After asserting herself as a musician, a filmmaker, and the Mother of Dragons, Taryn Southern is now ready to add “talk show host” to her resume. The energetic online video star is the woman at the forefront of Party Fun Times, which launches its first episode on November 10th at 9 PM EST.
Party Fun Times is produced by Maker Studios, which first announced Southern’s talk show during its presentation at the 2015 Newfronts. As host, Southern will lead her guests through a variety of challenges, live songs, and informal conversations about the Internet and web culture. Drinks will be involved, and the vibe will certainly be a boozy one, but Party Fun Times could also serve as an educational platform through which Southern and Maker Studios can share all the esoteric factoids they find on the Internet. A short summary of the show likens it to “a good subreddit thread.”
If that sounds like your cup of tea, you can watch new episodes every Tuesday on Southern’s YouTube channel. You can also learn a little more from the show’s teaser:
In a world where premium content has stirred up controversy, one company is daring to launch its own subscription-based platform. This fall, join Defy Media as it launches Screen Junkies Plus, a $4.99-per-month service from based around the channel best known as the home of Honest Trailers.
Screen Junkies Plus will extend the existing Screen Junkies brand by giving superfans access to a new slate of original content. Creators like Jeremy Jahns, Chris Stuckmann, andHow It Should Have Ended will contribute new shows for subscribers, and existing Screen Junkies shows like Honest Trailers and Movie Fights will receive their own companions. The crown jewel of the Screen Junkies Plus lineup, however, is a scripted series called Interns of F.I.E.L.D., a Marvel parody that will focus on the hard-working lackeys at an international superhero organization.
“The existing breadth and passion of the ScreenJunkies audience showed us there is a massive opportunity related to providing great content for movie and TV fans,” said Keith Richman, President of Defy Media, in a press release. “We launched ScreenJunkies Plus in order to fuel our ability to satisfy this audience and to further invest in programming that meets their broad spectrum of interests. We believe that the combination of our existing scale, additional programming and multi-platform distribution positions us to become the go to network for this genre.”
Defy Media made sure to stress that the existing programs on the Screen Junkies channel will remain free and available to all viewers. For those who want more, however, a new option will open up when Screen Junkies Plus launches on November 17th.
Marriott Content Studio is expanding on its first short film franchise. The digital studio owned by the international hotel chain has started production on Two Bellmen Two, starring Slumdog Millionaire actress Freida Pinto.
Written by Daniel Malakai Cabrera, Two Bellmen Two is the sequel to Marriott’s first original short film Two Bellmen, which debuted in March 2015 and has over 5.1 million views on YouTube alone to date. The sophomore short in the Two Bellmen franchise tells the story of Sandra (played by Pinto), a businesswoman who arrives at the JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai to give an important presentation. But when the USB drive with her speech and confidential information is lost, Two Bellmen Two re-introduces viewers to bellhops Gage (played by William Spencer) and Christian (Caine Sinclair) who race through the streets of Dubai on horse, jet ski, skateboard, and other such unusual transportation methods to recover the device.
Two Bellmen Two also stars local Dubai comedian and actor Ali Al Sayed and actor Darin Toonder (Flashback, Missed Connection). The short film brings back the stunt and action-based group Substance Over Hype featured in the first Two Bellmen film. Performers from Substance will dress as Gage and Christian’s antagonists, the futuristic “Bio Bots.” A release describes these characters as “robots representing the dehumanization of personalized service,” and Gage and Christian must avoid getting caught by the robots as they seek out Sandra’s USB device in Dubai.
“Two Bellmen was conceived as a global franchise property and is just one way we are using storytelling to connect with next generation travelers, and it’s working,” said David Beebe, VP of Global Creative and Content Marketing for Marriott International, in a release. “Our short films are creating raving brand fans and driving commerce for our hotels, and I’m excited to expand the franchise even further, particularly in a world filled with so many screens and marketing messages. By becoming producers of content, our brands are on a mission to stop interrupting consumers, and instead use storytelling to reach them where they are already.”
