SourceFed Studios explained

SourceFed Studios
Former Name:DeFranco Creative
Industry:Digital media
Num Employees:25
Num Employees Year:2013
Parent:Revision3/Seeker (2013–2016)
Group Nine Media (2016–2017)
Module:
Subbox:yes
Years Active:2013–present
Subscribers: million (combined)
Views: million (combined)
Stats Update:August 21, 2022

SourceFed Studios was an American digital media company and multi-channel network created by Philip DeFranco in 2011. After finding success during the early years of YouTube with his eponymous news show, DeFranco secured funding from YouTube and launched SourceFed as part of the YouTube Original Channel Initiative in 2012.

SourceFed was one of the more successful YouTube-funded channels and a nerd culture-focused spinoff, SourceFedNerd, was launched in 2013. DeFranco then sold his DeFranco Creative portfolio, which included SourceFed to Revision3, a subsidiary of Discovery Digital Networks (DDN). Under that portfolio, SourceFed's production and hosting staff launched and worked on various sister channels including SourceFedNerd, People Be Like, Super Panic Frenzy, and ForHumanPeoples (later rebranded as Nuclear Family).

In 2016, DDN folded Revision3 into Seeker and renamed DeFranco Creative as SourceFed Studios. Seeker and SourceFed Studios were then acquired by Group Nine Media in late 2016. In March 2017, Group Nine shut down the remaining SourceFed Studios YouTube channels. SourceFedNerd was briefly rebranded as NowThis Nerd, but Group Nine reversed this after fan backlash. Although inactive, the SourceFed Studios channels remain online.

History

Background and founding (2011–2012)

SourceFed was an idea Philip DeFranco had been considering as an evolution of his own YouTube series, The Philip DeFranco Show (PDS). In an interview with Forbes, DeFranco stated that he originally wanted to turn his daily show into several daily segments. He recalled there was confusion among his audience when this format was tested, convincing DeFranco that he would need to create a new series to not alienate, but grow his audience.[1] Around this time, DeFranco also had plans to create a news network.[2]

In late 2011, YouTube began its $100 million funding of original or premium content channels. Due to DeFranco's position as a YouTube partner, the website offered him funding for an original channel.[3] The SourceFed channel, based on a blog of the same name, was one of these channels.[4] [5] [6] DeFranco revealed that he acquired the funding to launch the channel by originally promising YouTube that the channel would be run as a "celebrity gossip channel", and that it would consist of a single show rather than multiple different shows. However, DeFranco negotiated for less funding, in return to have creative control over the channel's content.[7] DeFranco also hand-picked the first six hosts of SourceFed. The channel launched on January 23, 2012.[8] [9] [10]

The SourceFed channel found early success in attracting a sizable subscriber base. DeFranco later created a spinoff channel, SourceFedNerd (stylized as SourceFedNERD), which was announced on May 16, 2013.[11] [12] A teaser trailer was released, promising the debut of the channel on May 20.[13] The New Movie Thing Show, The SourceFed Movie Club, and #TableTalk were moved from the original SourceFed channel to the Nerd channel. The spinoff channel hosted a live version of the #TableTalk series during the YouTube Comedy Week in 2013.[14] The online stream was received well, being successful in terms of both raw viewership, as well as viewer retention.[15]

Revision3 / Seeker ownership (2013–2016)

In June 2013, Philip DeFranco sold SourceFed along with the other channels under his DeFranco Creative portfolio to Revision3.[16] DeFranco also became an executive of Revision3 and the Senior Vice President of Phil DeFranco Networks and Merchandise, a newly formed subsidiary of the former, as a result of the move.[16] [17] DeFranco's "sxephil" channel, on which he hosted the PDS, was already signed under the Revision3 network.[18] Revision3 itself was acquired by Discovery Communications in 2012,[19] [20] which was noted by The Verge to be Discovery's "first major play into the expanding web television [or digital media] market."[21] By the beginning of 2014, Discovery began calling its digital branch by the name Discovery Digital Networks in their company blog.[22]

While discussing the dissolution of SourceFed Studios, DeFranco retrospectively detailed that after selling his DeFranco Creative umbrella to Revision3, he began to have less involvement in SourceFed, before having no involvement at all.[11] DeFranco expressed, "for you [long time viewers of SourceFed] who know what the original content was, and what it is now, you know that it's like, it's pretty much a completely different channel—both in content and the people running it."[11] Previously, in June 2016, DeFranco made his earliest public clarification that he has "no hands on the creative decisions [made] on [SourceFed]."[23]

On September 19, 2013, the SourceFedNerd channel reached 500,000 subscribers.[24]

By 2016, Discovery eventually renamed Revision3 and DeFranco Creative as Seeker and SourceFed Studios, respectively.[25] Additionally, Seeker's website's about page had SourceFed's properties listed under their ownership.[26] SourceFed Studios encapsulated SourceFed and Nerd, as well as the PDS.[27]

Group Nine Media merger and cancellation (2016–2017)

