1 00:00:08,800 --> 00:00:13,159 Speaker 1: Welcome to Strictly Business Varieties, weekly podcast featuring conversations with 2 00:00:13,200 --> 00:00:16,720 Speaker 1: industry leaders about the business of media and entertainment. I'm 3 00:00:16,760 --> 00:00:20,600 Speaker 1: Cynthia Littleton, business editor for Variety Today. My guests are 4 00:00:20,640 --> 00:00:24,240 Speaker 1: Aerial Horn and Ben Cuson, co founders and co CEOs 5 00:00:24,320 --> 00:00:27,600 Speaker 1: of ven v e n N is an acronym that 6 00:00:27,680 --> 00:00:31,600 Speaker 1: stands for video Game and Entertainment News Network. Then would 7 00:00:31,600 --> 00:00:34,000 Speaker 1: seem to be swimming against the tide of media today. 8 00:00:34,159 --> 00:00:37,120 Speaker 1: As a twenty four seven live streaming channel that is 9 00:00:37,159 --> 00:00:40,880 Speaker 1: advertising supported. Horn and Cuson see a big white space 10 00:00:40,960 --> 00:00:44,199 Speaker 1: for TV content that targets millennials and Gen Z, the 11 00:00:44,240 --> 00:00:47,599 Speaker 1: demographics that have never known a world without gaming. They 12 00:00:47,720 --> 00:00:50,599 Speaker 1: also see big opportunity for a streaming network that can 13 00:00:50,600 --> 00:00:54,200 Speaker 1: syndicate content on a number of platforms such as Twitch 14 00:00:54,280 --> 00:00:57,520 Speaker 1: and YouTube. The two have big plans for creating up 15 00:00:57,520 --> 00:01:00,760 Speaker 1: to fifty hours a week of original content, all paid 16 00:01:00,800 --> 00:01:03,720 Speaker 1: for by sponsor dollars. All of those things sound like 17 00:01:03,840 --> 00:01:07,240 Speaker 1: kryptonite for the on demand generation, but Horn and Cuson 18 00:01:07,280 --> 00:01:13,520 Speaker 1: see things differently, as they explain here. Ariel Horn and 19 00:01:13,600 --> 00:01:17,800 Speaker 1: Ben Cusin, co founders and co CEOs of ben a 20 00:01:17,880 --> 00:01:22,280 Speaker 1: new video game, entertainment and lifestyle network coming soon to 21 00:01:22,400 --> 00:01:24,920 Speaker 1: a platform near you. Thank you so much for joining 22 00:01:25,000 --> 00:01:27,520 Speaker 1: us today. Thank you, thanks so much for having us 23 00:01:27,560 --> 00:01:31,920 Speaker 1: excited here. So I'm going to start up straight up. 24 00:01:32,400 --> 00:01:35,320 Speaker 1: I'm not a gamer. I can I can probably measure 25 00:01:35,360 --> 00:01:37,640 Speaker 1: the amount of time in my life that I've spent 26 00:01:37,640 --> 00:01:42,240 Speaker 1: playing video games if telephone Solitaire doesn't count, probably measured 27 00:01:42,280 --> 00:01:47,360 Speaker 1: in hours, not days or weeks. Um. So tell me 28 00:01:47,480 --> 00:01:51,000 Speaker 1: for a lay person, tell me give me the elevator 29 00:01:51,080 --> 00:01:56,520 Speaker 1: pitch for then the video Game Entertainment News Network. It 30 00:01:56,720 --> 00:02:00,120 Speaker 1: is a surprise. It is a surprise to me to 31 00:02:00,240 --> 00:02:03,600 Speaker 1: see that something that content like this would be launching 32 00:02:03,680 --> 00:02:07,200 Speaker 1: in a live, linear fashion. That seems a little counterintuitive. 33 00:02:07,520 --> 00:02:10,440 Speaker 1: Tell tell me about your venture. Sure, and by the 34 00:02:10,480 --> 00:02:13,440 Speaker 1: way of telephone Solitaire accounts, my parents are the biggest 35 00:02:13,480 --> 00:02:17,519 Speaker 1: gamers on Earth show. Give you the heads up there. 36 00:02:17,600 --> 00:02:21,360 Speaker 1: So yeah, Ariel and I are are both co founders 37 00:02:21,360 --> 00:02:23,440 Speaker 1: co CEO. We we've both been in this business a 38 00:02:23,440 --> 00:02:26,320 Speaker 1: long time and and kind of concurrently saw the same 39 00:02:26,360 --> 00:02:29,960 Speaker 1: opportunity both across linear TV, V O D and and 40 00:02:30,040 --> 00:02:33,200 Speaker 1: more about the demographics at large, So to to kind 41 00:02:33,200 --> 00:02:35,480 Speaker 1: of take this from a big fifty thousand foot view 42 00:02:35,919 --> 00:02:39,280 Speaker 1: down to a little bit of the micro Gaming is huge, 43 00:02:39,360 --> 00:02:42,440 Speaker 1: it's been. It's bigger than arguably all sports and entertainment combined. 44 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:46,200 Speaker 1: A hundred fifty billion dollars this year, trending toward a 45 00:02:46,280 --> 00:02:48,960 Speaker 1: three hundred billion dollar year industry in a few years. 46 00:02:48,960 --> 00:02:53,120 Speaker 1: So by any metric, whether it's dollars or consumer engagement, um, 47 00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:57,040 Speaker 1: it's a real thing. And by consumer engagement, to give 48 00:02:57,080 --> 00:03:01,839 Speaker 1: you a sense, three hundred million people every single day 49 00:03:02,040 --> 00:03:05,280 Speaker 1: go on YouTube to watch gaming video content and that 50 00:03:05,400 --> 00:03:09,680 Speaker 1: ranges from people playing video games, to learning about video games, 51 00:03:09,680 --> 00:03:13,280 Speaker 1: to entertainment properties around video games or e sports. So 52 00:03:14,000 --> 00:03:16,120 Speaker 1: to say this category is is nothing short of a 53 00:03:16,160 --> 00:03:20,760 Speaker 1: powerhouse would be an understatement. And really this is an 54 00:03:20,760 --> 00:03:25,079 Speaker 1: elusive audience as far as television networks and marketers are concerned, 55 00:03:25,080 --> 00:03:27,720 Speaker 1: it is very hard to reach Gen Z and millennial 56 00:03:28,320 --> 00:03:32,200 Speaker 1: and the current TV landscape UM, and people are trying, 57 00:03:32,320 --> 00:03:33,640 Speaker 1: but at the end of the day, there is no 58 00:03:33,720 --> 00:03:36,440 Speaker 1: network that's dedicated to content for for this generation. And 59 00:03:36,480 --> 00:03:39,240 Speaker 1: when you step back and look at the generation, nine 60 00:03:39,280 --> 00:03:43,560 Speaker 1: out of ten Gen Z play video games regularly. So 61 00:03:43,680 --> 00:03:46,120 Speaker 1: when you say, like are you a gamer? That be 62 00:03:46,160 --> 00:03:49,680 Speaker 1: akin to asking, um, you know, a young gen z 63 00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:52,839 Speaker 1: or a mallennial kid. We can affectionately call them to say, 64 00:03:53,200 --> 00:03:55,400 Speaker 1: you know, hey, are you a music listener or you 65 00:03:55,480 --> 00:03:58,920 Speaker 1: a dinner eater? The reality is is is this is 66 00:03:58,960 --> 00:04:00,640 Speaker 1: something that's all they know that I should really be 67 00:04:00,680 --> 00:04:02,200 Speaker 1: is like what game are you referring to? Is it 68 00:04:02,280 --> 00:04:04,400 Speaker 1: Animal Crossing? Is it League of Legends? Is that call 69 00:04:04,480 --> 00:04:08,720 Speaker 1: of duty? Um? So, once you recognize the scale of engagement, 70 00:04:09,080 --> 00:04:11,080 Speaker 1: you really think about, Okay, we know it's big, but 71 00:04:11,160 --> 00:04:14,360 Speaker 1: how can we help cater an opportunity this environment and 72 00:04:14,360 --> 00:04:16,640 Speaker 1: create real engagement. So you've got the world of Twitch 73 00:04:16,720 --> 00:04:20,039 Speaker 1: that's out there generating billions of hours of watched content 74 00:04:20,160 --> 00:04:22,920 Speaker 1: per months in thing on YouTube, but there is they 75 00:04:22,920 --> 00:04:26,040 Speaker 1: are really kind of archival and not necessarily the destination. 76 00:04:26,080 --> 00:04:29,600 Speaker 1: There's no real curated way to engage in the category. 