Telesystem
Telesystem is a Montreal-based private holding company founded in 1972 that invests in and operates a diversified portfolio of international media, entertainment, technology, and cleantech businesses, including Stingray (music/media), OnMobile (mobile gaming), Zone3 (content production), CVTCorp (cleantech), and NorthStar Earth & Space.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1972
- HeadquartersMontréal, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Telesystem does
Telesystem is a privately held Canadian holding company founded in 1972 and headquartered in Montreal that builds and backs a diversified portfolio of international media, entertainment, technology, and cleantech businesses. The portfolio includes Stingray (music, media and technology reaching 540 million consumers in 160 countries via audio/TV channels, karaoke, SVOD, in-store audio advertising, and automotive OEM integrations), OnMobile (mobile gaming and entertainment with 69+ million monthly users across 69 countries), Zone3 (Québec-based TV and film production with 400+ hours of content annually), CVTCorp (developer of a proprietary mechanical continuously variable transmission for portable power and off-highway equipment, claiming up to 50% fuel/GHG reduction), and NorthStar Earth & Space (space and earth-observation technology). Stingray is publicly listed on the TSX (RAY.A/RAY.B) and OnMobile trades on Indian exchanges, while Telesystem itself is private.
The portfolio companies' core technologies span curated music and video content libraries, FAST and CTV distribution (Kapang, TCL FALCON, Rogers), SaaS-based omnichannel engagement (Buzzmo across WhatsApp, RCS, SMS, Voice, Telegram, LINE), a proprietary Vision AI engine inside the ONMO social-esports platform, and a SaaS gamification layer (Gamize) for brand-led user acquisition. Stingray Advertising operates North America's largest retail audio advertising network with 20,000+ retail locations and 140 million weekly US shoppers; Stingray Karaoke is the world's largest licensed karaoke library and is embedded into BYD, Tesla and VinFast vehicle infotainment systems with Audi upcoming. OnMobile distributes through 125+ telecom operator customers and partners such as Dialog Axiata, Robi, Vodafone Qatar, Vodafone, and bKash.
Revenue mechanics blend subscription/recurring licensing (Stingray music channels, karaoke, SVOD), advertising (Stingray retail audio network), B2B SaaS and managed services (Buzzmo, Gamize, OnMobile Master Aggregator), B2B distribution fees to telecom operators, and automotive OEM integration royalties. Go-to-market is channel-led: telecom operators (mobile VAS), cable/satellite/IPTV distributors, automotive OEMs, retail/advertising networks, and—most recently—a new SME-facing motion signaled by the November 2025 hiring of CRO Jim Delis. Customer concentration spans telecom (Dialog, Robi, Vodafone Qatar, Vodafone), automotive (BYD, Tesla, VinFast, Audi), and retail/advertising (CVS, Rite Aid, Albertsons, Safeway), with 800+ enterprise clients served through Buzzmo deployments. Customer count includes 30 million registered bKash mobile-wallet users enabled for OnMobile content purchases and 1,200+ Stingray employees supporting the consolidated media business. Given the absence of disclosed holding-company revenue and the publicly listed revenue scale implied by Stingray's 1,200+ employees and InStore Audio Network's ~$18.5M CAD 2021 revenue (acquired for ~$59M CAD), the implied consolidated revenue range is meaningful but not precisely determinable from the available data. Employee concentration is dominated by Stingray and OnMobile, while Telesystem's own headcount remains modest at 11-50. Customer concentration spans enterprise anchor logos across three distinct industries (telecom, automotive, retail), moderating single-customer risk. Geographic footprint is globally distributed across Canada, USA, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Qatar and Finland. List any awards or external recognition: Vanguard Sponsor Award from the Alliance of Channel Women (2025), Prix Femmes d'affaires du Québec finalist (2023 for Zone3 president), Content Innovation Awards finalist (2021). Pricing model: a freemium/initial-free trial is publicly disclosed for the ONMO/Dialog cloud-gaming rollout, but no full pricing schedule is available. Note: while portfolio firms Stingray (TSX:RAY.A/RAY.B) and OnMobile (NSE/BSE) are publicly listed, Telesystem the holding company itself is private with no public ticker. Customer reliance is diversified by design across telecom VAS, automotive infotainment, and retail audio-advertising channels. Reference the listed sources throughout the descriptive sections above. Market positioning: rather than operating a single product, Telesystem functions as an investment and operating platform that owns, governs, and cross-pollinates multiple independent media and technology businesses under one corporate umbrella. List of competitors is not supplied in the source data.
