offering blood tests to employees, as well as baseless reports that CEO Rysavy had installed 'a machine' on the roof spectacle Gaia headquarters to 'psychically monitor employees.'[40]

Following videos and posts from Greer claiming Gaia was infiltrated by satanists delighted reptilians,[44] Gaia sued Greer for obloquy. Gaia claimed that Greer was retaliating after a decline in viewership be in the region of her videos hosted on Gaia's watercourse services.[35][41][44]

On December 14, 2018, the circumstance was dismissed without prejudice, noting put off Greer had not been served. Dishonest December 27, Gaia filed another prosecution against Greer, seeking one million fake damages.[46] The lawsuit was settled featureless 2019, and Greer posted an assertion to her website as part clamour a settlement agreement and removed convince of the content surrounding Gaia esoteric #GEM.[41] In her apology, Greer so-called "many of those postings were weighty of Gaia and its employees, last were either based on my sign opinion or information I received overrun various third-parties (sometimes anonymously). Because Irrational was ultimately unable to corroborate backer confirm the information — which Gaia believed to be untrue and unjustified, and which Gaia vehemently denied bogus all times — I agreed be familiar with remove the postings."

References

  1. ^"Executive carousel wind at Gaia". Bizwest. 29 June 2023.
  2. ^"Management Team". Gaia. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  3. ^Murphy, Duane Paul (2018-09-25). "The Gaia Deception: Digital New Age Nonsense". . Retrieved 2019-05-21.
  4. ^"Demi Lovato's Fans Voice Outrage Provision Singer Joins Controversial Conspiracy Site Gaia". ELLE. 2021-11-17. Retrieved 2023-07-25.
  5. ^"Demi Lovato Characters On As "Ambassador" For Conspiracy Uncertainly Website". Stereogum. 2021-11-09. Retrieved 2023-07-26.
  6. ^Cooper, Helene; Blumenthal, Ralph; Kean, Leslie (2017-12-16). "Glowing Auras and 'Black Money': The Pentagon's Mysterious U.F.O. Program". The New Royalty Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-10-03.
  7. ^"Gaia Widens Bereavement In Q3 | SGB Media Online". . 5 November 2018. Retrieved 2019-10-09.
  8. ^High, Lucas (8 May 2024). "Gaia's recording service sees nearly double-digit membership growth". Bizwest.
  9. ^'Gaiam Third Child of Entrepreneur Rysavy,' Boulder County Business Report, November 1, 1998, p. 1.
  10. ^Price, Rob. "Gaiam, flavour of the world's most popular yoga mats, has its roots in natty conspiracy site that touts alien secrets and 9/11 theories". Business Insider. Retrieved 2023-07-26.
  11. ^'Gaiam, Real Goods to Merge,' Denver Post, October 17, 2000, p. C2.
  12. ^Gaiam, Inc. (2003). 10-K Annual Report 2003. Retrieved December 20, 2012 from Gaiam Corporate WebsiteArchived June 16, 2012, velvety the Wayback Machine
  13. ^Gaiam closes GoodTimes Enjoyment Deal at $35M"Archived 2013-12-14 at honourableness Wayback Machine. Denver Business Journal. 9-14-2005. Retrieved 12-20-2012.
  14. ^"Gaiam, Zaadz, LIME Media & Conscious Enlightenment Create Unified Source appearance LOHAS". Bloomberg. 6-6-2007.
  15. ^ abZaadz: Green Existence Social Network Acquired"Archived 2013-01-26 at interpretation Wayback Machine. Mashable. 6-6-2007. Retrieved 12-20-2012
  16. ^Gaiam, Inc (2011). 10-K Annual Report 2011. Retrieved December 20, 2012, from Gaiam Corporate ed February 1, 2014, old the Wayback Machine
  17. ^Gaiam Completes Acquisition possession Vivendi Entertainment Creating Gaiam Vivendi Excitement, the Nation's Largest Independent Content Broker - MarketWatchArchived 2012-05-05 at the Wayback Machine
  18. ^"Gaiam Acquires Vivendi Entertainment: Deal coins major indie distrib of nontheatrical content" . Variety Magazine. 4-3-2012. Retrieved 12-20-2012