77 00:04:29,640 --> 00:04:32,200 Speaker 1: And so, um, you know, just a little bit more 78 00:04:32,240 --> 00:04:34,240 Speaker 1: on this area. And I both saw the same opportunity 79 00:04:34,240 --> 00:04:37,159 Speaker 1: as that you can create a TV network that has 80 00:04:37,200 --> 00:04:41,240 Speaker 1: gone out and recognize the best content creators across this 81 00:04:41,360 --> 00:04:44,600 Speaker 1: universe taken this amazing production. I'm excited for Arial to 82 00:04:44,640 --> 00:04:46,520 Speaker 1: tell you about his experience and where he comes from 83 00:04:46,720 --> 00:04:50,640 Speaker 1: to take this wonderful TV production and hopefully elevate the 84 00:04:50,680 --> 00:04:52,799 Speaker 1: craft that people are doing and what's called a user 85 00:04:52,880 --> 00:04:56,160 Speaker 1: generated content manner, and create TV behind it and then 86 00:04:56,200 --> 00:04:58,480 Speaker 1: string it all together, you know, create a TV network 87 00:04:58,520 --> 00:05:01,680 Speaker 1: can allow a really safe space as for brands and 88 00:05:01,760 --> 00:05:05,720 Speaker 1: partners to advertise and reach these communities. Um. And so 89 00:05:05,880 --> 00:05:08,320 Speaker 1: that's what we've did, and that's that's where we are. Now. 90 00:05:08,880 --> 00:05:10,880 Speaker 1: Let me ask you again, let me ask the basic 91 00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:13,400 Speaker 1: question because I understand, I know that there's a lot 92 00:05:13,440 --> 00:05:16,680 Speaker 1: of viewing of people playing video games, people playing video 93 00:05:16,680 --> 00:05:20,720 Speaker 1: games in tournament fashion. Um, but this is really from 94 00:05:20,760 --> 00:05:24,560 Speaker 1: your slate. This is really lifestyle and entertainment shows for 95 00:05:24,680 --> 00:05:27,599 Speaker 1: the people that like to that like video gaming enough 96 00:05:27,640 --> 00:05:31,960 Speaker 1: to watch other people play it on on platforms. Um. 97 00:05:31,960 --> 00:05:35,040 Speaker 1: This is that's if I understand right, it is this 98 00:05:35,120 --> 00:05:38,560 Speaker 1: is a TV network for the streaming generation. And then 99 00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:40,960 Speaker 1: is a double on tunder it's the video Game Entertainment 100 00:05:41,000 --> 00:05:46,960 Speaker 1: News Network. But it really is the intersection of gaming, entertainment, music, 101 00:05:47,160 --> 00:05:49,680 Speaker 1: pop culture and really the generations. And that's the next 102 00:05:49,760 --> 00:05:51,800 Speaker 1: is where we live. I'll give Arial a chance to 103 00:05:51,800 --> 00:05:54,400 Speaker 1: get a word and edgewise on it. And Ariel, you 104 00:05:54,440 --> 00:05:58,080 Speaker 1: are speaking to us from your play of Vista your 105 00:05:58,120 --> 00:06:02,400 Speaker 1: studio in play of Vista. Uh sorry, Berril, you are 106 00:06:02,400 --> 00:06:05,560 Speaker 1: speaking to us from your studio in play a Vista 107 00:06:05,600 --> 00:06:11,360 Speaker 1: where you have expansive facilities, and you're rare and to go. Yes, 108 00:06:12,000 --> 00:06:15,800 Speaker 1: we are. Yes. So we launched actually on August five, 109 00:06:15,960 --> 00:06:19,599 Speaker 1: which if which is next Wednesday, depending on when you're 110 00:06:19,680 --> 00:06:21,680 Speaker 1: when you're listening to this podcast, maybe by the time 111 00:06:21,720 --> 00:06:24,080 Speaker 1: you're listening, we've already launched, and we hope to get 112 00:06:24,120 --> 00:06:26,479 Speaker 1: your feedback. If you're watching, we hope you're enjoying the 113 00:06:26,480 --> 00:06:29,440 Speaker 1: programs that we're putting out there. But yeah, I'm here 114 00:06:29,480 --> 00:06:32,920 Speaker 1: and we are in rehearsals. We've got all of our 115 00:06:32,960 --> 00:06:36,600 Speaker 1: shows are we have twenty hours plus of fresh content 116 00:06:36,680 --> 00:06:39,279 Speaker 1: that we're going to be putting out each week, which 117 00:06:39,760 --> 00:06:43,800 Speaker 1: against sort of the comp in the TV world, exceeds most, 118 00:06:43,839 --> 00:06:46,000 Speaker 1: if not all, of the networks. You know, if you 119 00:06:46,040 --> 00:06:49,720 Speaker 1: look at the amount of entertainment programming, live entertainment programming 120 00:06:49,760 --> 00:06:52,799 Speaker 1: we're creating, it it stacks up really high. We've got 121 00:06:52,839 --> 00:06:56,800 Speaker 1: a bunch of really interesting formats that both draw from 122 00:06:56,839 --> 00:07:01,159 Speaker 1: the universes that Ben was describing of young people playing 123 00:07:01,240 --> 00:07:03,520 Speaker 1: video games in a very raw, authentic way with the 124 00:07:03,560 --> 00:07:06,960 Speaker 1: audience which you might see in Twitch. We're elevating that 125 00:07:07,080 --> 00:07:10,720 Speaker 1: format and curating it and distributing it back to those 126 00:07:10,760 --> 00:07:13,600 Speaker 1: same networks and those platforms where the young people are. 127 00:07:13,640 --> 00:07:15,920 Speaker 1: And Ben hinted at it a little bit, but the 128 00:07:15,960 --> 00:07:18,720 Speaker 1: way TV is currently set up, it's in a bit 129 00:07:18,760 --> 00:07:21,480 Speaker 1: of a crisis because it can't follow its consumers, right, 130 00:07:21,480 --> 00:07:25,560 Speaker 1: And that's a very basic concept that as demographies change, Right, 131 00:07:25,920 --> 00:07:29,480 Speaker 1: young people have been consuming content in a bunch of 132 00:07:29,480 --> 00:07:32,320 Speaker 1: a bunch of ways. They're not only looking for short clips, 133 00:07:32,520 --> 00:07:34,800 Speaker 1: they're not only looking to play video games, they're not 134 00:07:34,840 --> 00:07:37,520 Speaker 1: only looking to watch movies. But they are consuming a 135 00:07:37,560 --> 00:07:41,680 Speaker 1: lot of of content. And so the the version of 136 00:07:41,800 --> 00:07:44,200 Speaker 1: TV that I I see and Ben and I see 137 00:07:44,280 --> 00:07:47,240 Speaker 1: is really it's it's a more I guess you'd say 138 00:07:47,280 --> 00:07:52,000 Speaker 1: it's a more generous kind of definition. It's transmitting video 139 00:07:52,120 --> 00:07:54,520 Speaker 1: and sound in a bunch of different platforms in a 140 00:07:54,600 --> 00:07:56,600 Speaker 1: bunch of different ways. And so when you look at 141 00:07:56,640 --> 00:07:59,920 Speaker 1: young people, they are really consuming a lot of content, 142 00:08:00,080 --> 00:08:02,120 Speaker 1: and they play lots of video games. They might go 143 00:08:02,160 --> 00:08:05,720 Speaker 1: to the movies, they might um binge watch on Netflix. Uh, 144 00:08:05,720 --> 00:08:08,600 Speaker 1: they might have a second screen open on their phone 145 00:08:08,680 --> 00:08:11,280 Speaker 1: or on a second monitor that's next them, and so 146 00:08:11,440 --> 00:08:13,880 Speaker 1: what we want to do is create an authentic version 147 00:08:13,920 --> 00:08:16,280 Speaker 1: of content that they love and that they understand. And 148 00:08:16,400 --> 00:08:20,360 Speaker 1: because we are not uh sort of burdened I guess 149 00:08:20,360 --> 00:08:23,920 Speaker 1: you might say by carriage fees and mfns that exists 150 00:08:23,960 --> 00:08:27,080 Speaker 1: in the traditional TV world, we could think about a 151 00:08:27,480 --> 00:08:30,680 Speaker 1: TV network in a very new and novel way, right. 152 00:08:30,720 --> 00:08:33,960 Speaker 1: So we can create content that is akin to what 153 00:08:34,120 --> 00:08:37,960 Speaker 1: you might see on traditional network, but we can distribute 154 00:08:38,000 --> 00:08:40,880 Speaker 1: it to the channels where gamers and where young people are. 155 00:08:41,040 --> 00:08:45,560 Speaker 1: So we will be the first ever seven channel on Twitch, 156 00:08:46,080 --> 00:08:49,160 Speaker 1: on YouTube, on Twitter, right, but we'll also be on 157 00:08:49,440 --> 00:08:53,400 Speaker 1: connected TVs, will be on traditional m v p d 158 00:08:53,600 --> 00:08:56,199 Speaker 1: s like people like you might see on a on 159 00:08:56,240 --> 00:08:59,360 Speaker 1: a cable system right that is now shifting into a 160 00:08:59,400 --> 00:09:01,840 Speaker 1: more digital warm. We also will be on the v 161 00:09:02,000 --> 00:09:04,439 Speaker 1: m v p d s, which are the skinny bundles, right. 