NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Programming, distribution and product development took center stage at the Time Inc. NewFront today as the company unveiled a slate of 2014 video programming, global expansion to its video partnership network and previewed a pair of bold new video platforms also rolling out in 2014. Headlining the announcements was the upcoming spring premieres of PEOPLE Now, live daily talk show on PEOPLE.com devoted to the latest celebrity and entertainment news, and EYESORE, with Rachel Dratch & Alec Holland, where the former SNL star and her collaborator will literally de-clutter peoples’ lives.
“Time Inc.’s storytelling is deeply rooted, with millions of consumers across virtually every segment of society. Today’s showcase embodies our strategy to build upon that heritage by producing award-winning premium video content and distributing it through innovation, product development, partnerships and collaborations with our advertising partners,” said J.R. McCabe, Time Inc. Senior Vice President, Video.
NEW PROGRAMMING: In 2013, Time Inc. expanded its original productions to include 50 recurring programs and original series and discussed plans to significantly increase its volume of original content this year. Central to that effort is a continual rollout of branded programs, and today it was revealed that TIME’s Red Border Films will deliver as many as six new installments in 2014, and season three of the Sports Emmy® nominated series SI Underdogs will premiere this fall. Also, recent pilots – Fortune The Chat, featuring conversations between the titans of business and editors Adam Lashinsky and Pattie Sellers, Entertainment Weekly Lightbulb, which delves into the creative process of those driving popular culture and Southern Living Biscuits & Jam, a soulful mix of music and food – will be expanded into regular series. The company also introduced new shows on the production schedule - The Climb, a series of roundtable discussions about what it takes to succeed in fashion, style and celebrity; and I (Heart) My Closet where celebrities give a tour of their closet and auction an item for charity.
EXPANDED DISTRIBUTION: In 2013, Time Inc. launched its premium video partnership network adding scale and diversity to advertising options to include run-of-network, full-sponsorship opportunities, segmenting audiences and contextual targeting on Time Inc. sites. Partners included: AOL/AOL On Network, Cinesport, Defy Media, NDN and NewsLook. Today the company introduces a slew of new network partners which will add a multidevice presence on popular emerging platforms to connect with consumers wherever they are engaging with our video content. The new partnerships are:
- Daily Motion – Time Inc. branded channels and video content will appear on the destination expanding the global reach of its video network;
- Ulive – Time Inc.’s lifestyle content will be distributed on www.ulive.com along with the Scripps Network of sites;
- Roku Inc. – creator of the most popular streaming platform for delivering video, music and casual games to the TV. The Roku® platform features the largest collection of entertainment available for streaming to the TV and is accessible through Roku streaming players, the Roku Streaming Stick™, Roku Ready® devices and later this year on Roku TVs; and
- Net2TV – where programming from PEOPLE, TIME, Cooking Light, and Golf will be accessible through its “Portico” programming guide available on more than 20 million screens, including Samsung, LG, Philips, Sharp, Toshiba, the Roku streaming platform, Safari, Chrome and Internet Explorer.
NEW PRODUCTS: Time Inc. also offered first looks at The Daily Cut and 120 Sports, two exciting new video products launching this year. The Daily Cut, created by Time Inc., aggregates video from across its brand portfolio into a sleek product that delivers a multichannel experience where viewers can browse robust video inventory by vertical, trending videos or watch live events. 120 Sports, announced earlier this year by equity partners Time Inc., MLB Advanced Media, The NHL, Silver Chalice and Campus Insiders, is a live-streaming digital sports video programming network featuring sports news, highlights and live look-ins, all integrated with real-time social conversation and produced for the digital generation and the devices they use most. See here for launch release.
NEW STUDIOS: In 2013 Time Inc. christened its NY broadcast headquarters which features three state-of-the-art studios. Later this year, the company will expand its Birmingham, AL video production facilities, followed by construction of a new Los Angeles studio; all as part of the strategy to increase the volume of original production across the portfolio.