Discovery Digital Networks ceased to exist in late 2016, as Discovery Communications sold its assets into a new digital media holding company, Group Nine Media.[28] Group Nine therefore merged Thrillist Media Group, NowThis Media, and The Dodo with Discovery's Seeker and SourceFed Studios.[29] [30] Although SourceFed doubled its video views year-over-year, Discovery's CCO Paul Guyardo stated that the merger occurred due to a need for "more scale, more brand and more resources."[31] DeFranco clarified on Twitter that he had no involvement with the decision to dissolve SourceFed Studios.[32]

On May 4, the SourceFed Nerd channel was rebranded as NowThis Nerd without prior knowledge and against the wishes of the former hosts. This rebranding received backlash from viewers and former hosts. The Nerd channel lost over 20,000 subscribers within the first five hours of the NowThis rebranding.[33] On July 3, 2017, NowThis Nerd reverted the channel back to SourceFed Nerd and deleted the content made since the rebranding. The SourceFed Nerd channel was left up to serve as an archive of the original content and NowThis Nerd became its own separate channel.[34]

Channels and hosting

SourceFed Studios launched and operated various channels during its existence:

Awards and nominations

Awards and nominations for SourceFed Studios
YearAward ShowCategoryResultRecipient(s)
2013 Best News and Culture Series SourceFed channel
Best Live Series SourceFed: The Nation Decides 2012
Best Live Event SourceFed: #PDSLive 2012 Election Night Coverage
Audience Choice for Series of the Year SourceFed channel
2014 4th Streamy Awards Audience Choice for Channel, Show, or Series of the Year SourceFed channel
Gaming SourceFedNerd channel
News and Current Events Series SourceFed channel
2015 5th Streamy Awards Audience Choice for Channel, Show, or Series of the Year SourceFed channel
Best News and Culture Series SourceFed channel

References

References
Primary video and playlist sourcesIn the text these references are preceded by a double dagger (‡):