“Two Bellman Two is a fantastic platform, not only to showcase JW Marriott Marquis Dubai ‘s elegant design and world-class service, but also the dynamic and diverse city in which it is located,” added Sandra Schulze, Senior Director of Brand Marketing and eCommerce for Marriott International in the Middle East & Africa. “Thanks to our Content Studio and local talent like Ali Al Sayed, we are able to showcase one of the world’s most vibrant destinations through innovative content that will be well received both at home and abroad.”
Two Bellmen Two arrives in early 2016 via YouTube, Marriott.com, and other digital platforms, as well as the hotel chain’s in-room entertainment channels.
At online video and social media conventions, fans stand in massive lines for a few precious moments of chitchat and to take pictures with their favorite YouTube stars. But, for those of us involved in the burgeoning digital entertainment industry, we should really be lining up to get a few moments of chitchat and pictures with these fans.
I work at Condé Nast Entertainment – home to such brands as WIRED, GQ, Bon Appetitand Vogue– and one of the things we do is develop and distribute premium video across all the major digital platforms. It’s obviously extremely important for us to stay connected to our audience, especially with viewership trendsand platformsconstantly evolving. We always endeavor to know, at this exact minute, why are people watching what they watch? And how are they watching it?
So, at Stream Con NYC I went from casually talking with attendees – which is what I usually do at conventions – to actually compiling profiles of them. Below is a condensed version of what some fans said. It’s an enlightening, if brief, look into the psyche of today’s digital media aficionados accompanied, of course, by a selfie.
Christina Oros
Age: 22
What platforms do you use? I watch YouTube and Snapchat because I think they offer different things. But they often play hand in hand with each other.
How? A lot of YouTubers vlog about their daily life, but it’s usually crafted around a certain topic or theme. Whereas Snapchat is really like, “This is my breakfast. This is me in my car.” Which is very interesting and a lot more personal. I thought YouTube was personal with the vlogger format, but Snapchat brings that to another level.
When do you watch? Snapchat all times of day. Whenever I have free time, I’ll stop and look on my phone. YouTube, I usually watch on my laptop in the evening.
How do you figure out what to watch on YouTube? I look at my subscriptions first. Then one thing will lead to another, and the next thing you know, it’s four in the morning.
Jacob Clerico
Age: 18
Where are you watching digital videos? I’m on the internet most hours of a day. I watch the YouTube app or Snapchat or Vine.
So you’re watching on your phone? Yes, when I come home, I go to my room and put in my headphones and zone out and watch all these people’s lives.
Are there certain times of day you watch Vine or Facebook? Throughout the day. A YouTube video is more of a commitment. You’re sitting there and watching it for 10 minutes, then you’re watching the next one and the next one. Whereas Vine, it’s seven seconds now and then. My friends will send me something funny, and I’ll watch it. Facebook, I can scroll during lunch.
Do you watch videos on your phone even when you’re at home? I have a laptop that I’ll watch some stuff on, but my phone is a lot more portable. If I need to go get something while I’m watching, I can just take my phone with me. Which seems weird saying it now, but that small amount of convenience makes a difference.
Isabel Pongratz
Age: 18
What do you love to watch? I religiously watch the Saccone-Joly family. Being able to see them literally every day is really nice. That hooked me.
Why? I knew at a certain time every single day, a new video would be out. And that’s really exciting. Also, this probably sounds silly, but to be able to watch these kids grow—to watch a child take their first steps or say their first word is amazing.
What platforms are you watching? I watch on everything: YouTube, Snapchat, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook—the whole shebang.
How much YouTube do you watch per day? Probably 4 – 5 hours.
Where do you watch? I tend to watch YouTube on my laptop in my room. But if I’m somewhere where I’m waiting for something, I’ll watch Snapchat Stories on my phone.
And the rest of your video watching is sprinkled throughout the day? Yeah, whenever it’s convenient, I’ll pull out my phone. So before class or after class…or during class.
Lauren Broadwell
Age: 18
Where do you watch the most? My laptop, laying in bed.
What times of the day? Literally, all the time. When I’m not in class. At night before I go to bed. In the morning… all the time.
How much traditional TV do you watch? Maybe an hour a week, if that.
How do you decide what to watch? I have my YouTube subscriptions, and throughout the day I put them in a Watch Later playlist. Then I catch up on them when I sit down.