SHOW DESCRIPTIONS:
PEOPLE Now: Hosted by Abbi Crutchfield and Jeremy Parsons, this new live daily show delivers a satisfying selection of everything PEOPLE has to offer: exclusive interviews, celebrity and entertainment, news and human interest—plus, style, pets, moms and babies, food and décor. As hosts deliver up-to-the-minute information, they drive chatter on social media. Editors from PEOPLE will appear alongside hosts to share their unique editorial expertise and dive deeper into the biggest stories of the day. Each show ends with PEOPLE’s signature Star Tracks, featuring a roundup of the day’s best photos and videos and the social conversation they inspire.
TIME’s Red Border Films: This Webby-nominated documentary film franchise offers TIME’s signature perspective on powerful stories from across America and around the world and reinforces TIME’s 90-year legacy as a leader in authoritative journalism. Look for six new productions to premiere in 2014.
SI Underdogs: SPORTS ILLUSTRATED’s Sports Emmy® award nominated web series returns for its highly anticipated third season. Featuring inspiring profiles of high school football teams under adverse conditions, SI Underdogs explores their triumphs, their struggles, and the hope they bring to their hometowns.
Fortune The Chat: Live-streamed chats offer one-on-one, in-depth discussions with today’s best-known business leaders and visionaries. Moderated by FORTUNE’s Pattie Sellers and Adam Lashinsky, the show offers insight into the minds of those who are setting the bar for business today—and tomorrow.
Entertainment Weekly Lightbulb: In this smart, lively video series, pop culture’s most creative minds—actors, writers, musicians, directors, comedians, show runners, etc.—open up to Entertainment Weekly about the creative process. In each episode the artists pull back the curtain on the inspiration behind a beloved movie, a genius script, a buzzed-about scene or an unforgettable song.
Southern Living Biscuits & Jam: Great food and great music—that’s Southern Living’s recipe for happiness, and this soulful series offers both in good measure. Fans get a front row seat as emerging talent and established favorites from the southern music scene stop by to sample home cooking and perform a private set.
EYESORE with Rachel Dratch & Alec Holland: In this series former SNL cast member Rachel Dratch teams up with Alec Holland—her childhood friend and an accomplished interior decorator and organization expert—to make over the eyesores in peoples’ homes. Featuring lots of laughs, as well as real, affordable insight, Eyesore follows as Alec and Rachel turn the messiest corners of peoples’ homes into desirable, functional spaces. Produced in partnership with Converge Media Group, Rachel Dratch, and Alec Holland.
THE Climb: In this fascinating series, emerging stars and established icons from the worlds of fashion, style and celebrity come together to share the stories of their climb to the top. Roundtable conversations and intimate one-on-one interviews with featured notables explore their experiences and perspectives on life, career, love, family, culture and the price of success. From the “big break” moments to “epic fails,” it is an unflinching look at what it takes to succeed—from those who have done it. Produced in partnership with PowerwomenTV.
I (Heart) My Closet: Take a look inside your favorite celebrity’s closet! This fun-loving series offers a guided tour through a featured star’s style moments from the red carpet, on-set, on-stage and in everyday life. The celebrity will share insights, behind-the-scenes stories, beauty and style tips and more. The tour ends with the celeb handpicking a few favorite items to auction off to benefit a charity of their choice. Produced in partnership with Solaris Entertainment.
About Time Inc.
Time Inc., a division of Time Warner, is one of the largest branded media companies in the world reaching more than 130 million consumers each month across multiple platforms. With influential brands such as TIME, PEOPLE, SPORTS ILLUSTRATED, InStyle, REAL SIMPLE, Wallpaper, Travel + Leisure and Food & Wine, Time Inc. is home to celebrated events and franchises including the FORTUNE 500, TIME 100, PEOPLE's Sexiest Man Alive, SPORTS ILLUSTRATED's Sportsman of the Year, the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen and the ESSENCE Festival.