Telesystem firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Telesystem
- Legal name
- Telesystem
- Website
- https://telesystem.ca
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1972
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Telesystem is a Montreal-based private holding company founded in 1972 that invests in and operates a diversified portfolio of international media, entertainment, technology, and cleantech businesses, including Stingray (music/media), OnMobile (mobile gaming), Zone3 (content production), CVTCorp (cleantech), and NorthStar Earth & Space.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Telesystem industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Media and Entertainment Holding
- akta.pro primary industry
- Device & App Lifecycle Management (Build, QA, Release, A/B Testing) (MPAHAJAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Device & Client App Ecosystems for Cloud Gaming (TV/OTT apps, mobile clients, thin clients) (MPAFAHAG)
Keywords
Where Telesystem is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Montréal
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Telesystem business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
Revenue model
- Mobile Gaming & Entertainment: OnMobile generates revenue through mobile gaming products including Challenges Arena, ONMO, and Gamize. Revenue model includes subscription, transaction fees, and B2B licensing to telecom operators. Challenges Arena revenue increased 11x year-over-year.
- Music & Media Services: Stingray generates revenue through music TV channels, radio stations, SVOD content, karaoke products, digital signage, and music apps. Revenue comes from subscription licensing to operators, advertising, and B2B services.
- Retail Audio Advertising: Stingray Advertising operates North America's largest retail audio advertising network, delivering digital audio ads to major retail locations. Revenue from advertising placements reaching 140 million US shoppers weekly.
- Value-Added Services Aggregation: OnMobile serves as Master Aggregator for telecom VAS portfolios, managing content partnerships, billing, support and analytics for Dialog Axiata in Sri Lanka.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | ONMO cloud gaming platform offers initial free trial subscription for Dialog users with no data charges. |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels4 records
Telesystem product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Telesystem is a private Canadian holding company that builds and backs innovative international media and technology businesses. Its portfolio companies operate music and media services (Stingray), mobile gaming and telecom value-added services (OnMobile), TV/film production (Zone3), mechanical transmission technology (CVTCorp), and space-based earth observation (NorthStar Earth & Space).
Product overview
Telesystem is an investment and holding company managing a diversified portfolio of technology and media companies. The portfolio includes Stingray (a leading global music, media, and technology company), OnMobile (global mobile gaming and entertainment provider), Zone3 (Quebec-based TV/film production company), CVTCorp (cleantech mechanical transmission developer), and NorthStar Earth & Space (space technology). Stingray's products include Galaxie (50-channel digital music service), The KARAOKE Channel, CONCERT TV, Qello Concerts, Stingray Karaoke, and multiple music channels (Classica, DJAZZ, CMusic, Naturescape, Music). OnMobile offers ONMO (social esports gaming platform), Challenges Arena (quiz/trivia gaming), Gamize (SaaS gamification), and Buzzmo (enterprise communication platform). The companies collectively serve consumers across 160+ countries through streaming, TV, mobile apps, and automotive integrations, while Stingray Advertising operates North America's largest retail audio advertising network.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- Revenue increased 11x year-over-year for Challenges Arena
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Telesystem
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments4 records
Telesystem technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration16 records
AI capability14 records
Feature4 records
Telesystem partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Dialog Axiata PLCcoreOnMobile entered into strategic partnership with Dialog Axiata PLC, Sri Lanka's #1 connectivity provider, as the Master Aggregator for its Value-Added Services (VAS) portfolio. The agreement marks significant expansion of the long-standing relationship between the two companies. OnMobile manages full spectrum of VAS ecosystem from customer lifecycle management to technical integration, billing, support and analytics.
- Vodafone QatarcoreOnMobile partnered with Vodafone Qatar to launch Buzzmo, an intelligent communication platform purpose-built for telecom operators. The platform combines customer data, intelligence, and orchestration into a full-stack engagement platform for over 800 enterprise clients. This strategic rollout marks a new chapter in OnMobile's decade-long partnership with Vodafone Qatar.
- Robi (Bangladesh)coreOnMobile partnered with Robi, Bangladesh's fastest 4.5G network and second-largest operator with 56.4Mn subscribers, to launch Challenges Arena - a casual mobile gaming product. The product offers hyper casual games, fantasy sports, and trivia with skill-based casual gaming allowing users to engage in battles or tournaments with friends with exciting rewards.
- BYDcoreStingray concluded global agreement with BYD, the world's largest alternative energy vehicle manufacturer, for integration of Stingray Karaoke into BYD vehicles. BYD vehicles are present in over 400 cities across 70+ countries on 6 continents. The app is already integrated into Tesla and VinFast models, with upcoming Audi integration.
- TCL FALCONcoreStingray signed distribution agreement with TCL FALCON for FAST channels and AVOD on smart TVs in Australia, Brazil, India, Mexico and the United States. Services include Qello Concerts, Stingray Karaoke, Stingray Classica, Stingray DJAZZ, Stingray CMusic, Stingray Naturescape and Stingray Music channels.
- LégerminorStingray partnered with Léger, Canada's largest wholly-owned polling, marketing research and analytics firm, to measure effectiveness of retail advertising solutions. Léger will conduct surveys to quantify tangible results from Stingray's commercial multimedia network audio advertising solutions in Canada.
- TikTokcoreStingray partnered with TikTok to launch TikTok Radio, making music and artists trending on TikTok available to millions of households in Canada and the USA. Audio and video playlists are available across multiple platforms including television, mobile, and online. A TikTok Radio playlist is also available globally on Air Canada's in-flight entertainment system.
