Young YouTube stars may influence the popularity of specific toy brands, but the Toy Industry Association (TIA) is out to prove those same play things have a profound impact on the children reviewing them. The Association has launched a website and video series surrounding its new campaign, The Genius of Play.

The Genius of Play website boasts videos which address important child growth topics, like how playtime develops kids’ brains, problem-solving skills, emotional stability, and more. One video, for example, shows how playing with action figures contributes to a child’s creative storytelling and negotiation skills. On the TIA’s website, people who raise children can also learn more about the benefit of play and check out valuable tips and play ideas.

“Today’s parents and caring adults can be too singularly focused on their children getting good grades, staying disciplined, and mastering a number of structured extracurricular activities, but that can come at a cost,” explained Steve Pasierb, President & CEO of TIA, in a release. “The positive impact of play on the healthy development of kids, from tots to teens, is undeniable. Our goal is to inspire parents to make play an important part of their children’s day – every day!”

Pasierb goes on to explain how most parents don’t realize the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends at least 60 minutes of playtime per day per child. Because of this, the TIA is asking caregivers to take the Play Pledge, which aims to help children around the U.S. reach at least one million hours of play by the end of the year. Once this milestone is reached, TIA will donate $10,000 to the Toy Bank, an organization which brings toys to children in need around the world.

You can check out The Genius of Play videos on the initiative’s website. If you’re a parent, you can set a certain number of playtime hours per week and commit to supporting your children in the endeavor via the Play Pledge page.

Filed under: Articles, News, Web Series by Bree Brouwer
No Comments »

We receive a ton of tips every day from independent creators, unaffiliated with any major motion picture studios, television networks, new media studios, or other well-funded online video entities. The Indie Spotlight is where we’ll write about and shout out to a select few of them and bring you up to speed on the great (and sometimes not-so-great) attention-grabbing series you probably haven’t heard about until now.  Read previous installments here. 

Shows like CSI and NCIS are ripe for parody, as this clip proves pretty much on its own. The challenge, for web comedians who wish to poke fun at those series, is to create a series that goes beyond camera enhancement jokes and David Caruso one-liners. Crime Scene, a new series on the Night Moose YouTube channel achieves that goal by combining a satire of CBS’ crime serials with sly commentary about the actors who perform in those shows.

Episodes of Crime Scene move back-and-forth between parodies of typical crime show scenarios and in-studio scenes where the cast and crew interact with each other. There are plenty of gags about ridiculous TV hacking and overtly sexual dead bodies, but there is also a welcome amount of conflict, as the actors struggle to obtain better roles, promote strong female characters, or make a simple human connection. A strong cast that includes Upright Citizen’s Brigade performer Livia Scott and YouTube content creator Paul Gale makes these interactions click.

In short, Crime Scene executes its “struggling actor” subplot better than many other web series that focus explicitly on that theme. And if you’re not into that, don’t worry: There’s still plenty of ridiculous one-liners to crack you up.

OTHER UNDER-THE-RADAR SERIES TO CHECK OUT

• Standing Room Only. Each episode profiles a different sort of weirdo who stands next to you at a concert.
• Between The Sidewalk And The Street. An aspiring writer deals with the trials of life in the ever-changing big city.
• The Pioneers. A couple decides to sleep with as many people as possible ahead of their wedding.
• Do This Now. A pair of ladies poke fun at YouTube’s ubiquitous vlog format.

Got a series you’d like to see featured in the Indie Spotlight? Be sure to contact us here. For best coverage, please include a full episode in your e-mail.

Filed under: Articles, Featured, Indie Spotlight, News by Sam Gutelle
No Comments »

YouTube will soon bring the pulpy action of Fruit Ninja to viewers. Google’s online video site has teamed with Australian-based Fruit Ninja developer Halfbrick Studios for a web series based on the wildly popular game, which currently boasts over 100 million downloads in the Google Play store.

