Nine partnership with Disney-owned Maker Studios for 9Now
Five original series from the Disney-owned Maker Studios are now available to stream on Nine’s advertising-supported video on demand platform 9Now.
Maker Studios is known for producing short-form content intended for millennial audiences. It boasts 10 billion views every month on YouTube where it has over 950 million subscribers.
For Nine, this represents an opportunity to push 9Now beyond just serving as a catch-up channel and embracing original content and digitally-minded viewers. One of the five original series will be exclusive to 9Now. Jobsworth stars 20 year-old YouTube sensation Joe Weller on a quest to find his dream job.
Nine general manager of product and digital operations Niamh Collins advised Mediaweek: “We are using this as an opportunity to attract this audience to 9Now. We know that they are already there. We have other content like Adventure Time. They’re already consuming this content and we do want to try and broaden that audience.”
For the moment, Nine are viewing the content as an experiment as they determine exactly what sort of content viewers are seeking from 9Now. If the Maker content proves successful, Nine will seek to further cement the relationship with additional content deals.
“We’re dipping our toe in the water to see what the consumer appetite is for this kind of content,” Collins said. “We’re definitely open to exploring all opportunities. At the end of the day, we have 1.7 million subscribers. We want to give them the content that they want whenever they want it.”
The five original series available on 9Now include:
Jobsworth
Available only on 9Now – Take a journey with 20-year-old YouTube sensation Joe Weller as he looks to find his dream job. Watch as Joe bargains with potential bosses for a day of experience in his dream job in return for a day in the worst job they can find. With more than six million followers across social platforms, Joe has built a global audience with comedy sketches, vlogs, music videos and more. www.9now.com.au/jobsworth
Now Boarding
Skateboarders and social media stars Chris Chann, Micky Papa and Jason Park embark on their first ever European adventure. Journey with Chris and friends through Paris, Munich, Vienna, Budapest, Prague, Venice, and more, as they link up with locals to skate iconic spots, sample signature dishes, check out the nightlight, and explore how skateboarding can break down barriers and connect cultures.
The series is a collaboration between Maker Studios and Sweatpants Media.
Wreck Room
YouTube star Nikki Limo hosts game night in her parents’ living room – playing games from growing up like “Never Have I Ever” and “Spin the Bottle.” The series is a collaboration between Maker Studios and Matador Content, producers of the hit Spike TV series Lip Sync Battle.
Pretty Vacant
Two shallow, narcissistic, and oftentimes reprehensible best friends find themselves in relatable but elevated situations as they search for love. Starring creators Avital Ash and Danielle Rene, along with Adrianne Palicki (Friday Night Lights), Derek Phillips (Friday Night Lights), and Simon Kassianides (The Big C), with digital stars AlphaCat and Shameless Maya, the series is directed by Heath Cullens (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia) and is a collaboration between Maker Studios and Steel Wool Entertainment.
Hope & Randy
A quirky, irreverent, romantic comedy about the sweet and awkward sexual explorations of a pair of 24-year-olds in their first serious relationship. The series originally premiered on linear television as part of truTV’s “Late Night Snack” in the U.S. and is produced by Two Trick Pony in association with Maker Studios.