Teen focused media company AwesomenessTV and Endemol Shine Group entered into a strategic partnership to extend AwesomenessTV brand overseas.
Under the multi-year deal, Endemol Shine Group’s premium channel network (PCN) Endemol Beyond will launch local language, owned and operated AwesomenessTV channels in key markets outside the U.S., including the UK, France, Germany, Spain and Brazil.
Endemol Beyond will also support and further grow the existing AwesomenessTV roster of talent led channels in these markets, as well as incubate new talent and verticals across the network.
The strategic partnership will leverage popular digital video formats as well as AwesomenessTV hit franchises such as docu-reality series Cheerleaders and interview-based strand IMO.
“Partnering with Endemol Shine Group will enable us to expand our footprint to reach teen audiences in their local languages with content produced just for them,” said AwesomenessTV, CEO and founder, Brian Robbins. “We will also be able to offer creative talent in these markets the same opportunities as those in the U.S., including brand deals, marketing support and premium production.”
New original content created under the agreement will include long-form AwesomenessTV series and formats for both digital video and television distribution.
Endemol Shine Group will work with AwesomenessTV to distribute formats as well as finished digital and television series, such as the highly successful sketch comedy series AwesomenessTV on Nickelodeon. It will also use its global distribution resources to roll out locally created series and formats into new markets around the world.
“AwesomenessTV and Endemol Shine Group are ideally matched as two creatively driven companies with fast growing digital networks that break the mold of the traditional MCN,” said Endemol Beyond, MD, International, George Ramme. “AwesomenessTV has undergone explosive growth in recent years by building a powerful global brand, which already has a loyal worldwide fan base outside the U.S. This partnership will amplify both their network and ours, whilst launching new talent and content with strong advertiser appeal, which can play across digital and TV platforms around the world.”
Endemol Shine Group incorporates global distribution arm Endemol Shine International, which has a catalogue of over 38,000 hours of owned and third party programming across scripted and non-scripted genres. Endemol Shine International has regionally focused distribution hubs in London, Los Angeles, Paris, Sydney, Miami, Moscow, Singapore and Mumbai, which serve broadcasters and other platforms in every market.
Moving beyond its roots as a YouTube channel and multi-channel network, AwesomenessTV has become a multi-platform entertainment company producing hit television series for Nickelodeon and Netflix, theatrical films including Expelled, the No. 1 social movie* for 2014, and 180 hours of original content for Verizon.