162 00:09:04,480 --> 00:09:09,520 Speaker 1: So we aspire to create content that is contemporary and 163 00:09:09,559 --> 00:09:13,160 Speaker 1: that is natively interesting for this streaming generation. Has Ben 164 00:09:13,240 --> 00:09:17,360 Speaker 1: calls it, bring it, bring those creators onto our network 165 00:09:17,400 --> 00:09:20,360 Speaker 1: creative virtuous cycle with them. So we helped to elevate 166 00:09:20,360 --> 00:09:22,600 Speaker 1: the things that they do natively really well and where 167 00:09:22,600 --> 00:09:26,120 Speaker 1: they've built audiences that quite frankly rival and exceed in 168 00:09:26,160 --> 00:09:30,280 Speaker 1: some cases traditional TV hits in the demo especially, and 169 00:09:30,320 --> 00:09:32,560 Speaker 1: bring them onto our network and curate a whole slate 170 00:09:32,600 --> 00:09:36,600 Speaker 1: of content for this audience. It sounds to me like 171 00:09:37,440 --> 00:09:39,959 Speaker 1: you want to be something of a food network or 172 00:09:40,160 --> 00:09:43,520 Speaker 1: h G TV. That is the sort of a destination. 173 00:09:43,679 --> 00:09:45,760 Speaker 1: It's it's a bit of comfort food. You may not 174 00:09:45,840 --> 00:09:48,439 Speaker 1: go for a particular show, but you know what you're 175 00:09:48,480 --> 00:09:51,440 Speaker 1: turning on when you get that channel? Is that? Is 176 00:09:51,480 --> 00:09:53,839 Speaker 1: that the thinking? Yeah? That that really is so the 177 00:09:53,880 --> 00:09:56,160 Speaker 1: way to look at the programming landscape. And I'm sure 178 00:09:56,200 --> 00:09:58,720 Speaker 1: your audience knows this well as as readers of Variety 179 00:09:58,800 --> 00:10:02,080 Speaker 1: is you've got to send really you know, young skewing TV. 180 00:10:02,200 --> 00:10:04,880 Speaker 1: You've got Disney, You've got Nickelodeon, you've got Cartoon Network 181 00:10:04,880 --> 00:10:06,880 Speaker 1: that really feels the you know, the young demos kind 182 00:10:06,880 --> 00:10:10,160 Speaker 1: of preteen, etcetera. There's really a chasm of programming for 183 00:10:10,200 --> 00:10:12,240 Speaker 1: gen Z and millennials. You kind of look at the 184 00:10:12,280 --> 00:10:15,560 Speaker 1: demos from the ESPNS or the Comedy Central, they've all 185 00:10:15,640 --> 00:10:18,800 Speaker 1: kind of skewed up in age. Now what you'll find 186 00:10:18,880 --> 00:10:22,840 Speaker 1: is gen Z and millennial type programmings intermittently dispersed across networks. Right, 187 00:10:22,840 --> 00:10:25,439 Speaker 1: it's not your Rick and Morty on Adult Swim, that's 188 00:10:25,480 --> 00:10:29,080 Speaker 1: your Game of Thrones on HBO. Depending on which platform 189 00:10:29,160 --> 00:10:31,440 Speaker 1: that you jump to. There are shows that tend to 190 00:10:31,520 --> 00:10:33,760 Speaker 1: resonate well with therese younger demos. What there is not 191 00:10:34,360 --> 00:10:37,040 Speaker 1: is a network that is essentially a cultural flag bearer 192 00:10:37,040 --> 00:10:40,199 Speaker 1: for these generations. You hearken back to MTV in the nineties, 193 00:10:40,320 --> 00:10:45,040 Speaker 1: right when people were gathering outside fifteen Broadway eighties nineties 194 00:10:45,080 --> 00:10:46,920 Speaker 1: were out there and VJs were all the thing. It 195 00:10:46,960 --> 00:10:49,840 Speaker 1: was a cultural movement with music. That's where young folks 196 00:10:49,880 --> 00:10:51,839 Speaker 1: would turn in to get their news or an attainment 197 00:10:52,160 --> 00:10:55,319 Speaker 1: in the pop culture information, et cetera of what they love. Right, 198 00:10:55,559 --> 00:10:57,640 Speaker 1: there's just not that in today's day and age. You 199 00:10:57,640 --> 00:11:00,360 Speaker 1: mean MTV readily concedes that, you know, hun or ten 200 00:11:00,360 --> 00:11:02,640 Speaker 1: hours of a hundred, you know, forty or fifty possible 201 00:11:02,679 --> 00:11:06,439 Speaker 1: hours of a week in programming our repeats of ridiculousness. 202 00:11:06,440 --> 00:11:08,720 Speaker 1: And I actually happened to be a fan of that show. Um, 203 00:11:08,760 --> 00:11:10,960 Speaker 1: But it's when you program a network with that scale 204 00:11:11,000 --> 00:11:13,840 Speaker 1: of programming, it's it's very different than going head on 205 00:11:13,960 --> 00:11:16,720 Speaker 1: into creating his max amount of hours of live original, 206 00:11:16,800 --> 00:11:19,559 Speaker 1: unique first run programming as you can. So, to Arial's point, 207 00:11:19,679 --> 00:11:23,559 Speaker 1: we have more live original programming per week than any 208 00:11:23,679 --> 00:11:26,840 Speaker 1: other TV network we've We've done the math MTVS at 209 00:11:26,880 --> 00:11:29,640 Speaker 1: seven Discoveries about fifteen, sixteen, A and E right there 210 00:11:29,679 --> 00:11:32,400 Speaker 1: as well. We're starting with over twenty and migrating to 211 00:11:32,520 --> 00:11:34,920 Speaker 1: thirty and then once we open up our New York studio, 212 00:11:34,960 --> 00:11:37,120 Speaker 1: because we have to studios, one imply a Vista in 213 00:11:37,160 --> 00:11:39,319 Speaker 1: Los Angeles, the other one in New York at at 214 00:11:39,320 --> 00:11:42,080 Speaker 1: three World Trade Center overlooking the Oculus. That is our 215 00:11:42,120 --> 00:11:44,920 Speaker 1: kind of modern day homage to MTV in their studio 216 00:11:44,920 --> 00:11:47,839 Speaker 1: in Times Square. We're very excited to create a bicoastal 217 00:11:47,920 --> 00:11:50,480 Speaker 1: programming set which will be over fifty hours a week, 218 00:11:50,760 --> 00:11:52,120 Speaker 1: so we'll kind of be in a bit of rarefied 219 00:11:52,120 --> 00:11:55,640 Speaker 1: air there. That sounds amazing, but it also sounds expensive. 220 00:11:55,920 --> 00:11:59,240 Speaker 1: And as you said, you're not burdened with cable carriage fees. 221 00:11:59,600 --> 00:12:03,520 Speaker 1: That's a cavy lift for excuse me, that's a heavy 222 00:12:03,640 --> 00:12:08,800 Speaker 1: lift for purely advertising to support. How are you funding 223 00:12:08,840 --> 00:12:11,000 Speaker 1: all of this? So so I answer that kind of 224 00:12:11,000 --> 00:12:12,960 Speaker 1: twofold and I'll kick it over to Arials. So it 225 00:12:13,120 --> 00:12:17,439 Speaker 1: is expensive if you're programming is procedurals that are scripted, 226 00:12:17,880 --> 00:12:20,160 Speaker 1: that are big budget on locations, so on and so forth. 227 00:12:20,160 --> 00:12:23,160 Speaker 1: And candidly, there's been so much TV invested into what 228 00:12:23,320 --> 00:12:25,160 Speaker 1: is the next generation of a lawyer's show where this 229 00:12:25,240 --> 00:12:28,280 Speaker 1: doctor that sees ghosts or kind of iteration on either 230 00:12:28,440 --> 00:12:31,920 Speaker 1: you know, medical, legal, whatever kind of scripted programming. Younger 231 00:12:31,960 --> 00:12:36,760 Speaker 1: generations have really issued that really expensive scripted kind of 232 00:12:36,800 --> 00:12:39,320 Speaker 1: no been there done that type of programming in favor 233 00:12:39,320 --> 00:12:42,439 Speaker 1: of live programming, UM and programming that works really well 234 00:12:42,440 --> 00:12:44,679 Speaker 1: in a studio system. That's why you see such thriving 235 00:12:44,720 --> 00:12:47,480 Speaker 1: content on on YouTube and and on Twitch. And so 236 00:12:47,760 --> 00:12:50,160 Speaker 1: what we've recognized is there's a world where we create 237 00:12:50,200 --> 00:12:52,679 Speaker 1: TV and the tens of thousands of dollars per hour, 238 00:12:52,800 --> 00:12:55,160 Speaker 1: not the hundreds of thousands of dollars per hour, and 239 00:12:55,240 --> 00:12:58,720 Speaker 1: so our TV on average costs about nine less on 240 00:12:58,760 --> 00:13:00,720 Speaker 1: an hourly basis than what you see in traditional TV 241 00:13:00,800 --> 00:13:04,600 Speaker 1: prime time. That said, it's already proven to pull massive 242 00:13:04,679 --> 00:13:06,840 Speaker 1: numbers that rival what you see on the prime time 243 00:13:06,840 --> 00:13:09,439 Speaker 1: I'm give you an example. We have a talent called Austin. 