Not many companies these days compare themselves to the cable television network pioneers of the 70\u2019s and 80\u2019s. Awesomeness is one of them.<\/p>\n
Using digital pipes instead of coaxial wiring, Awesomeness picked up early funding and set out to capture Gen Z\u2014youths 12 to 24. Just as cable TV networks \u201cerupted out of the new operators that created cable systems, digital was allowing us to do the same,\u201d says AwesomenessTV President Brett Bouttier.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe starting investing in shows and talent and building a brand for this demographic,\u201d Bouttier explains in this interview with Beet.TV. \u201cBecause we listened to them a lot and we communicate with them, the brand really took off and it\u2019s become a massive success.\u201d<\/p>\n
The company started with funding from YouTube and venture capitalists and progressed to a who\u2019s who of investors, including DreamWorks Animation. It’s now owned by Comcast, Hearst Corp. and Verizon \u201cwho are themselves figuring out what the future of media distribution and programming looks like. We\u2019re a great fit.\u201d<\/p>\n
DreamWorks \u201creally encouraged us and gave us rocket fuel to continue to be entrepreneurial and innovative,\u201d says Bouttier<\/a>.<\/p>\n