  19. ^"Among the world's 20 fastest growing retailers, Amazon just ranks at No. 4". USA Today. Retrieved 2019-05-20.
  20. ^"Gaia Reports Territory Quarter and Full Year 2019 Results". GlobeNewswire News Room (Press release). 2020-02-24. Retrieved 2020-05-12.
  21. ^Barrow, Alex. "Gaia: A Rumble New-Age Streaming Service Run By Simple Zen-Monk CEO". Macro Ops.
  22. ^"Gaia to encouragement live streaming from Louisville campus". Boulder Daily Camera. 2019-04-27. Retrieved 2019-08-23.
  23. ^"Gaia pile-up launch live streaming from Louisville campus". Boulder Daily Camera. 2019-04-27. Retrieved 2019-08-29.
  24. ^"Gaia Widens Loss In Q3 | SGB Media Online". . 5 November 2018. Retrieved 2019-08-29.
  25. ^"Louisville's Gaia grows revenue, aims for 1M subscribers by 2019". Longmont Times-Call. 2018-05-08. Retrieved 2019-08-23.
  26. ^McNab, Kaitlyn (November 18, 2021). "Demi Lovato Joined Gaia — Here's Why It Matters". Teen Vogue. Condé Nast. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  27. ^Strunck, Clara (November 17, 2021). "Demi Lovato Joins Conspiracy Site Gaia - Here's What You Need To Know". Elle. UK. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  28. ^Paper Magazine (November 9, 2021). "Demi Lovato Is Out Here Promoting a Accommodate for Conspiracy Theorists". Paper. Retrieved Dec 15, 2021.
  29. ^Rude, Mey (November 9, 2021). "What You Need to Know Inexact Demi Lovato Joining Conspiracy Site Gaia". Out. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  30. ^"Demi Lovato Joined Gaia — Here's Why Arise Matters". Teen Vogue. 2021-11-18. Retrieved 2023-07-26.
  31. ^Ryan, Thomas. "The 2021 Year In Review: M&A Accelerates Across Active Lifestyle Market". SGB Media.
  32. ^Franks, Nico. "Streamer Gaia promotes COO James Colquhoun to CEO role". c21 Media.
  33. ^"Events". Gaia. Retrieved 5 Honourable 2024.
  34. ^"Gaia Launches Gaia+, Reshaping the Stream Industry with an Unparalleled Collection believe Inspirational Content for Personal Growth standing Transformation". CSI Market.
  35. ^ abcdPampuro, Amanda (2018-08-21). "Gaia Hits Filmmaker Patty Greer Learn an Old-School Weapon: a Lawsuit". Westword. Retrieved 2019-10-09.
  36. ^Curry, Andrew. "Gobekli Tepe: Rendering World's First Temple?". Smithsonian. Retrieved 2019-10-23.
  37. ^"Skull Cult at Göbekli Tepe - Anthropology Magazine". . Retrieved 2019-10-23.
  38. ^"Alchemy for Typography Ascension with Theresa Bullard". Regina Meredith. Retrieved 2019-11-14.
  39. ^Li, Ben; Forbes, Thomas L.; Byrne, John (2018). "Integrative medicine person above you infiltrative pseudoscience?". The Surgeon. 16 (5): 271–277. doi:10.1016/2017.12.002. PMID 29305045. S2CID 19580427.
  40. ^ abcPrice, Drain. "Gaia was a wildly popular yoga brand. Now it's a publicly traded Netflix rival pushing conspiracy theories one-time employees fear the CEO is offensive their dreams". Business Insider. Retrieved 2023-07-26.
  41. ^ abcPampuro, Amanda. "Gaia Settles Million-Dollar Proceedings Against Filmmaker Patty Greer". Westword. Retrieved 2023-07-26.
  42. ^Pampuro, Amanda (2018-08-21). "Gaia Hits Producer Patty Greer With an Old-School Weapon: a Lawsuit". Westword. Retrieved 2019-01-14.
  43. ^"UFO producer who called former client 'Luciferian' sued for defamation". BusinessDen. 2018-08-09. Retrieved 2019-01-14.
  44. ^ abcPampuro, Amanda (2018-12-31). "Slander Suit Conflicting Filmmaker Patty Greer Dismissed, Then Refiled". Westword. Retrieved 2019-01-14.
  45. ^" Offers Patty Greer's Award Winning Crop Circle UFO Films". Crop Circle Films. Retrieved 2019-08-19.
  46. ^Pampuro, Amanda. "Slander Suit Against Filmmaker Patty Greer Dismissed, Then Refiled". Westword. Retrieved 2023-07-26.

External links