Piers Morgan is securing tens of millions in new investment to transform his YouTube channel, Piers Morgan Uncensored, into a major global media business. Sky News has learned the venture is close to finalising a funding round worth roughly $30 million (£22.5 million), which will value the brand at approximately $130 million (£97 million) before the investment.
Heavyweight Investors Back Ambitious Expansion
The list of new backers is understood to include prominent figures from the finance and media worlds. The Raine Group, a New York-based merchant bank, and Theo Kyriakou, the Greek media mogul behind Antenna Group, are among those investing. Kyriakou's group already owns a stake in The News Movement, a London-based digital venture.
Insiders also indicate that Michael Kassan, a seasoned marketing executive, is advising the business on advertising and may invest personally. Furthermore, Joe Ravitch, the influential co-founder of Raine who has advised on high-profile football club sales, is set to join the Uncensored board as part of the deal. A number of international family offices are also in discussions to take stakes.
Building a Billion-Dollar Media Brand
The capital injection follows Morgan's departure from Rupert Murdoch's News UK empire in January 2025, a deal which granted him full ownership and control of the Uncensored YouTube channel. Allies suggest some details of the fundraising could be confirmed publicly within days.
While his exact personal stake remains unclear, the new valuation means Morgan's economic interest is, on paper, now worth tens of millions of pounds. The broadcaster's ambition, however, stretches far further. "The ambition is to grow this into a billion dollar company within a few years," a source close to the investor discussions told Sky News. "With the scale of audiences now being driven to digital channels and the commercial opportunities there, that is definitely achievable."
From YouTube Channel to Diverse Media Group
Morgan, the former editor of the Daily Mirror and a veteran of CNN, ITV, and Murdoch's Fox and News Corp, is now drafting plans to evolve Uncensored into a broader digital media group. This strategy is expected to involve launching several dedicated 'vertical' channels under the Uncensored umbrella, focusing on topics like sport, history, and technology.
To lead this growth, Morgan is reportedly in talks with prominent figures to head these new strands and plans to recruit a chief executive for the overall business. His confidence is fueled by the massive global reach of recent interviews, such as those with Cristiano Ronaldo and Novak Djokovic, which garnered hundreds of millions of views online. His access to figures like Donald Trump is also seen as a strategic asset.
The Piers Morgan Uncensored YouTube channel currently boasts 4.3 million subscribers, with about half based in the United States. A significant portion of the remaining audience comes from the Middle East, South Africa, and Asia, informing Morgan's focus on international stories.
Riding a Wave of Media Disruption
Morgan's move capitalises on a belief that traditional 'legacy' media networks are vulnerable to disruption by digital channels built around prominent individual personalities. His venture stands in stark contrast to some established players; for instance, Reach plc, the publisher of the Daily Mirror and Daily Express, now has a total market valuation of just £176 million.
The deal with Murdoch's News UK, struck in January 2025, includes a four-year revenue-sharing agreement on the Uncensored channel's advertising income, lasting until 2029. Morgan has also partnered with Red Seat Ventures, a US agency that works with media figures like Megyn Kelly and Tucker Carlson to maximise commercial opportunities.
Commenting on the new funding, Piers Morgan said: "I am very excited that some of the most experienced and successful players in the global media industry, like Joe, Michael and Theo, share my ambitious vision for Uncensored. This is the future of modern media." The fundraising arrives amid significant upheaval in the global media sector, including major acquisition talks involving Warner Bros, ITV, and the Daily Telegraph.