Would you ever pay for a digital video subscription? Yeah, I’m actually doing the free trial of YouTube Red. I just started it today, and I like it so far. But I haven’t really gotten a chance to test it out.
Why is it worth it to you to pay? I want to see more content from creators that I like that has a budget behind it. A good example is Lilly Singh’s [documentary, A Trip to Unicorn Island, which will be released on YouTube Red]. I really want to see that because it has a budget and isn’t just her. I think it will be better than what she can usually make.
James Davis
Age: 28
What’s your favorite channel to watch? My top right now is Game Grumps. They’re a comedy duo that play video games together.
Why is it fun to watch other people play video games? It reminds me of back when I used to sit on the couch with my friends watching them play video games, and they’d watch me. It feels like you’re included in something.
How do you watch? I have an Xbox One, and the moment I turn it on, I go to YouTube to watch everything.
What percentage of your TV time is dedicated to YouTube? YouTube is about 65%, and the rest is Hulu Plus and Netflix.
Do you make any videos yourself? I do a channel called 16 Bits of Awesome. I talk about interesting things that happened in my life, but in a funny way.
How did you decide to start making your own videos? When I was younger, I always kept to myself. I felt that I didn’t have much of an outlet. I started YouTube because I saw other YouTubers expressing themselves, and I thought I’d love to do that myself.
How has being a creator helped you? It definitely makes me feel like I am someone. Before YouTube vs after YouTube, there’s now a lot more confidence when I talk to someone. I’m just generally happier.
Jordan Skiles
Age: 29
What’s your favorite channel to watch? I identify with [beauty vlogger] Jaclyn Hill because I’ve watched her channel grow. Seeing her go from working in a mall to creating a career is something I can relate to. When I graduated from college, I wanted to pursue something in fashion, but didn’t know where to begin, so I started working in a mall as well. So seeing her success was very influential.
How do you watch? I use the YouTube app on Apple TV. Always. I go big. My TV is 46-inches. I don’t know how to watch it on a mobile device or laptop anymore.
What’s your mix of YouTube to traditional TV? Right now, it’s truly like 95% YouTube. We got rid of cable and got Apple TV. We’re even thinking of getting rid of Netflix because we watch so much YouTube now.
Adam Winer is the Director of YouTube Programming Strategy at Condé Nast Entertainment (CNÉ), a division of Condé Nast that develops and distributes premium digital video, television and film worth watching. CNÉ’s network includes 20 Condé Nast brand channels (like Glamour and Vanity Fair) and the industry’s first platform dedicated to premium digital video, The Scene. CNÉ programming is available on all screens and platforms from TheScene.com, mobile and OTT to YouTube and Facebook.
Photos of interviewees by the interviewees themselves. Photo up top of fans freakin’ it watching their favorite YouTube stars by Stream Con NYC.
Hulu has added a notable new creative partner. The streaming video platform, emboldened by the recent successes it has seen with its library of original programming, has inked a deal with Twilight author Stephenie Meyer and Lionsgate, who will team up to develop a series called The Rook.
According to Deadline, which learned of the new series from Lionsgate’s most recent earnings call, The Rook will be based of a book by the same name (whose cover features the seal pictured above), written by Daniel O’Malley. The protagonist of O’Malley’s book is a secret government agent who uses her magical powers to protect do battle with supernatural entities. The series will premiere stateside via Hulu while also seeing release in the UK through an as-of-yet unknown broadcaster.
Meyer’s Twilight novels, which introduced readers to a world of moody vampires, became a cultural phenomenon during the late-aughts, with teen and tween girls serving as the primary audience. A series of film adaptations, also produced by Lionsgate, became a hit franchise, grossing more than $3.3 billion across five movies. Since achieving stardom, Meyer has herself moved into film production through her studio Fickle Fish Films.
The Rook will expand Lionsgate’s relationship with Hulu. The studio also produced RocketJump: The Show, a series that will premiere on Hulu on December 2nd.
Hulu’s programming lineup has thus far focused heavily on comedy shows, though it is also planning dramas like 11/22/63. When The Rook premieres, it will likely be the streaming video platform’s first fantasy series, though no release date has yet been announced for it.
