Cell phones, tablets and other portable devices will continue to be the best way to reach the under-35 content consumer, says Studio71 President & Co-Founder Dan Weinstein. An early pioneer in working with social media talent, Studio71 just signed content creator Hannah Hart along with a host of other multichannel-network partners.<\/p>\n
In this interview with Beet.TV at the Digital Content NewFronts<\/a> 2018, Weinstein traces the rise of Studio71 and talks about the growing impact of skinny bundles on mobile device consumption.<\/p>\n Studio71 recently signed on to help manage Hart\u2019s digital strategy across the author and comedian\u2019s digital footprint of some 5.3 million followers. In addition, Studio71 picked up such multichannel-network brands and personalities as Family Gaming Team, teen Loren Gray, one of the most popular creators on Musical.ly, and Matt Steffanina, the dancer and celebrity choreographer, as Variety reports<\/a>.<\/p>\n Weinstein\u2019s previous endeavor, The Collective, was formed circa 2005 as a talent management company. It ventured into the \u201cnew breed of talent\u201d space by signing Lucas Cruikshank<\/a>, who created the character Fred and an associated video series on YouTube, then financing what would become the highest-rated cable movie of 2010 after the movie was licensed to Nickelodeon.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was sort of aha moment for the company,\u201d says Weinstein<\/a>. \u201cAnd that was the point where we tipped the scales into becoming more of a media enterprise than a management company.\u201d<\/p>\n A few years ago, German broadcaster ProSieben made an investment in The Collective and ultimately took control of the enterprise before merging it with Studio71<\/a>. Now the company is feeding the growing appetite of Millennials for content consumption as the widening desire for mobile viewing.<\/p>\n Studio71 creates content for audiences \u201cthat are wanting to watch a different kind of programming and in a different manner than sitting back in their living room and watching linear television. And that\u2019s absolutely growing,\u201d Weinstein says.<\/p>\n The rise of streaming packages is a welcome development in an age of cord cutters and cord nevers. \u201cThose are also consumable via mobile,\u201d he says of skinny bundles. \u201cI think mobile still is the primary means for a certain demographic, the under-35 crowd, to watch the majority of their content.\u201d<\/p>\n