Blip To Produce Original Series

Blip is the hosting site of choice for the reviewing community worried about things being taken off of YouTube, although some of them have started hosting with Springboard.  There are some occasional non-review shows making their way on, more than you think or I know of. I even had a few I wanted to check out for Saturday Night Showcase but was too busy to go through.

Today, the site has announced that they will be starting to produce original series much as YouTube and Hulu have done. “Blip Studios” is the name of the project.

Since 2005, Blip has worked closely with the world’s top web series producers, advertisers and distribution platforms with the mission of making original series scalable and profitable. With the introduction of Blip Studios, the Company will enhance their offerings to advertisers, producers and talent to create original series in key genres including comedy, sci-fi, sports and drama. Blip Studios will build and manage networks of shows in these genres, and has made Blip a one-stop shop for brands and their agencies that want to invest in original web video content and deliver their messages to targeted audiences

I like this idea as both a member of the reviewing community and a storytelling reviewer. It’s good to see shows that might not make it onto television for whatever reason have the opportunity to find an audience. So who will be the first three partners?

Also announced today, Blip Studios has signed exclusive talent and distribution agreements with some of the most successful independent production companies and shows on their network, representing hundreds of millions of views. These shows understand how to engage their audience, and will work with Blip Studios to take their efforts to wider audiences, more platforms, and increased production value. These agreements include increased revenue from advertising, brand integration sales, marketing, audience development, distribution, and production resources. Three of the signed shows include:

• Nostalgia Critic: With a massive, dedicated audience, Nostalgic Critic, starring Doug Walker, is the long-running hit from production company Channel Awesome. The series features Walker as he critiques and pokes fun at all things nostalgic, especially television and video games from the 80′s and 90′s.
• Nostalgia Chick: Originally a counterpart to the hugely popular series Nostalgia Critic, Nostalgic Chick, produced by Lindsey Ellis, Antonella Inserra, and Elisabeth Hansen and starring Ellis and a roster of guest stars, was focused on nostalgic television and movies targeted for women. With an engaged audience of millions of monthly viewers, the show has quickly evolved into a critique of popular culture with recurring characters that form a fun, collaborative variety review.
• Todd in the Shadows: Known as “A Guide to Terrible Pop Songs of the Present and Past,” Todd in the Shadows stars Todd Nathanson and has garnered millions of views around the world. Todd is enshrouded in shadow as he takes us through the context of a mainstream pop song, breaking down the minutia of the awesomeness and the awfulness, and establishing a great connection with his audience.

It should be noted that all three are members of Channel Awesome and That Guy With The Glasses.com. I’m assuming they went with the three more popular shows, and as a member of the reviewing community I find it cool. However, I wish at least one of the shows had been one of the non-review shows, even it was one I wouldn’t particularly care for. As much as I like review shows a good fiction series would be nice to reach people who want more than reviews. Still, congrats to Doug, Lindsey, and Todd and I’m curious to see how well Blip does with this new venture.

And no, I don’t expect to be called into this project. One video hit 600 reviews and one hit 200, but most of my RU colleagues are probably way above that as an average figure. Lucky for me I never expected to get rich on the video reviews.