FilmRise has acquired worldwide digital distribution rights to a collection of content from BuzzFeed Studios, including the popular “Hot Ones” series where host Sean Evans interviews celebrities as they eat increasingly spicy hot wings.
The library encompasses over 1,200 hours of content from BuzzFeed Studios. Originally launched on YouTube in 2015, “Hot Ones” became a viral sensation with its unconventional take on talk show interviews with A-list celebrities, such as Margot Robbie and Paul Rudd. Other titles FilmRise acquired distribution rights to include “Buzzfeed Unsolved: True Crime,” “Buzzfeed Unsolved: Supernatural,” and “Worth It.”
Jonitha Keymoore, VP of Global Content Acquisitions at FilmRise, pointed to the library’s existing pop culture following.
“BuzzFeed and Complex carry a library of content that taps into the zeitgeist of today’s culture by taking an innovative perspective to traditional formats, whether that be the unique way ‘Hot Ones’ approaches the classic talk show format or 'BuzzFeed Unsolved' takes on the true crime genre,” Keymoore stated. “These titles already have a strong audience following and now, we are thrilled to bring them to everyone, worldwide.”
For BuzzFeed Studios, Nick Wang, SVP of Business Development and Partnerships, said the deal “marks a milestone for our series and studio.”
“We’re excited to expand the footprint of our series to audience across digital platforms around the globe,” Wang continued.
Some BuzzFeed Studios shows acquired by FilmRise were previously licensed to Hulu in the U.S. and a FilmRise spokesperson confirmed to StreamTV Insider that programs will remain available on Hulu. As for additional distribution, plans currently include programming the BuzzFeed library of content on the FilmRise OTT and owned-and-operated apps, as well as major AVOD platforms globally, in both on-demand and FAST formats, the spokesperson told STV.
Timing and specific platforms, including any dedicated FAST channels will be announced soon. In addition, "Hot Ones" and the entire library of BuzzFeed content "will be prominently featured and promted at upcoming MIPCOM in Cannes."
Based in New York, FilmRise counts a portfolio of ad-supported streaming apps as well as free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channels. It offers over 50,000 licensed and originally produced scripted and unscripted TV episodes across genres, as well as feature films and documentaries.
It distributes content worldwide and also invests in original content, as well as works with creators to help monetize libraries in the larger streaming space.
In terms of bringing creators to streaming, in August, a dozen top YouTubers partnered with FilmRise to repackage their content into formats akin to TV shows to distribute across different FAST, AVOD and SVOD platforms, under a partner program started in 2021.
On the FAST front, FilmRise is the fifth largest producer of FAST channels in the U.S. by distinct channel count based on One Touch Intelligence’s StreamTRAK service – behind top producer Paramount Global (with nearly 100 channels), E.W. Scripps, NBCUniversal, and TelevisaUnivision.
The company’s latest distribution deal was with Samsung TV Plus, which expanded the amount of FilmRise content on the smart TV maker’s FAST platform with the addition of 19 TV shows and over 120 films. FilmRise now counts over 3,100 hours of content on STVP. FilmRise content is also available on Amazon Fire TV, LG Channels, Vizio and Roku.
Article updated with confirmation of programs remaining on Hulu and additional information on plans for distribution.