The Fruit Ninja animated series will contain 13 ten-minute episodes, meant to be watched by children ages 6-10 along with their parents on a dedicated Fruit Ninja channel. The series will be featured on YouTube and on its (controversial) kids’ app, which debuted in February 2015.

Halbrick will also make the Fruit Ninja show available within the titular game and its related verticals, which the developer says reach about 60 million users a month. Halfbrick is also planning to create complementary content for the series, including a YouTube playlist called “Fruit Ninja Nation” that will highlight documentaries, developer diaries, and live-action shorts related to the game.

“Our partnership with Halfbrick builds on the huge amount of Fruit Ninja content already available on YouTube,” said Ben Grubbs, head of kids and learning for YouTube Asia Pacific, in a statement as reported by StreamDaily. “Fruit Ninja promotes a positive sense of humor and accessibility to players in all walks of life, and we are proud to be able to bring more of this to the YouTube community.”

The Fruit Ninja web series will debut on the game’s official YouTube channel in January 2016.

Filed under: Articles, News, Web Series, YouTube by Bree Brouwer
No Comments »

For the past eight months, YouTube has teased its plan to launch a paid subscription service that would run adjacent to the ad-based model that makes up its bread-and-butter. That service is on its way, but according to a new report from The Information, YouTube has encountered a few hitches. The report cites contract-tied TV networks and reticent content creators as a pair of groups who are hesitating to get on board with YouTube’s ad-free plans.

YouTube’s subscription service would charge users a monthly fee in order to receive ad-free access to YouTube. While YouTube hasn’t yet set a price for this offering, it wants to get its network partners and top content creators on board with the idea, presumably so that it can offer a full slate of content to paying subscribers.

This task appears to have emerged as a thorn in YouTube’s side. The TV and digital media networks that control the highest level of premium video content on the Internet are in many cases limited by contracts that restrict certain programs to specific platforms (such as Hulu, Netflix, and Amazon Prime). YouTube, essentially a new player to the subscription video industry, needs to figure out how its ad-free offering would fit into this landscape.

As for the YouTube stars, The Information says they are worried about significantly hurting the ad revenue that makes up a significant portion of their respective incomes. Creators may also be wary of a recent change to YouTube’s terms that could allow the site to set channels to private (and prevent them from showing up in search) if their owners don’t agree to list their videos on the subscription-based service.

YouTube has often struggled to launch content behind paywalls. A collection of pay-to-view channels did not produce strong results, and the site’s Music Key service, which includes a paid tier, is still in beta after encountering yet another delay. YouTube is believed to be planning a 2015 launch for its sitewide paid subscription service. Will it be able to hit that timeframe? With the recent report in mind, it’s easy to have doubts.

Tubefilter has reached out to YouTube for comment on this story.

Filed under: Articles, Featured, News, YouTube by Sam Gutelle
No Comments »

Jordan Maron’s mobile gaming company XREAL can now get funding directly from fans. The YouTube star, better known as CaptainSparklez, has partnered with StartEngine, a Kickstarter-like investing platform, to help raise capital for his mobile gaming brand.

Founded by entrepreneur Ron Miller and Activision co-founder Howard Marks, StartEngine is a crowdfunding platform which facilitates investments between individuals and private companies. Prior to June 19, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) didn’t allow private companies to accept equity crowdfunding. This meant startups and entrepreneurs without connections to hig- net worth investors and firms often struggled to raise capital, no matter how viable and potentially lucrative their business ideas were.

Now that the SEC has implemented a new set of rules called Regulation A+, equity crowdfunding is possible for small businesses and startups. StartEngine’s platform is at the center of this new fundraising opportunity, helping businesses get the money they need to operate. And one of the first companies StartEngine is helping is Maron’s XREAL.

Founded by Maron and Marks, XREAL’s goal is to promote mobile and tablet gaming while growing the viability of eSports in those two categories as well. The game publisher’s first title, Fortress Fury, received over 1.5 million downloads within a month of its launch.

