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Biggest Announcements From NewFronts (So Far)

Fernando Hurtado |
April 29, 2015 | 12:15 a.m. PDT

Web Producer

The Digital Content NewFronts, the nine-day event where digital content creators show off what's coming in the next year to advertisers, kicked off in New York City. Here's what you need to know about what companies announced in the first two days.

Yahoo Is Looking For The Next Top DJ

View image | gettyimages.com

Yahoo's Marissa Mayer took the stage to tout "Ultimate DJ," a talent competition à la "American Idol" and produced by Simon Cowell, which seeks to find the next DJ. Aside from announcing 18 new digital shows, Yahoo also announced Katie Couric, who "left TV" last year, would play an even bigger role at the company this year, hosting daily news show called "Yahoo News Live." 

AOL Sets Bets On The Huffington Post For Video Expansion

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"Capturing everything from... documentaries to fiction" is what The Huffington Post plans to do this year, according to founder and editor-in-chief Ariana Huffington. It plans to release 11 new shows, alongside its already-launched "The Huff Post Show," which will feature everything from a non-fiction series titled "Now What with Ryan Duffy," featuring the popular Vice journalist, to "You're Doing It Wrong," a cooking series. 

 

Buzzfeed Plugs Data, Not Content

 View image | gettyimages.com

In an unusual move for what's usually a highly visual event and content-driven event, Buzzfeed was lacking in both. Instead, the highly trafficked publisher reiterated how great it is at reaching millenials. Advertisers were pleased to know that Buzzfeed gets one billion videos a month, up from 17 million last year. CEO Jonah Peretti also emphasized the fact that the people who share Buzzfeed's branded content are 80% more likely to spend time with it. 

 

Maker Studios To Advertisers: Marvel At Our Marvel Content

Home to some of the largest YouTube celebrities, Maker Studios, which is now owned by Disney, announced it plans to give viewers a slew of digital content surrounding Marvel. Maker Studios is also getting serious, launching "American Woman" a series centered on the "tough mothers who helped create our young nation." 

 

The New York Times Is Entering Virtual Reality

View image | gettyimages.com

After admitting that it doesn't have the millenial hawking to its content, the New York Times said it does count with the "trust" of the public. "Unlike anyone else out there, we have people's attention before they even press play," said the Times' general manager of video, Rebecca Howard. The legacy media company also said it's ready to dive into the world of virtual reality. It has already enlisted director Chris Milk and his production company, Vrse, to document the work of French artist JR in the video "Walking New York."

The last day of the NewFronts is May 6.

 

Reach Web Producer Fernando Hurtado here, or follow him on Twitter here.

 

Related Content:

Condé Nast: We Make Video For 'Premium Audiences' (Adage)

Buzzfeed's 3 Most Interesting Data Points About Video Content (Variety)

AOL Goes For All Screens (VideoInk)



 

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