Time Warner, the media giant that owns HBO, Turner, and Warner Bros., will create 10 shows annually for Snapchat as part of a two-year deal reportedly worth $100 million.
The exclusive shows will include scripted dramas and comedies, according to The Hollywood Reporter, and could even feature storied Time Warner franchises like Wonder Woman, Superman, or Batman. The media conglomerate also owns CNN, TBS, TNT, and The CW. In addition to original programming, the deal will also comprise advertising, as HBO, Turner, and Warner Bros. have agreed to promote future programming on Snapchat over the next two years.
“This is an exciting and natural move as we bring together some of our leading video properties and brands with Snapchat’s dynamic platform,” Time Warner’s EVP of corporate marketing and communications, Gary Ginsberg, said in a statement. “Partnering with Snap will help drive this compelling new format, exposing its user base to innovative and engaging video from brands and characters they trust and enjoy.”
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“We’re thrilled that innovators across [Time Warner’s] expansive network will begin producing shows for Snapchat,” added Snap’s content chief, Nick Bell. “This partnership is another exciting step as we continue to branch out into new genres, including scripted dramas, comedies, daily news shows, documentaries and beyond.”
Snapchat has already signed original content deals with NBC, ABC, and CBS — including original series based on existing hits like The Bachelor and The Voice. The vertically-formatted series are between three and five minutes long per episode, according to the Reporter, and Snap intends to bolster its output from one to three original shows every day by year’s end.
