AwesomenessTV

AwesomenessTV is a Los Angeles-based film and television studio owned by ViacomCBS Digital Studios, a division of ViacomCBS.[1][2] The company initially focused on internet video, primarily targeting teenagers and pre-teens. Since its purchase by Viacom, the studio has focused more on long-form television series and films for over-the-top services, and has referred to itself as targeting generation Z.

This article is about the YouTube channel and company. For the television show, see AwesomenessTV (TV series).
Not to be confused with DreamWorksTV.
AwesomenessTV, Inc.
Subsidiary
FoundedJune 12, 2012 (2012-06-12)
FoundersBrian Robbins
Joe Davola
Headquarters
Los Angeles, California
,
United States
OwnerViacomCBS
ParentViacomCBS Digital Studios
Websitewww.awesomenesstv.com
Footnotes / references
[1][2]

Founded by Brian Robbins and Joe Davola, AwesomenessTV began as a YouTube channel and multi-channel network. The company later expanded into talent, branded content, music, publishing, and retail.[3] In 2013, DreamWorks Animation acquired AwesomenessTV, while Hearst Corporation later acquired a 25% minority stake. In 2016, Verizon Communications also acquired another roughly-quarter stake in the company for $159 million (valuing it at $650 million), while AwesomenessTV entered into a multi-year deal to produce content for Verizon's streaming video service go90. In 2018, following the acquisition of DWA by NBCUniversal (which led to animosity due to being owned by Verizon competitor Comcast) and the shutdown of the fledgling go90, Viacom acquired AwesomenessTV for around $50 million—a fraction of its 2016 valuation.

History

AwesomenessTV was founded by Brian Robbins and Joe Davola;[4] it launched in July 2012 as part of the YouTube Original Channel Initiative, producing various web series oriented towards a tween and teenage audience. Robbins had personally observed his two sons as examples of changing media consumption trends among the demographic, which had increasingly favored short-form internet video over television.[5]

Robbins had been historically known for his work on series such as One Tree Hill and Smallville, and of several Nickelodeon series, such as the sketch comedy All That. In 2009, Robbins spearheaded the production of a film based on YouTube comedian Lucas Cruikshank's character Fred. The film was bankrolled by Robbins and Cruikshank as an independent film, and was subsequently sold to Nickelodeon—where it became the highest-rated basic cable film of the year among youth in 2010, and spawned a larger franchise of Nickelodeon content featuring the character.[5]

The channel had an initial slate of 15 series in development, including the talk show IMO, the stunt show The Blow-Up Guys, the teen drama The Runaways, and Awesomeness Sports (a series of videos that would feature professional athletes, and showcase youth athletes).[5] Robbins' partner, Joe Davola, compared the channel to how MTV was seen following its launch, as "it was maverick, it was brand new, it was something the young people were getting involved with."[5]

Brett Bouttier joined as chief operating officer in November 2012.[6] In December 2012, AwesomenessTV additionally launched a multi-channel network targeting similar demographics.[7]

2013–2018: DreamWorks and Verizon

On May 1, 2013, DreamWorks Animation announced its intent to acquire AwesomenessTV for $33 million. It was also announced that AwesomenessTV would develop and operate a YouTube channel focusing on content from DWA's franchises.[8] In October 2013, the company partnered with the teen magazine Seventeen to operate its YouTube channel.[9]

In April 2014, AwesomenessTV acquired the MCN and talent management company Big Frame for $15 million.[10] That month, the company also hired former Claire's CEO James Fielding to lead a new consumer products division.[11] In June 2014, AwesomenessTV launched DreamWorksTV, a YouTube channel that featured shorts and original series relating to DreamWorks franchises (such as Shrek, and the DreamWorks Classics library), as well as supplemental content promoting its upcoming films.[12] The following month, the record label Awesomeness Music was announced, in partnership with Universal Music Group.[13]

In September 2014, AwesomenessTV partnered with the department store chain Kohl's to launch a teen fashion line co-branded with its web series Life's S.o. R.a.d., as its first consumer product line.[14][15] In October 2014, AwesomenessTV launched a publishing label, AwesomenessInk.[16] As part of their ongoing relationship with DWA for original productions, Netflix announced that it had ordered a live-action Richie Rich sitcom from AwesomenessTV.[17] In December 2014, Hearst Corporation (who published Seventeen) acquired a 25% stake in the company for $81.25 million.[18]