244 00:13:09,520 --> 00:13:12,439 Speaker 1: He's amazing. He's essentially the Mark Burnett of what you 245 00:13:12,480 --> 00:13:14,720 Speaker 1: see on Twitch, he creates game shows, he you know, 246 00:13:14,760 --> 00:13:17,480 Speaker 1: he pulls in wonderful engaged audiences and and you know, 247 00:13:17,520 --> 00:13:20,160 Speaker 1: we're just such big fans. It is so Austin will 248 00:13:20,200 --> 00:13:23,720 Speaker 1: have a concurrent audience of seventy five thousand at one 249 00:13:23,800 --> 00:13:26,040 Speaker 1: time on Twitch. So let's say you part some of 250 00:13:26,040 --> 00:13:28,040 Speaker 1: that out globally and say there's Spilitch outside of the 251 00:13:28,120 --> 00:13:30,719 Speaker 1: demo he's pulling let's say thirty to forty thou in 252 00:13:30,720 --> 00:13:33,400 Speaker 1: the demo. If you take a network that's a very big, 253 00:13:33,559 --> 00:13:36,199 Speaker 1: you know, nationally syndicated network, let's go with with Discovery. 254 00:13:36,280 --> 00:13:39,760 Speaker 1: Discovery Network across all platforms, every single bit of pay 255 00:13:39,800 --> 00:13:43,320 Speaker 1: TV does about sixties sixty five thousand people in the 256 00:13:43,360 --> 00:13:46,719 Speaker 1: demo in prime time. So on one platform, you've got 257 00:13:46,720 --> 00:13:50,560 Speaker 1: a single individual who's pulling comparable numbers to what you 258 00:13:50,600 --> 00:13:53,520 Speaker 1: know a Discovery network is is pulling within the demo. 259 00:13:53,559 --> 00:13:55,599 Speaker 1: And Discovery obviously generate hundreds of millions of dollars a 260 00:13:55,679 --> 00:13:58,120 Speaker 1: year in revenue and and aims at a at a 261 00:13:58,160 --> 00:14:01,440 Speaker 1: different demo. But but to your your anti still valid, Yeah, 262 00:14:01,440 --> 00:14:03,160 Speaker 1: So I guess to the point is it aims to 263 00:14:03,200 --> 00:14:05,440 Speaker 1: the higher demo as well as all the other networks 264 00:14:05,440 --> 00:14:08,160 Speaker 1: aiming to the higher demos. I shouldn't say the older demo. 265 00:14:08,240 --> 00:14:11,040 Speaker 1: I misspoke older demo that will make sure to get 266 00:14:11,040 --> 00:14:12,880 Speaker 1: our nomenclaits are right. But yeah, I mean to the 267 00:14:12,920 --> 00:14:16,400 Speaker 1: point if we can show what one platform someone can do, 268 00:14:16,480 --> 00:14:18,480 Speaker 1: and if we can help elevate that art make it 269 00:14:18,559 --> 00:14:21,320 Speaker 1: look like television. And by the way, my wife, she 270 00:14:21,360 --> 00:14:24,520 Speaker 1: doesn't watch Twitch, she doesn't watch YouTube. She's assuredly not 271 00:14:24,600 --> 00:14:26,840 Speaker 1: a gamer except animal crossing every now and then, but 272 00:14:27,280 --> 00:14:29,320 Speaker 1: that will definitely qualify it as a gamer in today's 273 00:14:29,400 --> 00:14:31,560 Speaker 1: day and age. But you know, she watched previews of 274 00:14:31,640 --> 00:14:33,560 Speaker 1: these shows. She goes, oh my god, this is amazing. 275 00:14:33,640 --> 00:14:36,800 Speaker 1: This is kind of like MTVS Challenge meets Fear Factor 276 00:14:36,840 --> 00:14:38,960 Speaker 1: with a kind of new twist for streamers. I'm like, yeah, 277 00:14:38,960 --> 00:14:41,080 Speaker 1: that that's what we're doing. She's like, I haven't seen 278 00:14:41,120 --> 00:14:43,960 Speaker 1: this before. And that's the reaction we're trying to get 279 00:14:43,960 --> 00:14:46,680 Speaker 1: to is this is a new breed of programming that 280 00:14:46,760 --> 00:14:50,160 Speaker 1: people will understand and recognize and watch. Is familiar premium 281 00:14:50,200 --> 00:14:52,960 Speaker 1: produce entertainment, but it will feel new and novel, and 282 00:14:52,960 --> 00:14:55,680 Speaker 1: that may cover video games, that may cover music. We 283 00:14:55,760 --> 00:14:58,040 Speaker 1: have a partnership with Proximity is one of the biggest 284 00:14:58,320 --> 00:15:00,800 Speaker 1: E d M distribution channels on Tube to have almost 285 00:15:00,800 --> 00:15:03,120 Speaker 1: ten million subs. We're gonna be creating a unique and 286 00:15:03,160 --> 00:15:06,520 Speaker 1: engaging music content. We've got pop culture celebrities coming in 287 00:15:06,560 --> 00:15:09,040 Speaker 1: with movies, TV shows, et cetera. This is going to 288 00:15:09,240 --> 00:15:11,960 Speaker 1: feel like premium TV for the younger generation and that 289 00:15:12,400 --> 00:15:14,480 Speaker 1: is our bat that it will draw the kinds of 290 00:15:14,480 --> 00:15:17,160 Speaker 1: eyeballs across all platforms that advertisers are looking for in 291 00:15:17,200 --> 00:15:20,080 Speaker 1: a brand safe manner and again with less costs on 292 00:15:20,120 --> 00:15:22,880 Speaker 1: the production side, and we think comparable revenue on that side. 293 00:15:23,160 --> 00:15:26,080 Speaker 1: We think that's a not only a survivable business model, 294 00:15:26,120 --> 00:15:29,600 Speaker 1: but what we think ultimately a very profitable And you 295 00:15:29,680 --> 00:15:36,120 Speaker 1: have a f understand right you have distribution deals with Twitter, YouTube, Twitch, Facebook, gaming? 296 00:15:36,840 --> 00:15:40,360 Speaker 1: Is that a rev share or an ad inventory share? 297 00:15:40,400 --> 00:15:44,760 Speaker 1: How do those deals work? So so it will vary, 298 00:15:44,880 --> 00:15:48,160 Speaker 1: so it varies, so it obviously varies. We have built 299 00:15:48,160 --> 00:15:53,680 Speaker 1: an amalgam of TV, TV experience, game experience, entertain experience 300 00:15:53,720 --> 00:15:55,960 Speaker 1: at our company and that's something that I think was 301 00:15:56,000 --> 00:15:58,480 Speaker 1: part of the answer for the last question too. We 302 00:15:58,960 --> 00:16:02,080 Speaker 1: realize that there are certain core competencies that that you 303 00:16:02,160 --> 00:16:04,520 Speaker 1: need to bring to the table to create a TV network. 304 00:16:04,560 --> 00:16:08,680 Speaker 1: So our CEO is the former Discovery Channel c CEO 305 00:16:08,800 --> 00:16:12,200 Speaker 1: and CFO name is Neil Kirsch. We've brought his entire 306 00:16:12,240 --> 00:16:14,680 Speaker 1: pricing and planning team to the table. Our head of 307 00:16:14,720 --> 00:16:18,360 Speaker 1: sales is from Facebook. Guy named Dave eckenstein uh is 308 00:16:18,440 --> 00:16:21,440 Speaker 1: who's the head of our head of sales now. But 309 00:16:21,520 --> 00:16:24,800 Speaker 1: he was with Facebook, he was at um Bleacher Report 310 00:16:24,880 --> 00:16:27,440 Speaker 1: in BuzzFeed, and even before that he was he was 311 00:16:27,480 --> 00:16:30,520 Speaker 1: in sales and at Fox and NBC. So we have 312 00:16:30,760 --> 00:16:36,080 Speaker 1: an incredibly refined, purposeful team that understands how to build, 313 00:16:36,560 --> 00:16:40,120 Speaker 1: build media plans and how to actually sell TV. Now 314 00:16:40,240 --> 00:16:42,880 Speaker 1: you look at what we're making, and we're making something 315 00:16:42,920 --> 00:16:46,120 Speaker 1: that's in it's elusive in a lot of ways for advertisers. 316 00:16:46,200 --> 00:16:48,200 Speaker 1: Let's just talk it through for a second. It's elusive 317 00:16:48,280 --> 00:16:51,960 Speaker 1: because the demo is usually pretty pretty like fragmented and 318 00:16:52,000 --> 00:16:54,920 Speaker 1: hard to find. It's delusive because of some issues with 319 00:16:55,000 --> 00:16:59,320 Speaker 1: brand safety, right. It's elusive because the digital platforms where 320 00:16:59,480 --> 00:17:02,480 Speaker 1: the traditional TV networks can they cannot go there because 321 00:17:02,520 --> 00:17:05,160 Speaker 1: the shackles that they have with their mfns and their 322 00:17:05,200 --> 00:17:08,720 Speaker 1: carriage fees, they're they're they're kind of like not able 323 00:17:08,760 --> 00:17:11,000 Speaker 1: to be there, and so what is left there in 324 00:17:11,040 --> 00:17:13,679 Speaker 1: that space is something that's a little bit hard to 325 00:17:13,800 --> 00:17:16,119 Speaker 1: understand for most brands, and they're not sure that they 326 00:17:16,119 --> 00:17:18,159 Speaker 1: want to wade into the water and figure out like 327 00:17:18,320 --> 00:17:20,600 Speaker 1: do I want to invest in a specific U g 328 00:17:20,720 --> 00:17:23,639 Speaker 1: C creator? Do I want to invest in a team 329 00:17:23,680 --> 00:17:26,120 Speaker 1: in E sports? Where do you want to invest? So 330 00:17:26,280 --> 00:17:29,360 Speaker 1: as we're looking at our business model, it's built very 331 00:17:29,440 --> 00:17:33,879 Speaker 1: much on the back of natively understanding what the market likes, 332 00:17:34,320 --> 00:17:36,960 Speaker 1: how do they like it like that, you know, little 333 00:17:37,000 --> 00:17:39,880 Speaker 1: things like let the let the pacing be a little 334 00:17:39,920 --> 00:17:42,720 Speaker 1: bit more more casual, Like you don't have to overformat, 335 00:17:42,800 --> 00:17:46,000 Speaker 1: you don't have to overproduce things. Because this audience that's 336 00:17:46,119 --> 00:17:49,400 Speaker 1: built they're sort of like taste buds on streaming content. 