[Editor’s Note: Tubefilter Charts is a weekly rankings column from Tubefilter with data provided by OpenSlate. It’s exactly what it sounds like; a top number ranking of YouTube channels based on statistics collected within a given time frame. Check out all of our Tubefilter Charts with new installments every week right here.]
Scroll down for this week’s Tubefilter Chart.
It’s another installment of the weeklyTubefilter Chartof theTop 50 Most Viewed U.S. YouTube Channelsand a 21-year-old pop star is in the top spot.
Chart Toppers
Justin Bieber continued his YouTube ascendence this week. The international pop star who just became of legal drinking age in the U.S. claimed the top spot on the U.S. chart this week. A steady stream of new music videos helped his channel to a 14% uptick in views and more than 109 million views during the week. In a close-ish second place is WWE. The YouTube home of all things World Wrestling Entertainment took a 4% hit in views to close out the week with more than 98.2 million of them.
Ryan ToysReview held onto its third place position. The up-and-coming family-oriented channel all about little kids playing with and showcasing children’s toys closed out the week with more than 93 million views. FunToyzCollector (aka the channel previously known as DisneyCollectorBR) is close behind in the #4 spot. The anonymous channel featuring a pair of adult hands that also plays with children’s toys amassed almost 92.6 million views during the week.
And rounding out the Top 5 once again is Taylor Swift. The pop star’s YouTube viewership was up 4% to top out at nearly 85.7 million views.
Top Gainers
The honor of one of our Top Gainers in the U.S. this week goes to Ariana Grande.
The 22-year-old American singer released her latest music video in the last eight months last week, and it immediately attracted an eight-figure audience. “Focus” helped Grande’s channel to a 190% week-over-week increase in views, more than 63.6 million views on the week, and the #10 spot on the U.S. chart.
Channel Distribution
The top 50 most viewed U.S. YouTube channels this week amassed a total of 2,316,230,441 views. Here’s the distribution of a few of those channels by multi-channel network:
VEVO: 20 channels in the U.S. Top 50, with Justin Bieber the highest-ranked channel of the network at #1.
Maker Studios: 5 channels in the Top 50, with DisneyCarToys at #12.
BuzzFeed, Fullscreen, MovieClips, OhMyGenius: 2 channels each in the Top 50, with BuzzFeed’s BuzzFeed Video at #6, Fullscreen’s FamilyFunPack at #7, Movieclips’ Movieclips Trailers at #34, and OhMyGenius’ Kids Channel at #30.
OpenSlate is a video content analytics platform that tracks more than 250,000 YouTube video channels and measures their ability to attract, engage and influence an audience. By providing one consistent measure of quality – the SlateScore™ – OpenSlate helps marketers, producers and agencies hone their online video marketing strategy.
Beachfront Media is expanding beyond its mobile video specialty. The mobile video technology and distribution company is launching a new over-the-top service dubbed RISE to help its creators reach new audiences on devices like Apple TVs.
The premium, full-service RISE is described in a release as helping “the most popular online video creators and digital media networks deploy apps directly to all the places millennials consume content.” In addition to Apple TVs, RISE can also place Beachfront Media creators’ programming on Roku devices, Android TVs, and Amazon Fire TVs. RISE provides analytics and various monetization options to creators, such as SVOD subscriptions and video ads, and also gives creators access to an exclusive video upload feature.
“The message is simple: If you’re a premium online video creator or digital media network, RISE is the conduit through which you grow your direct to consumer video business on OTT services like Apple TV, as well as effortlessly deploying and maintaining a multiscreen presence across all mobile devices,” said Frank Sinton, founder and CEO at Beachfront Media, in a release.
Beachfront is working to determine which creators and digital brands can participate in the new RISE technology. So far, RISE video partners include Pranks (3 channels), Collective Digital Studio (5 channels), jugandoconnatalia, JoshPalerLin, JoBlo Movie Network (5 channels), Kip Kay, Vintage Beef, Nicolas Arrieta, Guilherme Gamer, Paint, Dormtainment, and WatchMojo. These creators and brands all get full access to Beachfront’s new Apple TV service and various video distribution opportunities.
