APPS + PLATFORMS
Who knew a trivia app could find so much success so quickly? HQ, an app that live-streams trivia games and offers actual crash prizes, only launched in October. But as Recode points out, the app’s Tuesday night game alone attracted 300,000 players. Now Recode reports that the company is seeking a post-money valuation of somewhere between $80 – $100 million – though there’s no saying whether it’ll get it. Recode’s VC sources say the company may wind up raising somewhere between $15 million and $20 million. HQ was created by Rus Yusupov and Colin Kroll, two of the co-creators of Vine.
SHORT FORM VIDEO
Go90, Verizon’s ad-supported mobile video service, has greenlit a second season of Now We’re Talking, a scripted comedy series set in the world of sports broadcasting. The show comes from the Warner Bros.-owned short form video unit Blue Ribbon Content, as well as Uninterrupted, the sports-centric digital media company co-founded by NBA star LeBron James.
A popular internet personality maybe be coming to TV. Turner-owned digital comedy studio Super Deluxe is reportedly developing a scripted TV show about Joanne The Scammer, a character created by satirist Branden Miller. The project was first reported by The Root. Joanne – a self-described “messy b**** who lives for drama” – has gained a following across Miller’s Instagram and Twitter accounts. The exact premise of the show hasn’t been revealed just yet, and no specific network is attached to the project. Miller has previously said that he was in talks with Netflix to create a sitcom, but it’s unclear what became of those conversations.
Syfy Wire, the digital news and content platform from NBCU’s Syfy, has launched a new Snapchat show. Called Geekly, the series explores fantasy, superhero news, culture, fantasy, and – naturally – science fiction. YouTube stars Whitney Moore (Geek and Sundry) and Andre Meadows (Black Nerd Comedy) host the series. Though Snapchat is widely known for its ephemeral content, things are starting to change a bit: Past episodes of Geekly will be available through Snapchat Search, instead of falling off the platform. The series premiered yesterday; new episodes will debut each Thursday at 6 AM ET.
LET’S MAKE A DEAL
Broadcast giant Nexstar Media Group has finalized an agreement to acquire LKQD Technologies, a California-based video ad tech startup founded in 2014. LKQD provides ad tech services to advertisers and publishers, and reaches about 115 million cross-platform video viewers. Nexstar is buying the company for $90 million in cash. LKQD co-founders Brian DeFrancesco and Christophe Clapp (the company’s CEO and CTO, respectively) have both reached employment agreements with Nextstar, as have other top LKQD execs. Nexstar says the acquisition will help it sell “hyper-local” target ads across TV and digital platforms.
VIRTUAL + AUGMENTED REALITY
Sony announced that it has now sold more than two million PlaySation VR headsets since the device’s 2016 launch. Other high-end headset makers, including HTC and Oculus, still haven’t shared their sales numbers. But most analysts believe that Sony has sold more headsets than those two competitors, in part because the PlayStation VR entered the market at a significantly lower price point than either the HTC Vive or Oculus Rift. Sony’s sales figures notwithstanding, VR adoption may be reaching a bit of a standstill. According to new figures from YouGov, about seven percent of U.S. adults now own a VR headset. One year ago, that number was 6 percent, according to YouGov. YouGov gathered its data from multiple surveys with 12,000 consumers.
RESEARCH
People pay for VOD content more often than they pay for live video, and it’s not particularly close. That’s according to a new study from Market Strategies International, which found that only 11% of all video streamers currently pay for live-streaming TV platforms like DirecTV Now, Sling TV, or YouTube TV. The most popular VOD streaming services are Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, Hulu, HBO Now, and YouTube Red, according to the study. The survey found that 73% of respondents used streaming services, and that 29% of streamers have either canceled or downgraded their traditional pay-TV services. The study reached 3,260 consumers aged 18 or older. It was conducted over the summer, from August 7 through August 25.
EXECUTIVE MOVES
YouTube just got more serious about international content. The Google-owned video giant has named Luke Hyams as Head of Originals for the EMEA region. He’s the first to hold the position. Hyams is no stranger to original video content: He joins YouTube from Disney, where he helped oversee digital efforts as Director of Global Content. In the past, he served as Chief Content Officer, International for Disney’s Maker Studios. As YouTube’s new EMEA content chief, Hyams will work out of Google’s London headquarters.
Latino-oriented digital media company mitu has made a new hire. David Ortiz, a creative exec who most recently worked at Endemol Shine North America, will head up a recently-restructured division focused on production, development, and talent. He’ll oversee mitu’s development slate, talent partnerships, and content strategy.
TRIVIA
Our Last Trivia Question: Who did Netflix cast to take over the role of Queen Elizabeth II in season 3 of The Crown? Answer: Olivia Colman. Kudos to Andy Pittman-TAMU/TX, Susan Nessanbaum Goldberg-M and S Entertainment/CA, Peter Steckelman-Tennis Channel/CA, Tom Moore-Kalt Productions/CA, and David Westberg-SAG-AFTRA Federal Credit Union/CA
Actress Eliza Coupe currently co-stars in which original streaming series? (Email trivia@cynopsis.com with your answer and be sure to include your name, company, city and state.)