“StartEngine’s alternative investing platform makes it possible for anyone to back the companies they believe in and truly share a stake in their success,” said Maron. “We’re thrilled to be raising funds in a progressive and personal new way that better resonates with my generation.”

As Maron boasts over 8.6 million subscribers on his CaptainSparklez channel, we wouldn’t be surprised if many of his fans use StartEngine to help give XREAL a financial boost.

Filed under: Articles, Channels, News by Bree Brouwer
No Comments »

Digital creators have a little bit more time to submit their work to the Streamy Awards. The deadline for getting your show, channel, series, musical act, Vine videos, Snapchat story, and/or other your other creative online and social video efforts into consideration among some 44 or so categories has been extended to 11:49PM PT on July 3, 2015. Creators who haven’t yet had the chance to send in their digital initiatives to the can visit Streamys.org/creator-submissions to enter.

Fans still have some time to nominate their favorite creators for consideration, too. Just head over to Streamys.org/submissions/fan-nominations to tell us and the world who you think should deserve a nomination at the 2015 Streamy Awards.

The Streamy Awards, an awards show celebrating the online video community, is co-produced by Tubefilter and Dick Clark Productions. The event will take place on September 17, 2015, in Los Angeles. This year, the Streamys will be broadcast live on VH1 and its digital networks starting at 10 PM EST.

You can visit Streamys.org for more information about the upcoming awards show.

Filed under: Articles, News, The Streamy Awards by Bree Brouwer
No Comments »

Online video platforms YouTube and Vimeo have long stood as staunch supporters of the LGBT rights movement, and in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to legalize gay marriage nationwide, both sites have taken a moment to reaffirm their respective commitments to the LGBT community.

The day before the Court’s ruling, Vimeo staffer Kevin Turner authored a blog post that shined all the colors of the rainbow. “To show our support (and because we love to sparkle like the wondrous unicorns we are), we’ve changed our Vimeo logo to fly the LGBT rainbow flag,” he wrote.

“It’s our little way of letting you know that we love you! And that we stand with creators of all stripes, regardless of gender, orientation, or identity. Vimeo is proud, and we hope you are, too.”

Vimeo followed up its blog post by sharing a collection of films that all have LGBT characters among their protagonists. As you would expect from Vimeo, it’s a very artistic selection.

YouTube celebrated the LGBT community in its own way. Each year, the world’s top video sharing site has released videos to champion Pride Month, and in 2015, the Supreme Court’s perfectly-timed decision brought additional attention to YouTube’s tribute. A video marked with the hashtag #ProudToLove shares clips from site-wide LGBT creators, and includes nods to the two most recent YouTube stars to come out to their fans: Ingrid Nilsen and Joey Graceffa.

Both YouTube and Vimeo would have celebrated Pride Month even without a landmark decision from the Supreme Court. For gay couples nationwide to receive the right to marry is just the icing on the cake.

Filed under: Articles, Featured, LGBT, News, Vimeo, YouTube by Sam Gutelle
No Comments »

Jon Stewart is finishing up his 16 years as host of The Daily Show. To celebrate and honor Stewart’s legacy, Comedy Central is live streaming all episodes of The Daily Show in a monthlong broadcast starting on June 26, 2015.

The “Your Month of Zen” live stream will begin with Stewart’s first-ever episode of The Daily Show from January 11, 1999. Comedy Central will keep releasing the series’ episodes in order (almost 2,000 of them), up until Stewart’s last appearance on the political satire news show on August 6, 2015 at 7:17 PM EST. Comedy Central Radio will also join the live stream with an auditory “Jon Voyage” weekend event from August 1-3 on channel 95 of SiriusXM.

Stewart isn’t the only show host whose political satire reign has recently come to an end. Stephen Colbert finished up The Colbert Report’s almost ten-year run in December 2014, raffling away some of his show’s set items as a final hurrah and fundraising project. Colbert was involved in Stewart’s Daily Show early in his career; the two hosts also appeared together in an Omaze charity campaign for Star Wars: Force for Change.

