Verizon To Offer Original Programming

Verizon Inc. VZ is following in the footsteps of Netflix Inc. NFLX and Amazon Inc. AMZN by rolling out its own line of original programming. The success of Netflix and Amazon's recent foray into TV production has pushed Verizon to carve out its own niche in the TV arena. A New Segment While Amazon and Netflix have focused mainly on adult viewers, Verizon is aiming lower and hoping to hook the younger generation. Verizon says it will launch a series of channels in conjunction with Awesomeness TV targeted at millennials. The company is also partnering with Awesomeness TV's owner DreamWorks Animation to create childrens programming as well. The deal between DreamWorks and Verizon is expected to yield 200 hours of original content each year. The Shift Toward Mobile Viewing Verizon is in an interesting position to capitalize on a growing trend toward watching content on mobile devices while also reining in Awesomeness TV's massive following. On YouTube, Awesomeness TV's channel has more than 112 million subscribers and over 7 billion views, and the millennials watching the content are primarily doing so on smartphones and tablets. Room To Grow While Verizon hasn't announced the details of the new content, it is expected to be made available in late 2015. Though the channels will only be available in the US to begin with, Awesomeness TV CEO Brian Robbins said he sees a wide range of growth opportunities in the future for the partnership.