Multichannel network and media management firm BroadbandTV announced it is partnering with FremantleMedia's digital content studio, TinyRiot!, to produce original content as part of a multiyear deal. The two companies will co-produce five pilot shows with an eye toward developing ongoing series.
It's the second collaboration with FremantleMedia North America, and a "significant step forward" for BroadbandTV in partnering with a major premium content creator, a spokesperson for the company told FierceOnlineVideo. Fremantle Media North America has a huge stake in the reality TV genre, distributing shows like America's Got Talent, The Price Is Right, Deadliest Catch and Ice Road Truckers, to name a few, on broadcast and cable networks including Fox, NBC, CBS, History and A+E.
In April, BroadbandTV partnered with FremantleMedia to track and manage fan-uploaded content across YouTube related to Fremantle shows like American Idol. (A cornerstone of BroadbandTV's business revolves around locating fan-uploaded content and managing it--often through placing ads on the content whose revenue goes back to the copyright owners, using its VISO NOVI solution.) The pilot production with TinyRiot! marks an expansion of the relationship.
Vancouver-based BroadbandTV runs some of YouTube's largest MCNs, particularly VISO and gamer-oriented TGN, as well as hip-hop culture-focused Opposition and electronic music channel WIMSIC. The company ranked seventh in comScore's August Video Metrix report for top YouTube properties, with over 20 million unique views.
"FremantleMedia is YouTube's biggest independent TV production partner and this partnership will combine our joint expertise, resources and reach to create, market and distribute compelling original content for the millennial audience with a focus on genres such as entertainment and gaming," said BroadbandTV founder and CEO Shahrzad Rafati.
Names and details of the five pilot shows were not announced, but BroadbandTV said in a release that they are under development. While YouTube is a key distribution point for the shows, a spokesperson told FierceOnlineVideo that "both businesses will use their own platforms (websites, channels) for further distribution as appropriate."
For more:
- see the release
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