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Tag: Revision3

  • Discovery Channel Buys Revision3, Enters WebTV Fray

    Discovery Channel Buys Revision3, Enters WebTV Fray

    After a couple of days when rumors began to circulate that the Discovery Channel was in talks to purchase Revision3, an internet-only television network and distributor of original content, the two media companies apparently shook hands today and finalized the deal.

    According to AllThingsD, the official price tag on the purchase hasn’t been disclosed by Discovery but “sources familiar with the transaction” are saying it was in the ballpark of $30 million. All 50 employees of Revision3 will stay on as the plan appears to be that the online channel will continue to make its own web shows out of its studio in San Francisco. Given that Revision3 already has a built-in culture of online celebrities, Discovery said in a statement that Revision3’s “content aligns with many of Discovery’s top linear program genres, such as tech, cooking, and popular science.” It remains to be seen, however, if Discovery will retain Revision3’s non-video content, like podcasts.

    Revision3 CEO Jim Louderback said he thought joining the Discovery Channel family was a natural fit. “Revision3 has always focused on creating compelling programs featuring authentic hosts that sit at the center of engaged and targeted communities,” Louderback said. “We couldn’t imagine a more appropriate company to team up with to develop the future of original web-based video.”

    Last year, WPN’s Abby Johnson spoke with Louderback where he talked about the evolution of online video. Incidentally, he happened to mention how YouTube’s plan to introduce 100 original channels of content would raise the perceived value among advertisers. It so happens that YouTube made it’s official pitch to advertisers last night with a celebrity-loaded debut of it’s new marketing tool, Brandcast. Today’s deal with Discovery appears to have validated Louderback’s prediction, with cherries on top.

    Over on Revision3’s official Twitter account, the camp seemed pretty pleased with how things worked out.

    @Revision3
    Revision3    Thanks so much for the warm welcome, we couldn’t be more excited! RT @DiscoveryComm: Welcome to the family, @Revision3! http://t.co/tPJWMarf 1 hour ago via web ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    Louderback himself confirmed on his own account that, yes, Revision3’s not pulling up the stakes just yet.

    @jlouderb
    Jim Louderback    @giannii yeah, we’re not going anywhere.. San Francisco arm of Discovery Comm now.. 14 minutes ago via web ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    This is a peculiar twist of events because as of late it seemed like it was only big internet companies making moves into the television broadcasting territory, what with things like Google TV, YouTube’s BrandCast, and Apple TV. Discovery’s acquisition of Revision3 now shows that the cross-over can happen in the other direction, too, and serves as a decent indicator that original programming for the internet isn’t necessarily a harbinger of doom for cable television but, rather, proof that television as we know is it simply evolving.

  • 4 Video Platforms You Need To Start Thinking About

    When you think of online video, more than likely you think of YouTube. That does make sense, seeing how they’re in the leadership position. But, have you ever wondered what the other platforms are that you need to be familiarizing yourself with?

    Is online video more than just YouTube? What do you think?

    WebProNews caught up with the CEO of Revision3, Jim Louderback, at the Blogworld Expo in L.A. where he discussed his optimism in regards to the future of online video. He told us that there were 4 major platforms that people need to be thinking about in terms of online video.

    The first is, obviously, YouTube. The video giant is just that – a giant. It has created multiple opportunities for people in the online video space and, with its latest move, hopes to create more. Last month, the company announced that it was adding more than 100 channels of original content from media companies and celebrities including the Wall Street Journal and Madonna.

    According to Louderback, these new channels will raise the bar of professionalism on YouTube. In addition, he believes they will raise the “perceived value” for advertisers. He thinks that YouTube will package this new content with the big online video players, such as Revision3, in order to build itself into a multichannel bundle similar to Comcast or Viacom.

    However, Louderback told us that, even though YouTube is the “next big platform as TV gets disintermediated,” there are other platforms that need to be focused on as well. Secondly, he believes that Apple should be taken seriously as a video platform because Apple developed iTunes, which produced podcasts and multiple online video outlets. He suspects that they’re working on “something” else as well.

    “When Apple does ‘something,’ things happen,” Louderback points out.

    The third platform that Louderback thinks people should be acknowledging is Microsoft. Already its Zune product runs content across Xbox and Windows, and with its new Metro OS rolling out soon, Louderback sees this content coming to phones, tablets, PCs, and potentially, TVs.

    Lastly, he thinks that Amazon belongs in the video platform game. He told us that Amazon’s Kindle Fire would be the biggest selling consumer electronic device and that it would “revolutionize the way we consume media.”

    Although he didn’t categorize it as a platform yet, Louderback hinted that Facebook could become a potential player going forward.

    Do you agree with Louderback that these other companies are video platforms that we need to pay attention to? Let us know.

    For 5 years, WebProNews has partnered with BlogWorld and New Media Expo, the world’s first and largest new media conference, in an effort to broadcast how new media can grow your business, brand, and audience. Stay tuned to WebProNews for much more exclusive coverage.

  • Online Video Is More Than The “Big DVR In The Sky”

    The future of online video is bright. A bit of an obvious statement there, but it’s the truth. But, for most it’s not being utilized to it’s full potential.

    For most, online video is just the “big DVR in the sky“, as CEO of Revision3, Jim Louderback, recently told us. People visit sites like Hulu, CBS, TV.com, etc. to play catchup, because that’s where you go when you’ve missed them the night before. Louderback went on to say:

    “There is this whole other part of online video where people are trying to create stuff that looks like television. Like comedies, dramas, news… but that’s done at less of a budget or more focused and targeted and the people doing it are able to be more experimental. There is a lot of experimentation that can happen with video when you break out of that structure… when you blow up that bottle that it’s contained in.”

    So is the experimentation with online video a good thing? In this case yes. Louderback says that we’re seeing more professional stuff going in, it’s easier to create, the tools and compression are getting better, and it gives talented people the ability to go out and cover things in their own way.

    During his interview with WebProNews at the Blogworld Expo, Louderback stated:

    “You couldn’t do this on TV, but you can do it here, build an audience and make it as long as it needs to be. You don’t have to hit a network timeout, you don’t have to hit a particular advertising break, if I’m boring… you cut me off and we’re done. I think that’s great because it allows the creativity of people before that had to be focused. They had to go to New York / L.A., you had to pay your dues, you had to sit within these rigid formats, and now you can do it in Lexington, Kentucky.”

    For the most part, network TV and online video are both getting better and better… but they’re both still trying to figure out what they want to be when they grow up and where they should intersect.

    For 5 years, WebProNews has partnered with BlogWorld and New Media Expo, the world’s first and largest new media conference, in an effort to broadcast how new media can grow your business, brand, and audience. Stay tuned to WebProNews for much more exclusive coverage.