In June 2015, the company hired former Lionsgate executive Matt Kaplan as president of Awesomeness Films.[19] In August 2015, AwesomenessTV announced an output deal with Canadian children's media conglomerate DHX Media, in which the companies will co-develop and license new original content, with DHX handling international distribution and merchandising. DHX also began to acquire the studio's programming to air on its owned television network Family Channel.[20][21]

On April 6, 2016, Verizon Communications, who had acquired several series from the studio (such as Guidance) for its ad-supported streaming service go90, acquired a 24.5% stake in AwesomenessTV for $159 million, valuing the company at $650 million. Alongside the equity stake, the deal included a multi-year, $180 million investment for the studio to produce content for Verizon, for which it would hold exclusive U.S. distribution rights. Verizon and AwesomenessTV also planned to launch a branded, subscription-based video service targeting mobile devices.[22][23]

On April 28, 2016, NBCUniversal subsidiary Universal Pictures announced its intent to acquire DreamWorks Animation for $3.8 billion, in a deal completed August 22, 2016.[24][25] On February 22, 2017, Brian Robbins stepped down as AwesomenessTV's CEO.[26] On November 1, 2017, it was announced that Kelly Day would step down as Chief Business Officer to become the new CEO for Viacom Digital Studios.[27]

The planned premium content service with Verizon was later cancelled, while content investments planned for the service were reallocated to go90.[28]

2018–present: ViacomCBS

After a struggled launch and performance below expectations, Verizon shut down go90 in July 2018. Digiday reported that Verizon's content investments with AwesomenessTV had accounted for approximately 40% of the studio's revenue, which led to concerns over how the company would run without this backing.[23] As NBCUniversal's parent company Comcast competed directly with Verizon, the two companies were unwilling to be in a joint venture with each other. The two companies had also become disinterested in the venture, as the exits of Brian Robbins and DWA CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg had lessened the appeal of the venture to Verizon, while Comcast did not think that the company was one of DWA's core assets, or fit alongside its other digital media investments (such as BuzzFeed). The company had planned a downsizing under its new CEO Jordan Levin.[23]

On July 25, 2018, Viacom announced that it was in talks to acquire AwesomenessTV for a fraction of the company's $650 million valuation in 2016.[29][30] Two days later, on July 27, Viacom officially announced the purchase, with a valuation initially reported to be $25 million plus the assumption of debt, but later $50 million.[31] Operations of DreamWorksTV were taken over by NBCUniversal Direct-to-Consumer and Digital Enterprises after the purchase.[32][33] Jordan Levin left his position as CEO following the acquisition.[1][2]

Since the sale, the studio has operated under Viacom Digital Studios, and has focused more on productions for subscription video on-demand platforms such as Hulu and Netflix, such as the film To All the Boys I've Loved Before, and PEN15—which was nominated for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series at the 71st Primetime Emmy Awards.[34] The company has referred to itself as a "studio of Gen-Z".[35]