337 00:17:49,720 --> 00:17:52,639 Speaker 1: They really they're used to watching really long form content 338 00:17:52,840 --> 00:17:55,800 Speaker 1: where they're engaging directly with the audience. You have to 339 00:17:55,880 --> 00:17:58,679 Speaker 1: also really think about what does engagement look like on 340 00:17:58,720 --> 00:18:01,200 Speaker 1: our network. And so when we building our studio here, 341 00:18:01,440 --> 00:18:05,480 Speaker 1: we invested almost exclusively in digital signage because we want 342 00:18:05,520 --> 00:18:08,439 Speaker 1: to create um interactive formats with the audience rather than 343 00:18:08,480 --> 00:18:11,040 Speaker 1: building lots of scenic structures. I mean, there's there are 344 00:18:11,080 --> 00:18:14,320 Speaker 1: just so many ways that you can you can build 345 00:18:14,359 --> 00:18:19,719 Speaker 1: affinity with with gamers, but but also distributed in a 346 00:18:19,840 --> 00:18:25,560 Speaker 1: very mature way that is comforting for for advertisers. Right 347 00:18:25,600 --> 00:18:28,760 Speaker 1: that are that are so that are so focused on 348 00:18:29,440 --> 00:18:33,680 Speaker 1: on targeting gamers now, especially with COVID, where there's there's 349 00:18:33,680 --> 00:18:37,960 Speaker 1: been this like a massive mainstream light shining down on gaming, 350 00:18:38,040 --> 00:18:40,919 Speaker 1: right when everyone's sort of inside gaming numbers are up, right, 351 00:18:41,160 --> 00:18:43,920 Speaker 1: everyone's playing games. This is not really news to Bend 352 00:18:43,920 --> 00:18:46,199 Speaker 1: and me, but it has been further validation for our 353 00:18:46,240 --> 00:18:49,399 Speaker 1: business model, which is which is like great authentic content 354 00:18:49,480 --> 00:18:53,040 Speaker 1: for this market, make it in a way that's palatable 355 00:18:53,040 --> 00:18:56,920 Speaker 1: for them and really easy for for investing. I want 356 00:18:56,920 --> 00:18:58,960 Speaker 1: to yeah, I want to get specifically to your question 357 00:18:59,000 --> 00:19:02,679 Speaker 1: about distribution because this is a very big component and 358 00:19:02,720 --> 00:19:05,080 Speaker 1: it's the way that we've gone into structuring our business 359 00:19:05,600 --> 00:19:09,400 Speaker 1: with any TV network. With ABC, for instance, go take 360 00:19:09,440 --> 00:19:11,960 Speaker 1: your phone out, go to ABC dot com. The first 361 00:19:12,040 --> 00:19:15,240 Speaker 1: question you're going to be asked is please authenticate with 362 00:19:15,359 --> 00:19:19,760 Speaker 1: your TV provider. Right. That is a fundamental roadblock to 363 00:19:19,920 --> 00:19:22,760 Speaker 1: access and that is the unfortunate downside of the way 364 00:19:22,800 --> 00:19:26,080 Speaker 1: that the TV business models were constructed, which are twofold. 365 00:19:26,480 --> 00:19:29,280 Speaker 1: It is an ad inventory share model. So it's what's 366 00:19:29,320 --> 00:19:32,200 Speaker 1: called national airtime, right, and the network sell those national 367 00:19:32,240 --> 00:19:35,040 Speaker 1: airtime on their own, you know, every day, week, etcetera. 368 00:19:35,080 --> 00:19:38,600 Speaker 1: It's what upfronts are. There is then platform or local 369 00:19:38,680 --> 00:19:42,520 Speaker 1: or affiliate time to where regional broadcasters, whether it's your Comcast, 370 00:19:42,520 --> 00:19:45,240 Speaker 1: whether it's a Samsung Smart TV, etcetera, will take a 371 00:19:45,320 --> 00:19:47,840 Speaker 1: share of inventory and they will turn around and sell 372 00:19:47,880 --> 00:19:50,159 Speaker 1: that inventory on their own. So you could be watching 373 00:19:50,160 --> 00:19:52,440 Speaker 1: a feed on a platform like Video or Samsung, and 374 00:19:52,480 --> 00:19:54,560 Speaker 1: you would see an AD that comes from a national AirPod. 375 00:19:54,840 --> 00:19:57,280 Speaker 1: The next AirPod, the next commercial pod, you may see 376 00:19:57,280 --> 00:20:00,920 Speaker 1: an AD that Samsung sold specifically for that platform. So 377 00:20:01,119 --> 00:20:03,040 Speaker 1: we understand and accept that model, and that is the 378 00:20:03,040 --> 00:20:06,680 Speaker 1: backbone of what we're doing. However, TV is also set 379 00:20:06,720 --> 00:20:09,040 Speaker 1: up with what what's called a sub feme model, to 380 00:20:09,040 --> 00:20:12,960 Speaker 1: where essentially it's like, okay, you know, Spectrum or Comcast, etcetera, 381 00:20:13,000 --> 00:20:16,560 Speaker 1: pay us for you know, per sub to be able 382 00:20:16,560 --> 00:20:19,360 Speaker 1: to the right to carry our content. The problem that's 383 00:20:19,359 --> 00:20:21,720 Speaker 1: happened in television is these distributors say, hey, we don't 384 00:20:21,720 --> 00:20:24,800 Speaker 1: have the money to pay your ever increasing sub fees, 385 00:20:25,280 --> 00:20:27,280 Speaker 1: and so this is highly problematic and TV networks are 386 00:20:27,280 --> 00:20:29,320 Speaker 1: going fine, well, don't carry us, and that essentially is 387 00:20:29,400 --> 00:20:33,280 Speaker 1: mutually assured destruction. So what happened is with those deals 388 00:20:33,280 --> 00:20:36,800 Speaker 1: they have what are called MFN or most Favored Nation clauses. Right, 389 00:20:36,840 --> 00:20:40,040 Speaker 1: that means is if I charge spectrum ex send per 390 00:20:40,480 --> 00:20:43,520 Speaker 1: and I charge Comcast less spectrum then drops down to 391 00:20:43,560 --> 00:20:47,639 Speaker 1: the Comcast level. Right, creates all kinds of havoc, and 392 00:20:48,440 --> 00:20:51,240 Speaker 1: all kinds of havoc. But what you assuredly cannot do 393 00:20:51,640 --> 00:20:54,520 Speaker 1: is take your feet and then make it free. And 394 00:20:54,560 --> 00:20:57,240 Speaker 1: that is that is the crux of the issue now 395 00:20:57,240 --> 00:21:02,359 Speaker 1: with television is younger demographics. Consumption patterns have migrated across 396 00:21:02,520 --> 00:21:06,080 Speaker 1: different platforms with any industry, whether you're in fossil fuels 397 00:21:06,080 --> 00:21:10,080 Speaker 1: and you're we're seeing the largest entertainment players have to 398 00:21:10,160 --> 00:21:16,280 Speaker 1: plow billions into read engineering their operations to to reach 399 00:21:16,359 --> 00:21:19,840 Speaker 1: that demo. And and still that you know, the death 400 00:21:19,880 --> 00:21:23,640 Speaker 1: screen of authentication is still for you know in many 401 00:21:23,680 --> 00:21:26,240 Speaker 1: cases that you know is that first thing that you 402 00:21:26,280 --> 00:21:28,080 Speaker 1: have to get through, and it's the it's a big 403 00:21:28,119 --> 00:21:31,479 Speaker 1: turn off. I love the screen of death. Analogy, So 404 00:21:31,600 --> 00:21:33,720 Speaker 1: what's happening, just to kind of round out this point, 405 00:21:34,320 --> 00:21:36,960 Speaker 1: is from a bottoms up perspective. In any business, if 406 00:21:36,960 --> 00:21:39,320 Speaker 1: it's fossil fuels, you're thinking, Wow, I'm seeing the world 407 00:21:39,320 --> 00:21:42,159 Speaker 1: of electric cars pick up. I'm going to diversify my 408 00:21:42,240 --> 00:21:45,800 Speaker 1: acquisitions into electricity and renewable energy because that is needs 409 00:21:45,840 --> 00:21:49,639 