“We want the most successful media programmers online using RISE as their technology platform to deploy video content everywhere, with a focus on OTT services like Apple TV,” Sinton said. “We learned a lot these past few years providing creators with self-service tools to effortlessly deploy apps across mobile phones and connected TVs, and RISE represents our decision to invest heavily in being a full-service partner to digital media’s most prominent video brands.”
As of April 2015, the Beachfront Media network currently claims over 1,000 websites and 5 billion yearly video views across all owned properties. One of the mobile video distribution company’s apps, WatchMojo, is currently in Slide to Play’s top 100 Apple TV entertainment apps.
RocketJump will soon make its premiere on Hulu, but that’s not the only new platform where Freddie Wong, Matthew Arnold, and Desmond Dolly’s production studio plans to expand. In addition, it has signed a deal with Youku Tudou, a video site sometimes referred to as China’s answer to YouTube.
By the terms of the deal, Youku Tudou will become the first Chinese platform to distribute RocketJump’s dazzling productions and will become the studio’s official platform within China. The two partners also plan to collaborate on original content, which will be released on Youku Tudou next year.
“We founded RocketJump for two reasons: to provide quality entertainment, and to reach as many different audiences as possible,” said Wong, who serves as RocketJump’s CEO, in a press release. “Youku Tudou gives us the reach into China that we’ve been looking for, and we look forward to sharing even more content with international audiences in the near future.”
While Chinese audiences will meet RocketJump for the first time, those of us across the world are awaiting its next step. RocketJump: The Show, which will profile the studio’s creative process, will premiere on Hulu on December 2nd.
When Paul F. Tompkins announced his decision to step away from Speakeasy, we thought that would be the end for the chatty, laid-back web series. Instead, Defy Media’s MadeMan brand, which distributes the series, decided to retool with a new host. On November 16th, Speakeasy will return, with comedian Russell Peters replacing Tompkins at the helm.
Peters will begin his tenure as the Speakeasy host by turning the tables on Tompkins and interviewing him. Once the proverbial torch has been passed, Peters will move onto other guests, including Michael Shannon, Anthony Jeselnik and Constance Wu. Snippets from Peters’ first episode can be seen in a trailer released on the MadeMan channel (which is also currently hosting videos from its second annual Gentleman Up campaign).
Tompkins hosted Speakeasy for three years, but in July 2015, he revealed that his schedule had gotten too crowded, and as a result, he decided to drop his talk show web series from his list of commitments. When Tompkins’ fans learned Speakeasy would continue without its original host, they reacted with disappointment and outright scorn. Said one commenter, “that’s one hell of a dapper suit to fill.”
MadeMan subscribers and Tompkins aficionados shouldn’t count Peters out just yet. Speakeasy’s informal, almost podcast-like tone made it worth watching, and while Peters cannot match Tompkins’ deep podcast experience, he has appeared on everything from WTF to You Made It Weird to, yes, Speakeasy. We will see how he goes about filling that dapper suit once November 16th rolls around.
Since announcing its arrival in July 2015, Insurrection Media has been on the lookout for creative partners who can make enticing, TV-quality programming for distribution on digital and over-the-top platforms. As part of its search, the studio founded by former FOX exec Kiliaen Van Rensselaer has joined forces with the company behind one of TV’s biggest hits. It has struck a deal with Skybound Entertainment, which is led by Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman and producer David Alpert.
According to a press release, the deal between Skybound and Insurrection will cover “world-class genre series,” which the former company will develop and the latter will distribute. The deal also covers “the expansion of the intellectual property from the original series,” with licensed video games seen as a particular point of interest. A video game based on The Walking Deadbecame a surprise hit in 2012, garnering several Game of the Year honors along the way.
Beyond TV, Skybound is also a publisher of graphic novels, including the Walking Dead franchise that inspired AMC’s hit zombie thriller. Other titles within Skybound’s library include Invincible and Outcast.
“We’re exhilarated to be partnering with Robert Kirkman and David Alpert,” said Van Rensselaer in the press release. “They are visionaries and entrepreneurs who understand science fiction storytelling and multi-platform content development better than anyone else.”