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References
  1. Spangler, Todd (July 27, 2018). "Viacom Acquires AwesomenessTV; CEO Jordan Levin to Depart". Variety. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  2. Chmielewski, Dawn (July 27, 2018). "Viacom Acquires AwesomenessTV; CEO Jordan Levin To Depart". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  3. Gillette, Felix (August 29, 2014). "Hollywood's Big-Money YouTube Hit Factory". Bloomberg Businessweek.
  4. Brian Robbins and Joe Davola, AwesomenessTV. The Paley Center for Media. May 6, 2014.
  5. Chmielewski, Dawn (June 24, 2012). "OMG, it's a YouTube channel just for millennials". Los Angeles Times.
  6. "Hollywood's New Leaders: PR/Digital/Management". Variety. 2014-10-28. Retrieved 2020-03-02.
  7. Shaw, Lucas (2014-06-18). "Can Big Frame Build a Management Company for Internet Stars?". TheWrap. Retrieved 2019-08-16.
  8. Wallenstein, Andrew (2013-05-01). "DreamWorks Animation Buys YouTube Channel AwesomenessTV for $33 Million". Variety. Retrieved 2019-04-22.
  9. Taintor, David (October 16, 2013). "Hearst, AwesomenessTV to Launch YouTube Effort for Seventeen". Adweek. Retrieved 2019-04-22.
  10. Jarvey, Natalie (2014-04-02). "AwesomenessTV to Buy YouTube MCN Big Frame for $15 Million". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2019-04-22.
  11. Lieberman, David (2014-04-08). "AwesomenessTV To Enter The Licensed Merchandise Business". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 2019-04-22.
  12. Spangler, Todd (2014-06-16). "DreamWorks Animation Launches YouTube Channel with Shrek, Original Series and More". Variety. Retrieved 2019-04-22.
  13. Atkinson, Claire (2014-07-21). "Universal Music looking to cater to the YouTube crowd". New York Post. Retrieved 2019-04-22.
  14. "AwesomenessTV Teams With Kohl's on New Fashion Line". The Wrap. Retrieved 2019-05-27.
  15. "Awesomeness TV and Kohl's Team Up On A New Teen Clothing Line". Mediapost.com. Retrieved 2019-05-27.
  16. Trachtenberg, Jeffrey A. & Winkler, Rolfe (2014-10-12). "From YouTube Stars, Literary Lions". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2019-08-15.
  17. Spangler, Todd (2014-10-29). "Netflix Picks Up 'Richie Rich' Live-Action Comedy from AwesomenessTV". Variety. Retrieved 2019-04-22.
  18. Verrier, Richard (December 11, 2014). "Hearst Corp. buys 25% stake in AwesomenessTV". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times Media Group. Retrieved December 16, 2014.
  19. Hipes, Patrick (June 23, 2015). "AwesomenessTV Taps Former Lionsgate Exec As Film Boss". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
  20. "DHX to Bring AwesomenessTV Shows to Canadian Television". Variety. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
  21. "Family Channel's new teen block F2N launches January 4 with the premiere of Degrassi: Next Class" (Press release). CNW. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  22. Spangler, Todd (April 6, 2016). "Verizon to Acquire 24.5% Stake in AwesomenessTV for $159 Million". Variety. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  23. Patel, Sahil (2 August 2018). "Go90 or bust: How AwesomenessTV's fate was tied to Verizon". Digiday. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  24. James, Meg (April 28, 2016). "Comcast's NBCUniversal buys DreamWorks Animation in $3.8-billion deal". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
  25. McNary, Dave (August 22, 2016). "Comcast Completes $3.8 Billion DreamWorks Animation Purchase". Variety. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  26. Jarvey, Natalie (2017-02-22). "Brian Robbins to Step Down as AwesomenessTV CEO (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2019-04-22.
  27. Spangler, Todd (1 November 2017). "Viacom Taps AwesomenessTV's Kelly Day as President of Newly Created Digital Studios Unit". Variety. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  28. Spangler, Todd (2017-02-14). "Verizon, AwesomenessTV Fold Premium-Content Venture, Samie Kim Falvey Out (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2019-04-21.
  29. Spangler, Todd (July 25, 2018). "Viacom in Talks to Buy AwesomenessTV". Variety. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  30. Hayes, Dade (July 25, 2018). "Viacom In Talks To Acquire AwesomenessTV At Attractive Discount". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  31. Spangler, Todd. "Viacom's AwesomenessTV Deal Worth More Than $50 Million: Sources". Variety. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  32. Spangler, Todd. "Viacom's AwesomenessTV Deal Worth More Than $50 Million: Sources". Variety. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  33. Spangler, Todd (2018-07-27). "Viacom Acquires AwesomenessTV; CEO Jordan Levin to Depart". Retrieved 2019-04-22.
  34. "Drama Series - Emmys: HBO, 'Game of Thrones' Dominate Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2020-03-03.
  35. Frankel, Daniel. "Viacom-Owned Awesomeness Re-emerges as Self-Proclaimed 'Studio of Gen-Z'". Multichannel. Retrieved 2019-04-22.
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