Speaker 1: to ensure the survivability of our business. We whips maybe 410 00:21:49,640 --> 00:21:55,800 Speaker 1: falling out of fashion. What we realized is that because 411 00:21:55,920 --> 00:21:59,600 Speaker 1: consumption patterns are migrating platforms like you know, a Pluto 412 00:21:59,720 --> 00:22:02,959 Speaker 1: or or Zoom or mixer, Samsung or Video or wherever, 413 00:22:03,240 --> 00:22:06,000 Speaker 1: we need to be flexible in our business model architecture 414 00:22:06,040 --> 00:22:07,399 Speaker 1: to be able to live on those platforms. And the 415 00:22:07,440 --> 00:22:09,600 Speaker 1: way you do that is by keeping the good stuff, 416 00:22:09,800 --> 00:22:13,240 Speaker 1: which is the inventory share for her platform, giving up 417 00:22:13,280 --> 00:22:15,720 Speaker 1: the sub fees, but making up for it ultimately in 418 00:22:15,800 --> 00:22:18,359 Speaker 1: a higher CPM, which is the rate at which you 419 00:22:18,480 --> 00:22:22,520 Speaker 1: charge advertising, and frankly more scale and so ultimately we 420 00:22:22,560 --> 00:22:25,520 Speaker 1: believe that we will be carried on more platforms than 421 00:22:25,600 --> 00:22:28,760 Speaker 1: any TV network. Like Ario mentioned, we are the first 422 00:22:28,840 --> 00:22:32,200 Speaker 1: TV network to be broadcast live on Twitter. That's entertainment. 423 00:22:32,200 --> 00:22:33,520 Speaker 1: I know, Cheddar kind of did it in a post 424 00:22:33,520 --> 00:22:36,200 Speaker 1: cable model their millennial financial news. We believe that we're 425 00:22:36,480 --> 00:22:39,560 Speaker 1: tacking into a much bigger audience with gaming and pop culture. 426 00:22:40,080 --> 00:22:41,879 Speaker 1: UM will be the first network on YouTube, will be 427 00:22:41,920 --> 00:22:44,800 Speaker 1: the first TV network on Twitch that carries the exact 428 00:22:44,880 --> 00:22:47,879 Speaker 1: same feed everywhere real time. You just go to ven 429 00:22:47,960 --> 00:22:51,000 Speaker 1: dot tv and you're watching our network. And ultimately, when 430 00:22:51,000 --> 00:22:52,560 Speaker 1: brands want to hit scale and they want to hit 431 00:22:52,560 --> 00:22:54,600 Speaker 1: as much of the NEMO as possible, will be how 432 00:22:54,600 --> 00:22:56,840 Speaker 1: many platforms are you carried on? It will be We're 433 00:22:56,880 --> 00:22:59,840 Speaker 1: carried everywhere. Let's not now talk about viewership. Let me 434 00:23:00,000 --> 00:23:03,480 Speaker 1: ask you, are there any instances in which you are 435 00:23:03,520 --> 00:23:08,320 Speaker 1: paying for carriage? No, no, that's not in the business model. 436 00:23:08,920 --> 00:23:10,800 Speaker 1: But it's not I mean not in business model nor 437 00:23:10,880 --> 00:23:12,800 Speaker 1: in any single deal that we have struck today that 438 00:23:12,840 --> 00:23:15,200 Speaker 1: the models are all inventory share and they all vary 439 00:23:15,200 --> 00:23:18,679 Speaker 1: on a per platform basis. But we have our national inventory, 440 00:23:18,760 --> 00:23:20,760 Speaker 1: so when you're watching, you'll see our our commercials that 441 00:23:20,800 --> 00:23:23,280 Speaker 1: we sell internally, and then you'll have local inventory that's 442 00:23:23,280 --> 00:23:25,399 Speaker 1: sold on a per platform basis. I know you have 443 00:23:25,520 --> 00:23:29,400 Speaker 1: a few deals, you have some deals with connected TVs, 444 00:23:29,520 --> 00:23:33,040 Speaker 1: you know, to be directly on their on their home hubs. 445 00:23:33,480 --> 00:23:35,600 Speaker 1: What would you say is harder working at a deal 446 00:23:35,640 --> 00:23:38,280 Speaker 1: with a Twitch or a Twitter or YouTube or working 447 00:23:38,320 --> 00:23:42,119 Speaker 1: at a deal with a Samsung or a TV set manufacturer. 448 00:23:43,119 --> 00:23:46,200 Speaker 1: I mean personally, Yeah, this has been an amazing process 449 00:23:46,280 --> 00:23:49,480 Speaker 1: with the TV manufacturers, and it's been a wonderful process 450 00:23:49,560 --> 00:23:52,600 Speaker 1: with all the different platforms. There is a rush to 451 00:23:52,640 --> 00:23:56,639 Speaker 1: grab quality content. We're filling a hole that's needed. Um. 452 00:23:56,960 --> 00:24:00,919 Speaker 1: Everyone has been equally we'd say, willing and an awesome partner. 453 00:24:01,320 --> 00:24:03,840 Speaker 1: Some bigger organizations take a little bit longer. That's why 454 00:24:03,880 --> 00:24:06,080 Speaker 1: we'll be announcing some of the bigger platforms that will 455 00:24:06,119 --> 00:24:07,960 Speaker 1: be on here in the coming months because it's a 456 00:24:07,960 --> 00:24:11,320 Speaker 1: little harder to close as deals by launch, but they're there. Um. 457 00:24:11,359 --> 00:24:13,080 Speaker 1: And when you hear about him, I said, okay, well 458 00:24:13,080 --> 00:24:15,479 Speaker 1: that that's exciting and big news. And I understand why 459 00:24:15,520 --> 00:24:17,520 Speaker 1: that deal would take longer than you know, a more 460 00:24:17,600 --> 00:24:20,119 Speaker 1: nimble platform, but I would I would just put it 461 00:24:20,160 --> 00:24:21,960 Speaker 1: this way too, and it and it gets down to 462 00:24:21,960 --> 00:24:24,720 Speaker 1: a little bit of a segmentation discussion. But when you 463 00:24:24,720 --> 00:24:26,800 Speaker 1: look at game and gaming is massive, right, it's this 464 00:24:26,920 --> 00:24:29,919 Speaker 1: hundred and fifty billion dollar industry. Right when when we 465 00:24:30,000 --> 00:24:34,320 Speaker 1: think about gamers traditionally we're really it's really shorthand for 466 00:24:34,480 --> 00:24:38,000 Speaker 1: like competitive gamers kind of like that black liquorice loving 467 00:24:38,119 --> 00:24:40,360 Speaker 1: kind of you know, you might say, like League of Legends, 468 00:24:40,359 --> 00:24:44,400 Speaker 1: they're deep into the cosplay world. They're like maybe Internet trolls, 469 00:24:44,440 --> 00:24:47,400 Speaker 1: so to speak, etcetera. That's that's kind of like an 470 00:24:47,400 --> 00:24:50,679 Speaker 1: old school version of what gaming actually is, right, So 471 00:24:50,760 --> 00:24:52,919 Speaker 1: that's that's a lot of what you might see on 472 00:24:52,920 --> 00:24:55,360 Speaker 1: on Twitch and the streaming platforms right now. But if 473 00:24:55,359 --> 00:24:57,280 Speaker 1: you look at the demography actually, and we did a 474 00:24:57,320 --> 00:25:00,840 Speaker 1: segmentation study with Colinice, who is our our head of insights, 475 00:25:00,840 --> 00:25:04,080 Speaker 1: who came from Twitch, he found that that's actually only 476 00:25:04,080 --> 00:25:06,439 Speaker 1: about a third of the audience. So another third is 477 00:25:06,480 --> 00:25:08,440 Speaker 1: really what we call it casual gamers that are playing 478 00:25:08,440 --> 00:25:11,920 Speaker 1: this animal crossing there into Marvel. They are super into 479 00:25:11,960 --> 00:25:14,440 Speaker 1: like the k pop and using social media and TikTok, 480 00:25:15,040 --> 00:25:18,440 Speaker 1: and they are more maybe on on YouTube. Then there's 481 00:25:18,440 --> 00:25:21,520 Speaker 1: a whole other group that's about that are elder millennials, 482 00:25:21,720 --> 00:25:24,199 Speaker 1: which are a little bit older. They have jobs, they 483 00:25:24,240 --> 00:25:27,439 Speaker 1: have kids now, they have you know, responsibilities and air quotes, 484 00:25:27,640 --> 00:25:30,560 Speaker 1: but they still really identify with the console wars. Right 485 00:25:30,600 --> 00:25:32,560 Speaker 1: They've been there from the beginning. They have a deep 486 00:25:32,600 --> 00:25:34,560 Speaker 1: pride in a sense of kind of like I've completed, 487 00:25:34,600 --> 00:25:36,520 Speaker 1: you know, a hundred hour games. You know, X, Y 488 00:25:36,520 --> 00:25:39,399 Speaker 1: and Z. When you say Zelda, they could have like 489 00:25:39,440 --> 00:25:42,040 Speaker 1: a ted talk about it, right, you know? And so 490 00:25:43,320 --> 00:25:45,520 Speaker 1: that is yeah, you know what I mean. So, so 491 00:25:45,640 --> 00:25:48,280 Speaker 1: what what we are hoping to do with our distribution 492 00:25:48,480 --> 00:25:50,960 Speaker 1: is not just acquire more eyes. I mean, that's only 493 00:25:51,040 --> 00:25:52,920 Speaker 1: a small part of the reason to do this, right, 494 00:25:52,960 --> 00:25:56,159 Speaker 1: it's to be where all of the potential consumers are. 495 00:25:56,240 --> 00:25:59,280 Speaker 1: And because the media landscape is shifting so quickly, we 496 00:25:59,359 --> 00:26:02,440 Speaker 1: want to be as fastile and as integrated with a 497 00:26:02,520 --> 00:26:06,320 Speaker 1: TikTok or snap as we are with Twitter or or 498 00:26:06,400 --> 00:26:09,679 Speaker 1: Facebook right, or as we are with connected TVs. And 499 00:26:09,720 --> 00:26:12,440 Speaker 1: we're gonna find and I think we'll see after we launch. 