AwesomenessTV and DreamworksTV are teaming up with Verizon for two new over-the-top channels, the companies announced on Wednesday.
The multi-platform AwesomenessTV will produce more than 200 hours of original content per year for the wireless provider.
The AwesomenessTV channel will target teens and young millennials with new scripted and unscripted series. The family-oriented DreamWorksTV will feature both live action and animated short-form content, as well as some of DreamWorks Animation’s most recognizable characters. Both will only be available in the U.S.
As traditional video viewing habits are evolving, multiple screens with time-shifted video is becoming more popular, especially among millennials.
AwesomenessTV Networks is one of the most popular and best watched, especially among teen viewers, with over 7 billion views and 112 million subscribers.
A recent study done by CTM/University of Southern California found that nearly two-thirds of millennials surveyed consider smartphones or tablets, not televisions, their primary device, and they are more likely than others to engage in entertainment activities on their mobile devices than others.
The study also found a 12 percent increase in overall video consumption between 2013 and 2014, with 18- to 24-year-olds having the largest increase that nearly doubled the national average.
AwesomenessTV is multi-platform media company serving the global teen audience, owned by DreamWorks Animation and Hearst Corporation. The company founded by Brian Robbins (“Smallville”) and Joe Davola (“Smallville”) also produces theatrical films and television series, including “Expelled,” Nickelodeon movie “Terry the Tomboy” and Netflix’s “Richie Rich.”
“This is an incredible opportunity to expand the audience for both AwesomenessTV and DreamWorksTV. Mobile is where our audience lives which is why we are looking forward to working with Verizon to introduce our programming and talent to their massive customer base,” Robins said.
“It’s increasingly clear that ‘mobile first’ is the way millennials are consuming all types of content, especially HD video and music,” said Terry Denson, vice president of content acquisition and strategy at Verizon. “At Verizon, we’re committed to working with only the best and most innovative content providers, like AwesomenessTV, and driving opportunities as new content models emerge and customers experience the most in-demand and popular video in entirely new ways.”