Next New Networks Formally Announces 'Next New Creators' Program

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - December 16, 2009) - Next New Networks, the leading online television company, today announced the formal launch of Next New Creators, a program designed to discover and foster talent from across the Web. Through the program, Next New Networks will partner with up-and-coming independent creators to distribute, promote, package and monetize their shows.

The Next New Creators program, which has been in the works since early 2009, has already proven to be a successful venture for Next New Networks, helping increase the popularity and viewership of its first slate of participants. Initial partners have included Grace Randolph's "Beyond the Trailer," Gregory Brothers' "Auto-Tune the News," Daniel Delaney's "Vendr.TV," Max and Rebecca Lando's "Working Class Foodies" and LushLife NY's "12 Second Cocktails."

As part of the Next New Creators program, creators will gain access to Next New Networks' extensive resources including their publishing and technology platform and increased distribution through relationships with major partners such as YouTube and iTunes, as well as promotional support, editorial outreach and a dedicated sales team. Through Next New Networks, creators will also gain access to production facilities, staff, best practices for growing their viewership, and opportunities for collaboration with many of the most creative talents in online video.

"Next New Creators' mission is to provide both resources and support to the Web's rising stars," said Lance Podell, CEO of Next New Networks. "This past year, successful collaborations with creators like Daniel Delaney and Grace Randolph allowed us to fine-tune Next New Creators to provide real and tangible value to take our producers to the next level. We look forward to many successful partnerships with producers in the years to come."

Highlights from initial partnerships include the Gregory Brothers' "Auto-Tune the News," an online video sensation and one of the most talked about video series of the year. The series, which can be seen on both Barely Political and the Gregory Brothers' YouTube channel, has been viewed over 35 million times and featured on national television programs including the "CBS Evening News" and MTV's "It's On with Alexa Chung." Next New Networks' filmmaking network Indy Mogul, which averages three million views a month, partnered with Grace Randolph to produce "Beyond the Trailer." Through this partnership "Beyond the Trailer's" viewership grew to over half a million views per month, and also benefited from inclusion in several Fortune 500 advertising buys across the network. As part of the program's official launch, Peter Rallis of MovieBuzz will join Next New Creators, working with the Indy Mogul network.

"Next New Networks is an important partner of YouTube, and we are excited to see their success and expertise in online video begin to drive a new wave of high-quality, high-viewership content for our site," said Kevin Yen, director of strategic partnerships at YouTube. "Next New Networks will play a key role in incubating new talent on YouTube and bringing these talented creators into the spotlight through their Next New Creators partnership program. 'Auto-Tune the News' has been a great hit in 2009, and we're looking forward to the new successes the future holds."

Next New Networks is looking for the next great Web series! If you're a producer who'd like to speak to someone at Next New Networks or to find out more information, please visit: http://www.nextnewnetworks.com/creators.

About Next New Networks

Next New Networks is TV for the Internet. As the leading independent producer of online television networks Next New Networks creates, packages, brands, markets and syndicates some of the Web's most popular regularly scheduled and episodic programming. Since its inception in March 2007, the company has launched sixteen networks, and its programming has been viewed more than 650 million times. Hit programming from Next New Networks includes Channel Frederator (home of the popular series "Nite Fite"), Barely Political (the creators of Obama Girl), food network for the people Hungry Nation, daily auto news network Fast Lane Daily, DIY filmmaking network Indy Mogul, lifestyle network ThreadBanger, tech comedy network Barely Digital and your one-stop showcase of the cutest pets across the globe, Ultra Kawaii. The company, headquartered in New York, is privately owned, with investors including Spark Capital, Goldman Sachs, Saban Capital and Fuse Capital. For more information, please visit www.nextnewnetworks.com.

Contact Information: Contact: LaunchSquad Alexis Wilson or Greer Karlis 415-625-8555 nnn@launchsquad.com