500 00:26:13,000 --> 00:26:15,840 Speaker 1: I hope our our suspicions are correct that we're actually 501 00:26:15,960 --> 00:26:19,080 Speaker 1: hitting these different segments in a very unique and novel 502 00:26:19,160 --> 00:26:22,560 Speaker 1: way that satisfies an audience that maybe didn't even understand 503 00:26:22,680 --> 00:26:27,000 Speaker 1: or didn't follow the movement and streaming right, didn't follow 504 00:26:27,160 --> 00:26:29,440 Speaker 1: kind of twitch and and how that that whole thing 505 00:26:29,520 --> 00:26:32,240 Speaker 1: had had sort of progressed. And that's okay, because we're 506 00:26:32,240 --> 00:26:35,879 Speaker 1: trying to destigmatize gaming at large, right, We're trying to 507 00:26:36,280 --> 00:26:38,560 Speaker 1: We're trying to you know, sort of like push off 508 00:26:38,640 --> 00:26:42,119 Speaker 1: the notion of this like mono type type of persona 509 00:26:42,280 --> 00:26:45,720 Speaker 1: that that is perceived by some about gamers. Right, it's 510 00:26:45,720 --> 00:26:48,520 Speaker 1: all about celebrating things that you love. For us, it's 511 00:26:48,560 --> 00:26:53,520 Speaker 1: about shining light onto in some cases niche passion and 512 00:26:53,560 --> 00:26:55,920 Speaker 1: really bringing it out in our content. And it's giving 513 00:26:55,920 --> 00:26:59,280 Speaker 1: a platform to to really be civically minded in certain 514 00:26:59,320 --> 00:27:03,440 Speaker 1: respects without proxy virtue proxy and saying like the world 515 00:27:03,560 --> 00:27:06,280 Speaker 1: needs to change. Young people are is where that change 516 00:27:06,320 --> 00:27:09,760 Speaker 1: is going to happen. And we have the ability with 517 00:27:09,800 --> 00:27:13,119 Speaker 1: our platform, even in COVID, even in strange times, to 518 00:27:13,240 --> 00:27:16,520 Speaker 1: make a big difference. And so we feel like by 519 00:27:16,520 --> 00:27:19,639 Speaker 1: putting together the right type of content creators, building the 520 00:27:19,720 --> 00:27:22,480 Speaker 1: right type of authentic trust with them, and then distributing 521 00:27:22,520 --> 00:27:24,600 Speaker 1: in a novel way where we can move with the 522 00:27:24,640 --> 00:27:28,600 Speaker 1: consumers on like you know, the more aged industries, that 523 00:27:28,720 --> 00:27:31,399 Speaker 1: we stand a real chance of of building, you know, 524 00:27:31,480 --> 00:27:34,200 Speaker 1: something to last. And that's that's exciting, that's deeply exciting 525 00:27:34,200 --> 00:27:36,000 Speaker 1: as an entrepreneur. And I know a lot of entrepreneurs 526 00:27:36,040 --> 00:27:38,720 Speaker 1: are probably listening to this, and I just want to 527 00:27:38,720 --> 00:27:41,520 Speaker 1: speak speak to that that you know that that you 528 00:27:41,560 --> 00:27:44,119 Speaker 1: can you can go out there and make make something 529 00:27:44,160 --> 00:27:46,919 Speaker 1: from scratch that that can hopefully make a difference. Let 530 00:27:46,960 --> 00:27:49,719 Speaker 1: me ask you about the content operation. How are you 531 00:27:49,800 --> 00:27:54,000 Speaker 1: going to balance the user gen nature of this that 532 00:27:54,160 --> 00:27:56,800 Speaker 1: is going to appeal to the audience of the target 533 00:27:56,840 --> 00:28:00,720 Speaker 1: audience with the concerns about brand safety and the need 534 00:28:00,840 --> 00:28:05,440 Speaker 1: to presented, you know, to present to present pro programming 535 00:28:05,680 --> 00:28:08,919 Speaker 1: rather than people just kind of ripping. So I can 536 00:28:08,960 --> 00:28:10,639 Speaker 1: hit that one, and then you probably have some thoughts 537 00:28:10,640 --> 00:28:13,000 Speaker 1: on this clearly, but I think it's I think it's 538 00:28:13,040 --> 00:28:16,720 Speaker 1: partially about understanding what your brand stands for in any 539 00:28:16,880 --> 00:28:18,760 Speaker 1: any sense, right, you need to know what does my 540 00:28:18,840 --> 00:28:22,320 Speaker 1: brand stand for? And for us, we are trying to 541 00:28:22,640 --> 00:28:28,000 Speaker 1: actively push back on bullying internet sort of internet bullying, um, 542 00:28:28,040 --> 00:28:31,119 Speaker 1: you know, some of the stereotypes that that exist in 543 00:28:31,200 --> 00:28:34,520 Speaker 1: gaming that um, you know, and hiding behind an anonymous 544 00:28:34,560 --> 00:28:36,600 Speaker 1: sort of shield or wall while you're playing games and 545 00:28:36,640 --> 00:28:38,520 Speaker 1: you start to act out and all this. We're trying 546 00:28:38,560 --> 00:28:40,600 Speaker 1: to push back on that. So it starts with us 547 00:28:40,800 --> 00:28:43,480 Speaker 1: knowing that about our brand, and then when we select 548 00:28:44,000 --> 00:28:46,080 Speaker 1: those partners that we want to work with, whether it's 549 00:28:46,120 --> 00:28:50,200 Speaker 1: creators or or partner brands you select for the telegenics. 550 00:28:50,240 --> 00:28:53,040 Speaker 1: You select for their audience, of course, and their affinity 551 00:28:53,080 --> 00:28:56,640 Speaker 1: with the market, but you you select them knowing what 552 00:28:56,680 --> 00:28:59,040 Speaker 1: you're getting, right, And so there's a wide spectrum of 553 00:28:59,080 --> 00:29:02,320 Speaker 1: different types of eats out there. Some of them are yeah, 554 00:29:02,480 --> 00:29:05,160 Speaker 1: quite toxic, and we we are not interested in working 555 00:29:05,160 --> 00:29:08,800 Speaker 1: with them. Some of them are legitimately you know, um, 556 00:29:08,840 --> 00:29:11,880 Speaker 1: making content that that is uh, you know, it is 557 00:29:11,920 --> 00:29:14,680 Speaker 1: really authentic and and there, and we see them that 558 00:29:14,800 --> 00:29:16,920 Speaker 1: they're on the come up, and we want to mutually 559 00:29:17,000 --> 00:29:20,440 Speaker 1: invest in creating content together and we support the thing 560 00:29:20,640 --> 00:29:23,520 Speaker 1: they do. So just to kind of make sure that 561 00:29:23,520 --> 00:29:26,480 Speaker 1: that everyone's listening to this understands it. You might say, well, 562 00:29:26,520 --> 00:29:29,200 Speaker 1: are you competitors with Twitch? No, not at all, right, 563 00:29:29,320 --> 00:29:32,400 Speaker 1: we work with Twitch. Creators were distributed on Twitch. They 564 00:29:32,400 --> 00:29:34,960 Speaker 1: sell our inventory, by the way, and when they have 565 00:29:35,160 --> 00:29:39,440 Speaker 1: content that they create on their platform, we say, give us, 566 00:29:39,640 --> 00:29:43,120 Speaker 1: give us one day of your content a week, we 567 00:29:43,160 --> 00:29:45,960 Speaker 1: will cross promote you. You will still be with your 568 00:29:46,000 --> 00:29:48,720 Speaker 1: current audience. Because of the way that Twitch has their 569 00:29:48,720 --> 00:29:51,480 Speaker 1: distribution and it's kind of like a modern version of syndication, 570 00:29:51,800 --> 00:29:54,479 Speaker 1: they can actually stream to their audience and then project 571 00:29:54,560 --> 00:29:58,040 Speaker 1: it over to to our channel through through the way 572 00:29:58,080 --> 00:30:00,480 Speaker 1: that it works on Twitch, and we can then take 573 00:30:00,560 --> 00:30:03,160 Speaker 1: their content and distribute it more widely. So