In Switch, Bebo Looks To Advertisers To Fund Its Web TV Programs
This story was written by Patrick Smith.
AOL-owned social network Bebo is switching the business model for its original online video content and inviting advertisers to entirely fund their production, instead of putting in money itself. Previously the company had helped fund the production of its web TV series like KateModern, but will now ask sponsors to foot the bill. European MD Kate Burns (pictured) tells C21media.net: "We do not fund the programs ourselves anymore. They are 100 percent ad-funded. We don't take the risk, which means that at the commissioning stage we have to ensure those ideas are sellable." Bebo has launched several online mini-series in the last two years, most famously the Lonelygirl15 spin-off KateModern, which had 35 million views in its first series, and the Sony Pictures TV International-developed Sofia's Diary. Bebo last year hired Kelly Brett to lead its original productions. See full story here on our sister site, paidContent:UK.
By Patrick Smith