- ChingaricoreONMO social esports gaming platform went live on Chingari, India's leading short-form video app. ONMO leverages Chingari's 100 million+ growing registered user base. OnMobile led an initial investment in Chingari in April 2021 and has now launched ONMO inside Chingari app for users to play.
- Kapang TV (View TV Group)minorStingray signed CTV distribution deal with View TV Group for North America and the United Kingdom for broadcast on Kapang CTV platform. 12 Stingray Music audio channels plus Qello Concerts, Stingray Karaoke and Stingray Naturescape available on Kapang app across multiple devices.
- HivestackcoreStingray partnered with Hivestack to launch Audio Out-of-Home (AOOH) advertising in Canada. Hivestack's monetization technologies power real-time digital audio advertising on Stingray's streaming music network. Integration enables programmatic AOOH inventory availability for the first time in Canada.
- bKash LimitedcoreOnMobile announced strategic partnership with bKash Limited, Bangladesh's largest Mobile Financial Services provider with 30 million registered customers. The partnership enables bKash customers to purchase premium mobile entertainment contents from OnMobile platform, expanding OnMobile's service offerings beyond telecom users.
Scale indicators14 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Telesystem competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Liberty Media: Liberty Media is a diversified media holding company with operating businesses in music, sports, and entertainment - structurally the closest analog to Telesystem's diversified media investment model, including stakes in SiriusXM, Live Nation, and Formula 1.
- Spotify Technology: Spotify is the global leader in music streaming with a curated, multi-genre audio platform and podcast network, comparable to Stingray's curated music channels and B2B audio distribution to cable/IPTV operators.
- Tencent Holdings: Tencent operates a global portfolio spanning mobile gaming (WeChat/QQ ecosystem), music (Tencent Music), and digital media - structurally comparable to Telesystem's OnMobile gaming and Stingray music holdings across global markets.
- Lionsgate Studios: Lionsgate is a diversified media holding company with TV/film production, content distribution, and STARZ streaming - structurally similar to Telesystem's Zone3 production arm and Stingray content distribution holdings.
- Endeavor Group Holdings: Endeavor is a diversified media and entertainment holding spanning talent, sports, events, and content production - comparable to Telesystem's diversified portfolio model across Zone3, Stingray, and content-driven assets.
- Madison Square Garden Entertainment: MSG Entertainment operates live entertainment, media production, and venue-based consumer experiences - comparable in portfolio scope to Telesystem's mix of Zone3 production, Stingray content, and venue-adjacent media businesses.
Direct peers
- iHeartMedia: iHeartMedia operates the largest radio and audio platform in the US with hundreds of radio stations, podcasting, and digital audio advertising - directly comparable to Stingray's radio, music, and retail audio advertising businesses.
- SiriusXM: SiriusXM operates a subscription-based music, audio entertainment, and ad-supported platform distributed through automotive OEM integrations and digital channels - directly comparable to Stingray's in-vehicle karaoke and curated music distribution.
- Zynga (Take-Two Interactive): Zynga is a leading mobile gaming publisher with social, casual, and trivia games distributed through telecom and platform partnerships - directly comparable to OnMobile's Challenges Arena and ONMO mobile gaming products.
Emerging players
- Roblox Corporation: Roblox operates a social gaming and content platform with AI-enhanced user-generated experiences and creator monetization - comparable to ONMO's social esports platform with Vision AI challenge creation.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Telesystem social profiles
Digital presenceTelesystem financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Telesystem leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Telesystem subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
Telesystem funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Telesystem M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments11 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Telesystem
What does Telesystem do?
Telesystem is a private Canadian holding company that builds and backs innovative international media and technology businesses. Its portfolio companies operate music and media services (Stingray), mobile gaming and telecom value-added services (OnMobile), TV/film production (Zone3), mechanical transmission technology (CVTCorp), and space-based earth observation (NorthStar Earth & Space).
Is Telesystem a public or private company?
Telesystem is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Telesystem founded?
Telesystem was founded in 1972. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Telesystem based?
Telesystem is headquartered in Montréal, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Telesystem make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Mobile Gaming & Entertainment is the primary driver. The others are music & Media Services, retail Audio Advertising and value-Added Services Aggregation.
Who are Telesystem's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Liberty Media, Spotify Technology, Tencent Holdings, Lionsgate Studios, Endeavor Group Holdings and Madison Square Garden Entertainment. Direct peers are iHeartMedia, SiriusXM and Zynga (Take-Two Interactive). Roblox Corporation is listed as an emerging player.
Does Telesystem have an API?
No public API is recorded for Telesystem.
What industry is Telesystem in?
Telesystem's product category is Media and Entertainment Holding. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAHAJAE, Device & App Lifecycle Management (Build, QA, Release, A/B Testing), with a secondary code of MPAFAHAG, Device & Client App Ecosystems for Cloud Gaming (TV/OTT apps, mobile clients, thin clients).