if they 574 00:30:03,160 --> 00:30:06,520 Speaker 1: are feeling like they're hitting a glass ceiling, or they're 575 00:30:06,520 --> 00:30:09,360 Speaker 1: feeling like they're getting tired of creating the same type 576 00:30:09,400 --> 00:30:12,200 Speaker 1: of gameplay content every day, we can work with them 577 00:30:12,200 --> 00:30:15,360 Speaker 1: and give them producers and and modern graphics tools and 578 00:30:15,400 --> 00:30:18,000 Speaker 1: a studio in some cases to create some new stuff 579 00:30:18,040 --> 00:30:20,080 Speaker 1: that will make them excited and feel like they're growing 580 00:30:20,080 --> 00:30:22,600 Speaker 1: as creators. So again to get back to your question, 581 00:30:23,240 --> 00:30:26,520 Speaker 1: you know, are we worried about brand safety? I think 582 00:30:27,200 --> 00:30:31,040 Speaker 1: we we are going to succeed in being authentic and 583 00:30:31,120 --> 00:30:32,880 Speaker 1: resonant for the audience. So we want to and we 584 00:30:33,240 --> 00:30:35,240 Speaker 1: do have an SMP person by the way, I just 585 00:30:35,240 --> 00:30:38,800 Speaker 1: talked to them today, So we're creating rules. Of course, 586 00:30:39,000 --> 00:30:42,120 Speaker 1: then there's some like strictly very very dark red lines, 587 00:30:42,200 --> 00:30:45,120 Speaker 1: right like you know, human rights and like hate speech 588 00:30:45,160 --> 00:30:46,760 Speaker 1: and all this kind of stuff. We also want to 589 00:30:46,800 --> 00:30:50,120 Speaker 1: be natively natural for the audience, and so that's going 590 00:30:50,160 --> 00:30:52,520 Speaker 1: to be a line. But I think actually we might 591 00:30:52,560 --> 00:30:57,240 Speaker 1: be slightly more open to you know, the speaking frankly 592 00:30:57,360 --> 00:30:59,440 Speaker 1: or whatever. But at the same time, we're gonna be 593 00:30:59,560 --> 00:31:02,840 Speaker 1: so by and far, the most brand safe product that's 594 00:31:02,840 --> 00:31:05,720 Speaker 1: ever existed in this in this vernacular that I think 595 00:31:05,720 --> 00:31:07,600 Speaker 1: our partners are going to be super happy that we're 596 00:31:07,600 --> 00:31:10,960 Speaker 1: being up it. Do you have any launch partners sponsor 597 00:31:11,120 --> 00:31:15,680 Speaker 1: advertising launch partners lined up yet that you can disclose? Yeah. 598 00:31:15,720 --> 00:31:18,920 Speaker 1: I mean the reason you're hearing arials phone go off 599 00:31:19,000 --> 00:31:20,720 Speaker 1: is we've got our ad sales team. We just closed 600 00:31:20,760 --> 00:31:23,560 Speaker 1: back to back deals. They would have put it on mute, 601 00:31:23,600 --> 00:31:25,360 Speaker 1: because I think that's a good thing and a bad 602 00:31:25,400 --> 00:31:29,840 Speaker 1: thing for an interview to congratulations, Thank you, thank you. UM. 603 00:31:30,080 --> 00:31:32,920 Speaker 1: As I mentioned in variety, we signed a very large 604 00:31:33,000 --> 00:31:35,200 Speaker 1: category exclusive deal will be announcing in the coming weeks. 605 00:31:35,200 --> 00:31:38,280 Speaker 1: It was actually just shy ten million dollars a year. UM. 606 00:31:38,320 --> 00:31:41,240 Speaker 1: It's a very exciting partnership and we've signed many, many 607 00:31:41,280 --> 00:31:44,320 Speaker 1: individual deals. All of those deals are gonna be revealed 608 00:31:44,320 --> 00:31:46,160 Speaker 1: on on both kind of a rolling basis and as 609 00:31:46,200 --> 00:31:50,360 Speaker 1: per our our mutual announcements. What has become unbelievably clear 610 00:31:51,360 --> 00:31:53,520 Speaker 1: is that this is a white space that advertisers are 611 00:31:53,520 --> 00:31:56,120 Speaker 1: looking to put their money into UM and there are 612 00:31:56,120 --> 00:31:58,960 Speaker 1: a lot of brands who need this very pivotal U 613 00:31:59,120 --> 00:32:01,680 Speaker 1: gen Z and literal audience and don't have means to 614 00:32:01,720 --> 00:32:05,440 Speaker 1: access them. UM we have got national QUSR brands, global 615 00:32:05,480 --> 00:32:10,880 Speaker 1: tech brands, UM lifestyle brands, you name it, across category, Telco, 616 00:32:11,000 --> 00:32:13,160 Speaker 1: so on and so forth, and so you'll see some 617 00:32:13,200 --> 00:32:14,840 Speaker 1: of those that launch, will see some of those rolling 618 00:32:14,840 --> 00:32:18,840 Speaker 1: out throughout the year. UM big opportunity here and we're 619 00:32:18,840 --> 00:32:21,080 Speaker 1: starting to see that reflecting the marketplace. It's very exciting 620 00:32:21,120 --> 00:32:24,320 Speaker 1: for us. How much to date have you raised uh 621 00:32:24,360 --> 00:32:28,840 Speaker 1: to to launch van Our Our seed series raise was 622 00:32:29,200 --> 00:32:33,120 Speaker 1: seventeen million dollars. As we talk here today, you are 623 00:32:33,360 --> 00:32:36,800 Speaker 1: six days out from launch. By the time this airs, 624 00:32:36,840 --> 00:32:40,200 Speaker 1: you'll probably be six days or more past launch. But 625 00:32:40,280 --> 00:32:43,960 Speaker 1: as we talk today six days out, what is keeping 626 00:32:44,000 --> 00:32:46,400 Speaker 1: you both up at night? What is what is the 627 00:32:46,440 --> 00:32:48,880 Speaker 1: thing that you're angsting about most as you get as 628 00:32:48,920 --> 00:32:51,440 Speaker 1: you get close to launch. I don't think there's any 629 00:32:51,440 --> 00:32:53,840 Speaker 1: one thing. I think it's all the things. Right. If 630 00:32:53,880 --> 00:32:56,760 Speaker 1: an entrepreneur isn't up worrying or looking over their shoulder, 631 00:32:57,480 --> 00:33:00,640 Speaker 1: you know, checking at crossing every tea and dot every eye, 632 00:33:00,720 --> 00:33:03,040 Speaker 1: then you're not you're doing something wrong. So I think 633 00:33:03,120 --> 00:33:06,880 Speaker 1: ultimately arial and my goal is are we creating resonant entertainment? 634 00:33:07,400 --> 00:33:10,800 Speaker 1: That people enjoy watching. I think if that is your 635 00:33:10,840 --> 00:33:13,600 Speaker 1: first goal, it's really the content. It's not the business economics. 636 00:33:13,680 --> 00:33:15,880 Speaker 1: It's you know, revenue is a byproduct, you know, doing 637 00:33:15,880 --> 00:33:18,479 Speaker 1: the right thing on a way that engages with an 638 00:33:18,480 --> 00:33:21,080 Speaker 1: audience and all that we're we're really worried about making 639 00:33:21,080 --> 00:33:24,640 Speaker 1: sure this TV is is good TV um and you 640 00:33:24,680 --> 00:33:26,160 Speaker 1: know that's what we hope the day one people can 641 00:33:26,200 --> 00:33:29,000 Speaker 1: see that. I hope people are patient with us. Launching 642 00:33:29,000 --> 00:33:31,440 Speaker 1: a network is not easy, especially in the timeframe we 643 00:33:31,480 --> 00:33:34,000 Speaker 1: did it. So for us, it's really listening to the 644 00:33:34,000 --> 00:33:36,520 Speaker 1: feedback when it goes live, being out there on Twitter, 645 00:33:36,640 --> 00:33:38,880 Speaker 1: being out there on Twitch, engaging and chat, hearing the 646 00:33:38,920 --> 00:33:42,080 Speaker 1: feedback and doing our best incorporate uh that back into 647 00:33:42,080 --> 00:33:44,280 Speaker 1: our program and to give ultimately the best product to 648 00:33:44,480 --> 00:33:47,640 Speaker 1: the audience. Well, it will be interesting to see what 649 00:33:47,800 --> 00:33:51,200 Speaker 1: the then diagram looks like in six months, twelve months time. 650 00:33:51,280 --> 00:33:54,200 Speaker 1: Good luck to you, admire anybody that that is putting 651 00:33:54,240 --> 00:33:57,560 Speaker 1: this much into chasing a big dream. Thank you both 652 00:33:57,640 --> 00:34:00,480 Speaker 1: for your time, Thank you, thank you give with you, 653 00:34:07,880 --> 00:34:10,320 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening. Be sure to leave us a review 654 00:34:10,320 --> 00:34:13,960 Speaker 1: at Apple Podcasts. We love to hear from listeners and 655 00:34:14,000 --> 00:34:16,560 Speaker 1: be sure to tune in next week for another episode 656 00:34:16,560 --> 00:34:17,480 Speaker 1: of Strictly Business.