A talent agency that has recently expanded its profile within the digital video world has added four more content creators to its roster. Abrams Agency has signed Ann Reardon of How to Cook That, Jason Pinder of Simple Cooking, and sisters Kelsey and Kendra Murrell of Glamtwinz334 for representation.
Both Reardon and Pinder are notable names within YouTube’s culinary community. Reardon, who surpassed one million subscribers earlier this year and now has more than two million fans, is particularly known for her colorful confections. Pinder’s videos also trend toward sweets, but he tends to mix things up, as with a recent Halloween-themed video instructing viewers how to make blood. His channel recently recently the million-subscriber milestone as well.
The Murrell sisters’ combined YouTube presence is focused around beauty. As a duo, they post makeup tips, hair tutorials, and fashion lookbooks for their 435,000 subscribers.
In a press release, Abrams said it plans to pursue brand campaigns, theatrical opportunities, and literary endeavors for its new clients. Other YouTube stars who are aligned with the talent agency include Anna Akana and Brodie Smith.
[Editor’s Note: Tubefilter Charts is a weekly rankings column from Tubefilter with data provided by OpenSlate. It’s exactly what it sounds like; a top number ranking of YouTube channels based on statistics collected within a given time frame. Check out all of our Tubefilter Charts with new installments every week right here.]
Scroll down for this week’s Tubefilter Chart.
It’s another installment of the weekly Tubefilter Chart of the Top 50 Most Viewed YouTube Channels Worldwide and Adele is saying hey to the internet in a very big way.
Chart Toppers
Adele is in the #1 spot on the worldwide chart this week. The British musical sensation is back from a three-or-so-year hiatus in grand fashion, with her single Hello helping her YouTube channel amass almost 151.3 million views in the last seven days. Next up is Justin Bieber. The American pop star climbed to the #2 spot in the world this week thanks to a steady stream of new music video uploads netting more than 109 million views.
The international destination for Turkish music videos netd müzik maintained its third-place position. The YouTube channel and YouTube network for Turkish-language music received nearly 101.3 million views on the week. WWE was down 4% in views and took home the belt for fourth place. The YouTube home for World Wrestling Entertainment scored more than 98.2 million views throughout the week.
And rounding out the Top 5 is LittleBabyBum. The YouTube home for music videos of your favorite preadolescent hits racked up over 94.8 million views in the week.
Top Gainers
The honor of one of our Top Gainers this week goes to Drake.
The YouTube home of the 29-year-old Canadian Jewish rapper and hip hop star blew up this week thanks to the widespread online video release of Hotline Bling. Tailor-made for the internet, the video instantly attracted tens of millions of views and helped Drake’s channel to it first appearance ever on the charts, a 143% week-over-week increase in views, almost 42.7 million views on the week, and the #42 spot on the worldwide chart.
Distribution
All in all, the top 50 most viewed YouTube channels accounted for 3,149,681,402 views last week. Here’s the distribution of a few of those channels by multi-channel network:
Vevo: 14 channels in the Top 50, with Adele at #1.
Maker Studios: 4 channels in the Top 50, with TheDiamondMinecart at #22.
AIR, BuzzFeed, Fullscreen, Machinima, XMediaDigital: 2 channels each in the Top 50, with AIR’s Miss Katy at #21, BuzzFeed’s BuzzFeed Video at #12, Fullscreen’s FamilyFunPack at #14, Machinima’s VanossGaming at #32, and XMediaDigital’smashamedvedtv at #9.
And here’s the distribution of the this week’s Top 50 YouTube channels by country of origin:
United States: 25 channels in the Top 50.
Great Britain: 6 channels in the Top 50.
Canada: 4 channels in the Top 50.
India: 3 channels in the Top 50.
Russia, Thailand, Ukraine: 2 channels each in the Top 50.
Ireland, Netherlands, Philippines, South Korea, Spain, Turkey: 1 channel each in the Top 50.
OpenSlate is a video content analytics platform that tracks more than 225,000 YouTube video channels and measures their ability to attract, engage and influence an audience. By providing one consistent measure of quality – the SlateScore™ – OpenSlate helps marketers, producers and agencies hone their online video marketing strategy.
Jordan Skiles
