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Fullscreen, with its software and analytics tools, has positioned itself as one of the most tech-focused of the YouTube networks. But the Culver City company is putting a greater emphasis on premium online video with the appointment of Ashley Kaplan as head of content.
Kaplan joined Fullscreen in December from Magical Elves, where she was vp digital content and strategy and oversaw such projects as Last Chance Kitchen, the web series companion to Bravo’s Top Chef.
In her new role, Kaplan will oversee ongoing production and development of premium content with Fullscreen talent and brands.
“I’m really starting almost from scratch and building a full-service, world-class production facility,” Kaplan tells THR. “Fullscreen has become one of the leading MCNs on YouTube — we have the opportunity to continue our evolution into a media company. The connected generation and content is a big part of that.”
CEO George Strompolos founded Fullscreen in 2011. Today the company, which is backed by The Chernin Group, Comcast Ventures and others, works with online talent including The Fine Brothers and violinist Lindsey Stirling. It was the No. 3 YouTube partner channel in January with 26.4 million total unique viewers behind Vevo and Zefr, according to comScore.
Kaplan says the company wants to continue to grow that audience, especially on mobile. Mobile was only 9 percent of Fullscreen’s traffic in 2011, she says, but had grown to more than 40 percent as of late 2013.
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Fullscreen’s mobile focus is not surprising given its January acquisition of Supernova, the developer behind video sharing app Viddy.
Kaplan adds, “What’s really interesting is an intersection between technology, product and content. That’s what makes me really excited about the future of Fullscreen.”
Fullscreen has also announced that it has brought on SpinMedia veteran Michael Wann as chief revenue officer. Wann will oversee business development, integrated marketing and advertising operations at the company. He was most recently chief revenue officer at music and pop culture network SpinMedia. Before that, he was evp business development at Demand Media.
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