Equity in AwesomenessTV and Co-Ownership of Complex Round Out Verizon & Hearst's Commitment to Developing Premium Digital Video Content for Mobile Millennials
NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwired - May 03, 2016) - Verizon Hearst Media Partners will introduce its first two new multiplatform digital video channels at tonight's Digital Content NewFronts in New York City: RatedRed.com and Seriously.TV. AOL's presentation takes place at 6 p.m. For more information visit http://www.iab.com/digital-content-newfronts-2016-aol/.
RatedRed.com is a multiplatform digital video channel for millennials from the heartland, offering this audience a brand of their own, with a lens on the world via news updates, documentaries and scripted and nonscripted series across topics like music, food, outdoor life, military affairs, politics and faith.
Seriously.TV is a multiplatform digital video channel offering comedic news updates throughout the day at a time when younger viewers are turning to their phones instead of late-night programming for their take on world events.
RatedRed.com's editorial team is located in Nashville, and Seriously.TV is based in New York. Both channels will be creating premium content for Verizon's go90™ platform and the development team for RatedRed.com and Seriously.TV is based in L.A. The central product team is based in New York. Both channels have amassed top creative and on-air talent, including:
RatedRed.com
Seriously.TV
Premium Development Team (Scripted, Nonscripted Series for go90™)
Central Product Team
Announced in March, RatedRed.com and Seriously.TV are a part of Verizon Hearst Media Partners, a 50/50 joint venture to build new multiplatform digital video channels targeting the mobile millennial audience. It pairs Verizon's leading technology and Hearst's digital video content and production capabilities to develop channels of video programming to be distributed across go90™, AOL and other distribution platforms, as well as through third-party networks and licensors.
"From Complex to AwesomenessTV and RatedRed.com to Seriously.TV, we are quickly working to expand our joint portfolio of robust millennial-focused digital video channels to bring this audience more original and dynamic content they demand," said Neeraj Khemlani, co-president of Hearst Entertainment & Syndication. "The digital video landscape is continuing to evolve, and we are making strategic bets in the strongest ideas, brands and management in this space."
"With Hearst, we envision becoming the brand that influences culture and spurs conversation among an audience that's as influential as it is broad," said Shawn Strickland, Verizon's General Manager of Media Investments and Production. "Our media strategy is focused on the disruption that is occurring in digital media and content distribution, and involves building a portfolio, a network of the emerging digital brands of the future for the millennial and Gen Z audiences."
The Digital Content NewFronts is an annual series of events founded by AOL, DigitasLBi, Google/YouTube, Hulu, Microsoft, and Yahoo in 2012. The 10-day marketplace for advertisers and media buyers will spotlight the latest in original digital video programming, featuring well-known talent and innovative storytelling. For the fourth year in a row, IAB will serve as managing partner of the NewFronts, handling event logistics and marketing and communications.
About Verizon
Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ) (NASDAQ: VZ), headquartered in New York City, generated nearly $132 billion in 2015 revenues. Verizon operates America's most reliable wireless network, with 112.6 million retail connections nationwide. The company also provides communications and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers integrated business solutions to customers worldwide.
About Hearst
Hearst is one of the nation's largest diversified media, information and services companies with more than 360 businesses. Its major interests include ownership in cable television networks such as A&E, HISTORY, Lifetime and ESPN; majority ownership of global ratings agency Fitch Group; Hearst Health, a group of medical information and services businesses; 30 television stations such as WCVB-TV in Boston and KCRA-TV in Sacramento, Calif., which reach a combined 19 percent of U.S. viewers; newspapers such as the Houston Chronicle, San Francisco Chronicle and Albany Times Union, more than 300 magazines around the world including Cosmopolitan, ELLE, Harper's BAZAAR and Car and Driver; digital services businesses such as iCrossing and KUBRA; and investments in emerging digital and video companies such as BuzzFeed, VICE and AwesomenessTV. Follow us on Twitter @HearstCorp and subscribe to Hearstlink.
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Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2016/5/3/11G096436/Images/Seriouslytv-34e8beca9537a5bf82f162731dbe9631.jpg
Media Contacts:
Paul Luthringer
Hearst
212.649.2540
paul@hearst.com
Deidre Hart
Verizon
908.559.3483
deidre.m.hart@verizon.com