|
Post by Mathieas on Nov 11, 2013 21:53:58 GMT -5
It was announced that Taryn Southern was joining the AwesomenessTV youtube network. For those unfamiliar with AwesomenessTV it is a YouTube network created by Brian Robbins who was on Head of the Class and now produces shows for Nickelodeon, not to be confused with Dan Schneider the other guy from Head of the Class who produces shows for Nickelodeon.
This got me thinking about YouTube networks. A quick google search revealed not too many people are fond of AwesomenessTV. One can go to their website and apply to join the network and there are some very low (in terms of subscriber) channels as part of the network.
Conversely, there has been an on-going fight at Maker Studios, which recently bought Blip, between some of the network partners and between the founders.
I wonder what the appeal of networks really is? What are the benefits and do they outweigh the headaches? Anyway...
|
|
|
Post by Milowent on Nov 11, 2013 22:45:43 GMT -5
I wonder what the appeal of networks really is? What are the benefits and do they outweigh the headaches? Anyway... its more of a manager/agent relatonship than a network, isn't it? someone to get you to do the shit you actually need to do, with connections.
|
|
|
Post by jennipowell on Nov 11, 2013 23:00:28 GMT -5
What is SHOULD be is more of a producer/creative type of relationship in my opinion. That is what I do with Geek & Sundry Vlogs. I take care of the backend stuff so they can focus on creating. Not all networks function that way.
|
|
|
Post by Mathieas on Nov 11, 2013 23:06:57 GMT -5
its more of a manager/agent relatonship than a network, isn't it? someone to get you to do the shit you actually need to do, with connections. My understanding the relationship is more about promotion, join a network the network promotes you by putting you on their channel, collaboration with other network partners, and promotion by other network partners. Also, I think some of the networks, such as Maker provide things like equipment, editing, and such but I don't think that is the case with all of the networks. I've been reading up on AwesomenessTV while watch DWTS and from what I can gather they do have a no terms contract, which doesn't lock a partner into the standard 2 year deal that Maker has. This is a good thing because two years is forever in Internet land.
|
|
|
Post by Mathieas on Nov 11, 2013 23:16:48 GMT -5
What is SHOULD be is more of a producer/creative type of relationship in my opinion. That is what I do with Geek & Sundry Vlogs. I take care of the backend stuff so they can focus on creating. Not all networks function that way. Oh hi jennipowell! Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't Geeks and Sundaes function more like a network where as most of the OVS function more like some combination of promotion, sales, and marketing? From what I can tell, the appeal of most of these studios is that they can help a channel get 'big fast' with the downside being that one gets locked in for a long time and loses a healthy chunk of change. For a new channel it might be worth it, but for someone established not so much.
|
|
|
Post by jennipowell on Nov 11, 2013 23:37:54 GMT -5
The best term I've heard G&S described as is a "Boutique MCN". So yes, we're a network but we only have 18 talent attached to us as opposed to the hundreds of thousands with the big networks. It was important to us that our talent felt that they were all getting individualized attention and resources. Our contract also has a clause that allows them to get out of it if we are not performing to their satisfaction. And we take a much smaller percentage than any other network I know.
We put a lot of thought into this and we're continuing to play with our format to try and continue to help our talent succeed.
Oh lord, that sounded like a sales pitch. Which is amazing that I can even pull off since I am VERY distracted by Taryn Southern right now...
|
|
|
Post by Mathieas on Nov 11, 2013 23:48:35 GMT -5
Oh lord, that sounded like a sales pitch. Which is amazing that I can even pull off since I am VERY distracted by Taryn Southern right now... Is she tickling your feet? Thanks for the insight JenniPowell. G&K sounds like it operates like what I think an MCN (OVS these terms change too much) should be, not the 2,500 wide ranging members that Fullscreen claims to have. From what I can see all MCN's promise are CPM, which if one is a youtube partner one already gets. Well, Fullscreen does give you a bunch of free sound effects. Something like G&S operates more like a cohesive lineup, which I think adds a lot of value. LG15 nostalgia alert: Back in the day I suggested that the C's create a web series portal (see the huge article on umbrella) to aid in discovery and serve as a quality endorsement for good webseries. They never did it, but it sounds like that was what you had in mind with G$S. So I guess the verdict is there isn't much of a compelling argument for joining most MCN (OVS).
|
|
|
Post by Terryfic on Nov 12, 2013 0:12:30 GMT -5
It's a little off topic, but I'd just like to say Jenni that Geek & Sundry is producing some fantastic stuff. It is one of the few things on YouTube these days that I find myself really looking forward to. I think the fact that there is a set schedule definitely helps with that - although the whole 1 episode a fortnight for a lot of shows is brutal. Overall, I'm just delighted that it has filled my, hitherto unknown, desire to watch people play board/card games.
|
|
|
Post by jennipowell on Nov 12, 2013 1:26:27 GMT -5
Why thank you Terry, that means a lot! We've always strived for quality of content over quantity, which I know can sometimes make our schedule frustrating (I wish we could have Spellslingers every week, I love that show so much). We're a very small company currently (go startup go!) so hopefully as we grow and acquire additional resources we can also produce more content. Fingers crossed!
|
|
|
Post by Terryfic on Nov 12, 2013 8:05:50 GMT -5
Spellslingers is great! And that is coming from someone that never really liked Magic. You have to get Jessie Cox back he was phenomenally entertaining.
|
|
|
Post by Milowent on Nov 12, 2013 8:24:29 GMT -5
to translate this all to my language, Geek & Sundry is the best record label any band would want to be on. :-)
|
|
|
Post by jennipowell on Nov 12, 2013 12:32:51 GMT -5
to translate this all to my language, Geek & Sundry is the best record label any band would want to be on. :-) I like to think so! My biggest struggle right now is growing out the numbers on the vlogging channel. No one has ever tried to grow out one channel with 18 vloggers and even though they are all on consistent schedules, its still A LOT of content so I think people are finding it difficult to just pick out the content they want. But for the fact we've only been around a few months, our numbers are pretty darn good if I say so myself. And I love everyone on the channel and love working with them.
|
|
|
Post by jennipowell on Nov 12, 2013 12:34:03 GMT -5
Spellslingers is great! And that is coming from someone that never really liked Magic. You have to get Jessie Cox back he was phenomenally entertaining. Jesse Cox is my spirit animal. We did a Halloween Special with him and not only is he hilarious, the guy can act! We definitely have to bring him back, ESPECIALLY since he just got such an unlucky draw on that episode.
|
|
|
Post by Immortal1 on Nov 12, 2013 12:45:34 GMT -5
The Taryn/Awesomeness deal is an interesting match that I didn't see coming but I can see how it makes sense. IMO there have been a finite number of YT influencers and all the MCNs were either started by or built around these influencers. I'm not a big fan of the MCNs, mostly because I don't think they accomplish the goal of creating new influencers. Either they are going to drop the accounts they can't elevate or the accounts will leave on their own. I'm pretty bearish on YT overall right now.
|
|
|
Post by Milowent on Nov 12, 2013 14:53:29 GMT -5
when did this term 'multi-channel network' come into use? 2012? when lisanova and other people started doing this stuff, i don't remember these acronyms.
|
|