Hot topics

Next-New-Networks : Page 1
February 17th, 2011

Next New Networks SEC Filing Pretty Much Confirms YouTube Buyout

While Google’s YouTube is reportedly in talks to buy Web content producer Next New Networks, the New York-based startup has just filed with the SEC in relation to $19.4 million in equity financing.

NNN also raised $1 million in debt funding last year right when those YouTube acquisition rumors started swirling. → Read More

January 14th, 2011

Which Is The Most Capital Efficient Online Video Startup Of Them All? (Hint: Rocketboom)

Success in online video is relative to how much time, effort, and money you put into it. Andrew Baron of Rocketboom offers an (albeit self-serving) chart in a post updating the State of the Union for his startup and online video in general. I like this chart because it tries to compare the total capital poured into four different online video ventures and the total cumulative videos put out and consumed by viewers.

Next New Networks is by far the largest, with an estimated 1 billion cumulative video views, but it’s also raised $27 million in venture capital (weren’t they supposed to be bought by YouTube by now?). Revision3 and Rocketboom come in at the next tier with 312 million and 290 million cumulative video views, respectively. A decent accomplishment by both, but it took Revision3 about $10 million in capital to get there whereas Rocketboom got there with only $1.5 million. And then there’s MyDamnChannel, with 105 million cumulative views and $7.5 million in capital invested. Not very capital efficient at all, assuming revenues are tied to video views, which is usually the case. But in order to better visualize the ratio of cumulative views to total invested capital, I created the my own chart based on Baron’s original one. → Read More

December 29th, 2010

Next New Networks Raises $1 Million Amid YouTube Acquisition Rumors

While Google’s YouTube is reportedly in talks to buy Web content producer Next New Networks, the New York-based startup has just raised $1 million in debt financing. According to this SEC filing, the fledgling company is raising a round totaling $1.2 million.

Listed as investors are Ross Levinsohn from Fuse Capital, Bijan Sabet from Spark Capital, Goldman Sachs and Saban Capital Group.

The potential acquisition of NNN, which also manages a network of independent filmmakers alongside producing its own channels, would give YouTube its first step into producing Web videos in-house. → Read More

Ashkan Karbasfrooshan, Contributor
December 24th, 2010

The Year In Online Video Deals And What To Expect In 2011

With the recent rumor that Google’s YouTube unit was looking at acquiring video content company Next New Networks, it’s clear that anything can happen in the rapidly growing online video space.  While some are shocked to see that Google may cross over and own content, the rumor does sound plausible. Loaded with nearly $25M in venture financing, it’s not quite the initial public offering that some of their investors were hoping for, but let’s face it, an exit to Google is nothing to be ashamed of.

In fact, while you can blame Sarbanes Oxley or a lack of credible initial public offering (IPO) candidates, it is likely that 2011 will come and go with very few, if any, major liquidity events in the public markets for online video startups.  As such, the most likely path to liquidity for venture capitalists (VCs) remains mergers and acquisitions (M&A).  With VCs having invested in so many online video startups and industry revenues still not matching the lofty expectations that whet VCs appetites in the first place, a lot of boards will cash out in 2011 when buyers come knocking. → Read More

December 1st, 2010

Demand Media EVP And Yahoo Vet George Stewart Jumps To Startup Resonate

Online ad technology startup Resonate Networks, which has just raised $5 million in financing, has scored a digital media heavyweight as its new chief revenue officer.

George Stewart, former Executive Vice President of Media Sales at Demand Media and previously SVP of Advertising Sales at Next New Networks, will work directly with Resonate clients to build brands online by leveraging the fledgling company’s “Attitudinal Targeting” technology. → Read More

February 10th, 2010

Next New Networks Sees 300 Million Views In 2009; Approaches Profitability

Online television studio Next New Networks is reporting a few milestones today, releasing news that the network has seen over 300 million views across its networks in 2009. The company also claims it doubled revenue from 2008 to 2009 and saw a 70% increase in the number of sponsors.

