Believe Entertainment Group will soon offer brands and distributors a lot more custom content. The digital entertainment company is launching a yet-unnamed digital production studio, helmed by new Executive Vice President and Head of Development Brian Hunt.
Believe’s new studio division will focus on creating digital-first, original content for over-the-top and digital distribution partners, as well as branded entertainment for partner brands. A release notes how this focus will help Believe address distributor and brand needs directly, instead of following the digital company’s previous TV-like model of first securing talent and distribution before enticing brands to participate.
So far, Believe’s studio has already partnered with Maker Studios, Mashable, The Hollywood Reporter, Time Inc., Billboard, The New York Post, Marriott International, and Haven Home Media. The digital studio will sell sell original content directly to any of these partners looking to pick up new programming for distribution, or work on developing custom, branded content for select partners.
Hunt will lead Believe’s studio division by overseeing programming initiatives for partner distributors and brands. He will also work with Believe’s co-founders Dan Goodman and William H. Masterson III to create a marketing strategy to reach distributors and brands. Hunt comes to Believe from Yahoo, where he previously served as head of creative development for the media company’s Original Programming division.
“Believe’s business model has always been all-encompassing, including financing, developing, creating, selling, distributing and producing premium content,” said Hunt. “I’m excited to help expand the business to leverage the company’s expertise and capabilities in these areas toward direct partnerships with digital distributors and brands alike.”
“Brian has an incredible track record of delivering a great creative product and has tremendous sensibilities when it comes to knowing what content is going to resonate with specific audiences,” added Goodman and Masterson. “And because he comes most recently from the media delivery side of the business, he also has a keen understanding of how distributors can leverage our content and build successful strategies.”
Believe Entertainment has a solid history of creating programming for various digital outlets. The company’s The LeBrons series, starring LeBron James, is an animated series originally distributed via the Xbox network. And the company’s Money Where Your Mouth Is game show, hosted by Jay Mohr, spanned ten episodes that ran exclusively on Hulu.
In September 2014, Believe received an investment from British broadcaster and television company ITV. Through this partnership, Believe’s new digital studio will be able to secure international distribution and sales opportunities for its content as well.
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