Fullscreen Hires Former MTV Exec As VP of Sales and Brand Strategy
Top-ranked independent YouTube network Fullscreen has hired former MTV executive Justin Danko as their vice president of Sales and Brand Strategy. Company CEO and founder George Strompolos said that he was “thrilled” about Danko’s hiring and added in a statement: “He is tremendously talented and passionate about innovating brand solutions for the future of video. We [...]
The Young Turks’ Steven Oh On YouTube Channel Town Square’s Second Round Google Funding
The Young Turks’ Town Square YouTube channel, one of the 100 channels included in YouTube’s Original Channel initiative, will receive a second round of funding from Google, according to TYT. Town Square has the biting and rousing political commentary that you expect from Cenk Uygur’s main TYT channel but features more panel-driven discussion programming such [...]
Fullscreen Now the #1 Independent YouTube Network According to Comscore [INTERVIEW]
In less than two years, Fullscreen has inched past Maker Studios to become the number one independent YouTube network, according to comScore Video Metrix. The report stated that Fullscreen had 31,079,000 unique viewers in December 2012, overtaking Maker Studios’ 30,013,000 unique viewers. Since its launch in January 2011, Fullscreen boasts more than 100 million subscribers [...]
‘Clerks’ Director Kevin Smith Joins Snoop Dogg, Robert De Niro at Maker Studios
The Maker stables have gotten a little fatter lately with the recent high profile addition of director-turned-star-podcaster, Kevin Smith. Smith, who ignited the slacker hearts of Generation X with his indie-film darling “Clerks,” is now a content creator for the powerhouse online studio responsible for such innovative web sensations as “Epic Rap Battles of History.” [...]
The Young Turks’ Steven Oh Talks Fair Practices & Why YouTube Networks Aren’t Working [INTERVIEW]
It is one of the oldest stories in show business. A young but talented artist starts making waves in their field. Their contribution to the medium is so innovative that the gatekeepers of the entertainment industry can’t help but take notice. The artist’s future is promising, and the golden shores of fame and fortune are [...]
Maker Studios Receives $36 Million From Time Warner, Now Valued At $200 Million
Independent multi-channel network Maker Studios announced today that it has finalized a $36 million round of financing headed by Time Warner Investments. Additional investors include Downey Ventures, the investment company of Robert Downey Jr. (you may know him as Iron Man). Previous financiers Greycroft Partners also joined this round of funding alongside GRP Partners and [...]
Project For Awesome 2012: YouTube Community Unites For Charity
As one the biggest and most public feuds among the YouTube community cools to a simmer, it’s a good time to remember that this industry wasn’t always about cashing in. In its origins, YouTube was a community of young creators who wanted to make funny or poignant videos and share them with the world. It [...]
Machinima Lays off 10% of Staff to Make Room for Sales, Marketing and Product
Earlier yesterday, according to various sources, Machinima laid off about 10% of their staff. NMR reached out to Machinima, and this is what their rep had to say: “[Yesterday] Machinima underwent a reorganization to address its global growth, and this process unfortunately resulted in layoffs. Less than 10% of Machinima’s workforce was affected. Also as [...]
The Fine Bros., Philip DeFranco, More YouTubers Weigh in on RWJ & Maker Studios Feud
If the dispute between Maker Studios and Ray William Johnson taught us anything about the YouTube community, it was that this is still a very young industry. Some networks and creators are still far away from building airtight relationships. The falling out of two of YouTube’s biggest players clearly drove this point home. As this [...]
Big Frame Manifesto Distances Company From ‘Unethical’ YouTube Network Practices
It seems at some point in their development, every new industry goes through what can most politely be called a “labor dispute.” Many of these disputes are violent and bloody, as “the little guy” fights for humane conditions and a serviceable wage against more financially-powerful bullies and strikebreakers. Somewhat less often, these labor disputes involve [...]