Next New Networks builds internet based “micro television networks” for targeted niche communities. Over the past few years, Next New Networks restructured and reshuffled its executive team and staff, bringing in Lance Podell as CEO in late 2008 and added a new chief of programming Kathleen Grace in 2009. The company says viewership grew thanks to programming and networks in 2009, which include Fast Lane Daily, Barely Political (aka Obama Girl),Beyond The Trailer and more. In 2009, NNN’s networks grew to over one million subscribers on YouTube, podcasts and e-mail, a 300% increase from 2008. → Read More

June 13th, 2008

Next New Networks Looking For Next New CEO

Web video production house Next New Networks is looking for a new CEO. Founder and current CEO Herb Scannell, who will remain as chairman, announced it on the company’s blog. Previously, Scannell was vice chairman of MTV Networks and president of Nickelodeon, where he launched the career of SpongeBob SquarePants. (Not that he’s looking for a SpongeBob type to fill his shoes, necessarily). Next New Networks runs 16 different video Websites, including Barely Political and Channel Frederator, all creating original online video. So what kind of candidate is Scannell and his investors (Goldman Sachs, Spark Capital, Velocity Interactive) looking for? Scannell writes in his post: Thus far, we’ve been video-centric, built our network model, and got distribution and advertising up and running. Now, I want to see us go beyond video by building up our web capabilities in key categories, and move the company to make our sites and new offerings even more robust for communities to gather and interact. Hence, I plan on bringing in someone as CEO who has “been there, done that” in building a web business, and who will work with me as Executive Chairman. Blogs are becoming an executive recruiting tool for startups. Last year, SocialText founder Ross Mayfield used his blog to similarly announce that he wanted to find a CEO to take his company to “thenext level.” Four months later, he found his replacement. (He remains chairman and president) How long will it take Next New Networks to find a new CEO? If you’ve been there, done that, and want to do it again, send Herb your resume. CrunchBase Information Herb Scannell Next New Networks Information provided by CrunchBase → Read More

March 12th, 2008

Next New Networks – $15 million From Velocity Interactive Group And Goldman Sachs

Goldman Sachs and Velocity Interactive Group have put another $15 million into the online TV site Next New Networks, the company will announce shortly. The company, which launched in January 2007, had previously raised $8 million from Spark Capital, Saban Media Group, Pilot Group, and Bob Pittman. All the previous investors put more money in and Jonathan Miller from Velocity Capital was already on the board of the company. The company says it has had 33 million video views so far in March across its 12 video networks, which include Barely Political (home of Obama Girl), Channel Frederator (cartoons), ThreadBanger (DIY fashion), and Veracifier (daily news). Next New Networks also announced a deal with AOL today to distribute its videos. CrunchBase Information Next New Networks Information provided by CrunchBase → Read More

January 31st, 2008

In Time For Super Tuesday, It's Super Obama Girl

You can argue all you want about who won the Democratic debate tonight, but all that matters is who wins on Super Tuesday. If viral video is any indicator (and I don’t think it is), Barack Obama is already ahead. From the folks at Barely Political, now part of Next New Networks, here is latest Obama Girl video: Super Obama Girl. It just came out: Personally, in my book, you can never top the original Obama Girl video. Let’s review (for comparison purposes only): There’s also the whole YouBama phenomenon,which we broke, and now the Washington Post, Yahoo News, and CNN has picked up. I got an e-mail earlier tonight from YouBama co-founder Christopher Pedregal informing me that “Our servers are melting.” They seem to be back up now. I wonder how long before someone puts the Obama Girl videos on YouBama. Check out Craigslist founder Craig Newmark’s Obama video testimonial. He ain’t no Obama Girl, but he is sincere. Where are all the viral videos for Hillary or McCain? → Read More

Duncan Riley, Contributor
October 17th, 2007

Next New Networks Acquires BarelyPolitical.com

Micro television network provider Next New Networks has acquired BarelyPolitical.com, the site behind the Obama Girl video. This acquisition is Next New Networks’ first foray into politics, and BarelyPolitical will now be served along side Next New Network’s existing content including Channel Frederator. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Whilst the Obama Girl video series (there is more than one) is perhaps an acquired taste, its viral success is quite remarkable, with the original video having been seen over 100 million times. Under the deal BarelyPolitical will launch multiple regularly scheduled shows, including frequent reports from its videobloggers and correspondents. The first project launched by BarelyPolitical with Next New Networks, “I Like a Boy“, a music video co-produced with the Iraq Afghanistan Veterans of America, racked up more than 1.5 million online video views in its first week, and was featured on various media outlets including CNN American Morning, Fox News, and ABC’s Good Morning America. See our previous coverage of Next New Networks here. → Read More