You can catch Comedy Central’s The Daily Show stream celebration on the show’s official website starting at 12 PM EST on June 26. You can also watch the live stream via the Comedy Central app.

Filed under: Articles, Comedy Central, News by Bree Brouwer
No Comments »

Amazon’s year-old set-top box is building up its library by connecting with the online video community. YouTube star, beauty vlogger, and entrepreneur Michelle Phan will bring her Icon Network to Amazon Fire TV, thanks to a new app built by Beachfront Media.

The Icon Network, which Phan launched alongside her partner network Endemol Beyond in March 2015, showcases videos from within YouTube’s lifestyle community. In addition to Phan’s own channel, it also spotlights several other top YouTube stars, including Ann Le of AnneorShine and Cassey Ho of Blogilates. Beyond Amazon, it is available on several other digital TV devices, including Roku.

Phan is the most prominent YouTube star to arrive on Amazon Fire TV, though as Recode notes, Beachfront has brought several other YouTube channels to Amazon, including Dormtainment and Watch Mojo.

Fire TV first debuted in April 2014 as Amazon’s contribution to the growing over-the-top video industry. Later in 2014, Amazon slimmed down its initial model with the Fire TV stick, an answer to Google’s Chromecast. These devices have sold well, and by adding in content from top YouTube stars, Amazon can attract an increased number of passionate, digitally-native fans to its over-the-top services.

Filed under: Articles, Channels, Devices, Featured, News by Sam Gutelle
No Comments »

Welcome to YouTube Millionaires, where we profile channels that have recently crossed the one million subscriber mark. There are channels crossing this threshold every week, and each has a story to tell about YouTube success. Read previous installments of YouTube Millionaires here.

In a YouTube landscape filled with fashion and beauty vloggers, Evelina Barry does her best to stand out. On her mononymous YouTube channel, the 26-year-old content creator shares everything from DIY projects to new looks to explorations of her Russian heritage with her subscribers, who now number more than one million. Evelina is also expanding beyond her home base; she hosts a web series with Refinery29 called Daycation. Here are her thoughts on her web success:

Tubefilter: How does it feel to have 1 million subscribers? What do you want to say to your fans?

Evelina Barry: It feels pretty amazing and surreal. I’ve never had a million of anything besides fruit flies in my downtown loft when I forgot peaches on the counter before leaving to New York.

TF: Why did you decide to start a YouTube channel?

EB: Back when it used to say “Broadcast Yourself” on YouTube it kind of got me thinking what a powerful tool this Internet thing is. I could upload a video and people I’ve never met could click and instantly know something about me. Out of curiosity to see if anyone would watch, I started uploading silly videos about my day or how I braid my hair, and here we are today.

TF: Lots of people love talking about fashion on YouTube. How do you set yourself apart?

EB: I try to take a more fun approach. For the longest time fashion has been this exclusive club that only the cool rich kids could be a part of. My main message is to make fashion inclusive and accessible.

TF: You said on your YouTube channel about page you would love to be a fashion editor and stylist someday. If you could be a style editor for any magazine or brand, what would it be and why?

EB: Vogue, they’re kind of the boss.

TF: And where’d that love of tomato juice come from? What’s your favorite recipe/drink to make with it?

EB: I’ve been drinking it for as long as I can remember myself. In my head it’s like the tastiest thing on the planet, I don’t know why.

TF: Where do you get your fashion inspiration from? We noticed you did a video (which has over a million views) about Russian vs. American fashion in particular.

EB: My ideas are sporadic and random. I’ll usually just sit down and come up with a bunch of topics I will eventually film. Some days I just get ready and hope to come up with something by the time I’m done putting on mascara.

TF: If you could collaborate with any one fashion star or stylist, who would it be and why?

EB: I would do a beanboozled challenge with Anna Wintour, it would probably break the internet.