Duncan Riley, Contributor
May 20th, 2007

Next New Networks Building Micro Television Networks

Next New Networks is an online media company with big plans for “micro television networks”. The New York based company launched in January with $8 million in funding from Spark Capital. The team behind the service is impressive. There are five founders of the company, Herb Scannell, Fred Seibert, Jed Simmons, Tim Shey and Emil Rensing. CEO Scannell is the former President of Nickelodeon Networks and Vice-Chairman of Viacom’s MTV. Seibert was the original creative director of MTV and a former president of Hanna-Barbera, Simmons a former senior executive at Excite and Turner Broadcasting. Shey cofounded and ran interactive agency Proteus and more recently produced Amanda Across America, Amanda Congdon’s post Rocketboom video blogging project. Rensing was an engineer at AOL before co-founding Frederator Studios. Next New Networks aims to build internet based “micro television networks” for targeted niche communities. The concept brings together elements of traditional TV networks with Internet functionality that invites viewers to contribute, share and distribute content. Next New Network’s PR spokesperson Brooke Hammerling shared the following description of a micro-network as the company sees it: “[micro-networks are] a brand that lives on the internet and creates a relationship with its audience wherever it goes. In practical terms, every network of [Next New Networks] will have one or more shows, 3-11 minutes of programming, on a weekly or daily basis, a website, and a feed that can be subscribed to in places like iTunes or My Yahoo. Many may also have a Channel or homepage on sites like YouTube. You can go to any of those places and get every episode of the networks’ shows when and how you want them”. Think Weblogs Inc meets video blogging with an everywhere distribution model. Next New Networks has already launched 9 micro-networks with a plan to expand that number to 30: Indy Mogul: a the network dedicated to DIY filmmakers and film lovers. Channel Frederator: billed as the world’s original cartoon podcast, it serves the funniest cartoons sent in by viewers each week. Fast Lane Daily: a car news network providing 5 minutes of fresh car news every day. Pulp Secret: “the world’s first network dedicated to comic book news and culture”. Includes comic book news, interviews and reviews. ThreadBanger: targeted at people who make their own clothes and accessories. Includes DIY tips and how-to guides. Veracifier: “Alternative channel” with “original ideas”, reporting and commentary on news of → Read More

Got a Tip? Tell Us.

Real-Time
Crunchbase

All Activity
  • All Activity
  • Acquisitions
  • Funding Rounds
  • Investments
  • IPOs
  • Additions
Marin Software — Received $30M in Unattributed funding
2.13.2012
Rusnano — Company added to CrunchBase
2.13.2012
General Atlantic — Invested in FNZ.
2.13.2012
Cidade Internet — Acquired by Populis.
2.1.2012
Jive Software — Went public with stock symbol NASDAQ:JIVE.
2.3.2012
Cidade Internet — Acquired by Populis.
2.1.2012
Factory Media Limited — Acquired by Forward Internet Group.
2.1.2012
PointBridge Solutions — Acquired by Perficient.
2.9.2012
LetsBuy.com — Acquired by Flipkart.
2.9.2012
Cocoafish — Acquired by Appcelerator.
2.9.2012
Marin Software — Received $30M in Unattributed funding
2.13.2012
FNZ — Received Unattributed funding from General Atlantic
2.13.2012
LipoFIT Analytic — Received $9.5M in Series B funding from KfW Bankengruppe and Bayern Kapital
2.13.2012
Selecta Biosciences — Received $22M in Series D funding from Rusnano
2.13.2012
Bind Biosciences — Received $25.5M in Series D funding from Rusnano
2.13.2012
General Atlantic — Invested in FNZ.
2.13.2012
KfW Bankengruppe — Invested in LipoFIT Analytic.
2.13.2012
Bayern Kapital — Invested in LipoFIT Analytic.
2.13.2012
Rusnano — Invested in Selecta Biosciences.
2.13.2012
Rusnano — Invested in Bind Biosciences.
2.13.2012
Jive Software — Went public with stock symbol NASDAQ:JIVE.
2.3.2012
Rusnano — Company added to CrunchBase
2.13.2012
Durham Graphene Science — Company added to CrunchBase
2.13.2012
ClevrU — Company added to CrunchBase
2.13.2012
OpenLabel — Company added to CrunchBase
2.13.2012
Bookt — Company added to CrunchBase
2.12.2012
Fit Freeway — Product added to CrunchBase
2.12.2012
Metier TAO - Time, Attendance Online with Leave Balance Tracking — Product added to CrunchBase
2.12.2012
Metier HR - Cloud Based HR Process Automation Suite — Product added to CrunchBase
2.12.2012
TweepsMap — Product added to CrunchBase
2.12.2012
Wupbox account — Product added to CrunchBase
2.11.2012
CrunchBase