TF: What is one non-fashion topic you’d like to address in a video but haven’t gotten around to yet?

EB: Probably my near eating disorder I had in my teen years. It’s a bit of a sensitive subject, but I’ll get to it.

TF: What’s next for your channel? Any fun plans?

EB: I want to take my production quality to the next level and work on that consistency. I also enjoyed opening up to my audience more this year, I’ll keep doing that.

On Deck (channels that will soon reach one million subscribers): JackandJackVideos, Henrique e Juliano, Moo Snuckel

Filed under: Articles, Channels, Featured, Millionaires, News by Sam Gutelle
No Comments »

Tumblr is featuring GIFs through a site dedicated to the animated pictures. The Yahoo-owned micro-blogging platform has launched Tumblr TV, where site users can more easily discover and search for trending GIFs, as well as create their own channels.

Tumblr TV introduces site visitors to a stream of full-screen GIFs on the home page, complete with hashtags and video controls along the bottom of the layout. Users can use the search function at the top of the page to look for GIFs; results are displayed in grid, list, and TV views (the latter of which is the full-screen design format displayed on the Tumblr TV home page).

An interesting aspect of Tumblr’s new GIF-focused initiative is how users are able to create their own YouTube-like “channels” on the platform (putting even more fuel onto the rumors that Tumblr is Yahoo’s answer to YouTube). Tumblr fans who want to post GIF after GIF can add their username to the end of the full Tumblr TV URL to create their channel. The format looks like tumblr.com/tv/your-username.

GIFs are not a new invention on the internet, but it seems they’ve been getting far more dedicated attention in the last few months from various social media sites. In December 2014, YouTube started testing out a GIF creation tool on select creators’ channels. Facebook now auto-plays GIFS on users’ feeds; likewise, Twitter users will see GIFs start to play as they run across them on their feeds.

You can check out Tumblr’s new GIF-centric site and get your own channel set up at tumblr.com/tv.

Filed under: Articles, News, Tumblr by Bree Brouwer
No Comments »

TBS is taking a comedic cue from Funny or Die. The traditional TV network has picked up the competition-reality series Funny or Die Presents America’s Next Weatherman from the digital media company and Mark Burnett’s United Artists Media Group.

Hosted by Matt Oberg (The Comedians, The Mindy Project), the eight episodes of America’s Next Weatherman will pit 12 meteorologists against each other in a battle to win $100,000 and the opportunity to deliver a forecast on CNN’s New Day morning segment. While the series is definitely competitive, it will also change up the reality series genre by adding a very Funny-or-Die-style touch of humor.

“This will be the first time I’ve poked a little fun – actually a lot of fun – at what I am best known for,” reality TV producer Burnett told Variety. “It’s a real wink to our audience as we look for the next great meteorologist. The funniest part is that it turns out that these are actually terrific weathercasters.”

TBS and TNT’s Senior Vice President of Unscripted Development David Eilenberg told Variety the Funny or Die show takes “everything we know — or think we know — about weathercasters and then uses it to put 12 competitors through the wringer for a chance at the big time. The results are really something. This series is a fresh and extremely funny addition to TBS’ latenight lineup. We’re especially excited that it extends our relationships with both Funny or Die and Mark Burnett.”

Funny or Die’s Seth Morris helped develop the idea for America’s Next Weatherman and will serve as producer. Funny or Die’s Mike Farah and Joe Farrell will executive produce the TBS series along with Burnett and Dean Houser.

This isn’t the first Funny or Die-created series to get picked up by a television network. In May 2015, HBO announced it would produce a series based on Funny or Die’s The Gorburger Show. The TV show will, like the web series, feature a blue alien named Gorburger, who has taken over the set of a Japanese talk show and interviews celebrities as if he was a regular host.

America’s Next Weatherman is set for release on August 8, 2015.

Filed under: Articles, Funny Or Die, News, TBS by Bree Brouwer
No Comments »