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Humphrey. Michael. YouTube PrimeTime: Philip DeFranco's 'People First' Plan Has SourceFed Booming. Forbes. July 27, 2012. August 1, 2012.
  2. Web site: Oreskovic. Alexei. YouTube covets TV gold with new channels. Reuters. May 1, 2012. July 4, 2012.
  3. Web site: O'Brien. Jon. Produce like Philip DeFranco: 4 Tips for Developing a YouTube Channel. New Antics. June 5, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120602002457/http://newantics.com/blog/produce-like-philip-defranco-4-tips-for-developing-a-youtube-channel. June 2, 2012.
  4. Web site: Dimick. Donald. Other places for your TV fix. The Trinitonian. August 31, 2012. September 29, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20131216014827/http://www.trinitonian.com/2012/08/31/other-places-for-your-tv-fix/. December 16, 2013.
  5. Web site: Newton. Casey. YouTube's Phil DeFranco building an empire. SFGate. February 6, 2012. May 24, 2012.
  6. Web site: Eördögh. Fruzsina. Philip DeFranco's latest YouTube venture is a hit. The Daily Dot. January 30, 2012. May 24, 2012.
  7. Table Talk: SourceFed UK, EVIL JOE, and Drugs!!. SourceFed. YouTube. May 22, 2013. May 23, 2013.
  8. Web site: Cohen. Joshua. Is 'SourceFed' 'The Daily Show' for the YouTube Generation?. Tubefilter. January 26, 2012. May 24, 2012.
  9. Web site: Roettgers. Janko. How Phil DeFranco plans to save YouTube. Gigaom. May 25, 2012. June 5, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121105162502/http://gigaom.com/video/how-phil-defranco-plans-to-save-youtube/. November 5, 2012.
  10. Web site: Walker. Rob. On YouTube, Amateur Is the New Pro. The New York Times. June 28, 2012. July 25, 2012.
  11. Why People Are Freaking Out Over Tomi Lahren's Suspension and Comments. March 1, 2017. The Philip DeFranco Show. YouTube. March 22, 2017.
  12. Web site: Cohen. Joshua Cohen. SourceFed Launches Spinoff YouTube Channel, SourceFed Nerd. Tubefilter. May 16, 2013. May 16, 2013.
  13. NEW CHANNEL FROM SOURCEFED!!!!. SourceFedNERD. YouTube. May 16, 2013. May 16, 2013.
  14. Web site: Gutelle. Sam. SourceFedNERD Will Do A Live #TableTalk Tonight From YouTube Space LA. Tubefilter. May 22, 2013. May 24, 2013.
  15. Web site: Gutelle. Sam. SourceFed Live Stream's Numbers And Engagement Were Very Good. Tubefilter. May 23, 2013. January 21, 2015.
  16. Web site: Spangler. Todd. Discovery's Revision3 Snaps Up Phil DeFranco's YouTube Network. Variety. May 30, 2013. March 24, 2017.
  17. Web site: Millar. DiAngelea. Philip DeFranco goes from Web host to network exec . Los Angeles Times. May 30, 2013. August 21, 2022.
  18. Web site: Wallenstein. Andrew. Revision3 signs Philip DeFranco. Variety. January 5, 2012. June 11, 2013.
  19. Web site: Wallenstein. Andrew. Discovery acquires Revision3. Variety. May 3, 2012. March 24, 2017.
  20. Web site: Discovery's Revision3 Buys Philip DeFranco's YouTube Ventures. Deadline Hollywood. May 30, 2013. March 24, 2013.
  21. Web site: D'Orazio. Dante. Discovery Channel purchases Revision3 for 'roughly $30 million'. The Verge. May 3, 2012.
  22. Web site: Tag: Discovery Digital Networks. The Discovery Blog. Discovery Communications. March 24, 2017.
  23. DeFranco. Philip. GUESS WHO GOT BEAT UP LAST NIGHT?! …and there's video of it. OUCH!. The Philip DeFranco Show. YouTube. June 9, 2016. June 13, 2016.
  24. SourceFedNERD Hits 500,000 Subscribers!. SourceFedNERD. YouTube. September 19, 2013. September 28, 2013.
  25. Web site: Gutelle. Sam. Discovery-Backed Group Nine Media To Shut Down Philip DeFranco's SourceFed Among Massive Shift. Tubefilter. March 20, 2017. March 23, 2017.
  26. Web site: About Seeker . May 18, 2016 . March 24, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170324040621/http://www.seeker.com/about-seeker-1806095349.html . March 24, 2017 . dead .
  27. Web site: Discovery Communications Announces $100 Million Investment and Strategic Partnership with Newly Formed Digital Content Holding Company: Group Nine Media. Discovery Newsroom. Discovery Communications. October 13, 2016. March 23, 2017.
  28. Web site: Spangler. Todd. Discovery Investing $100 Million to Merge Thrillist, NowThis, The Dodo in New Digital Venture. Variety. October 13, 2016. July 7, 2018.
  29. Web site: Discovery Communications Announces $100 Million Investment and Strategic Partnership with Newly Formed Digital Content Holding Company: Group Nine Media. Discovery Newsroom. Discovery Communications. October 13, 2016. March 24, 2017.
  30. Web site: Barr. Jeremy. Digital Publishers Come Together as Group Nine Media, Backed by $100 Million From Discovery. Advertising Age. October 13, 2016. March 23, 2017.
  31. Web site: Spangler. Todd. Can Ben Lerer Turn Discovery-Backed Digital Roll-Up Into the Next Vice?. Variety. October 14, 2016. March 26, 2017.
  32. DeFranco. Philip. PhillyD. 843984564976406528. @tubefilter your article somewhat claims that this SF decision is why I took last week off. It is not. Not at all.. March 20, 2017. March 24, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170324041711/https://twitter.com/PhillyD/status/843984564976406528. March 24, 2017.
  33. Web site: Sourcefednerd's Real-Time Subscriber Count - Social Blade YouTube Stats YouTube Statistics. Social Blade. May 4, 2017.
  34. Web site: Gutelle. Sam. SourceFedNERD Regains Its Branding As NowThis Nerd Moves Out. Tubefilter. July 5, 2017. October 4, 2017.
  35. Web site: Cohen . Joshua . Elliott Morgan And Meg Turney Are Leaving SourceFed . . April 3, 2014 . April 5, 2014.
  36. Web site: Guttelle. Sam. Joe Bereta Will Leave SourceFed To Join Defy Media. Tubefilter. December 22, 2014. July 7, 2018.
  37. Hershberger. Trisha. thatgrltrish. 580762392147075074. So many feels - goodbyes and next chapter. March 25, 2015. March 29, 2015.
  38. Newton. Lee. Everett. Ross. LEE NEWTON'S LAST SOURCEFED VIDEO. SourceFed. YouTube. March 28, 2015. March 29, 2015.
  39. Web site: SourceFedNERD Hits 1 Million Subscribers, Welcomes New Hosts Filup Molina and Whitney Moore to Join Sam Bashor. Discovery Newsroom. Discovery Communications. August 29, 2016. March 24, 2017.
  40. Web site: CEA Staff. See What Phil DeFranco and Trisha Hershberger Thought of the 2014 CES. CEA News Blog. Computer Electronics Association. February 7, 2014. January 9, 2015. January 10, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150110042030/http://www.ce.org/Blog/Articles/2014/February/See-What-Phil-DeFranco-and-Trisha-Hershberger-Thou.aspx. dead.
  41. Web site: Esqueda. Ashley. Tomorrow Daily 108: A drone dance, 'WTF of CES 2015' with Sourcefed's Trisha Hershberger, and more. CNET. January 7, 2015. January 9, 2015.
  42. Web site: Waldvogel. JD. It's Official: YouTuber Steven Suptic (AKA mlgHwnT) Has Joined The SourceFed Family! Check Out Our Exclusive Interview With Him!. SourceFed. February 24, 2015. June 17, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150225131342/http://sourcefed.com/its-official-youtuber-steven-suptic-aka-mlghwnt-has-joined-the-sourcefed/. February 25, 2015.
  43. Web site: Brouwer. Bree. Discovery Debuts Gaming Network Super Panic Frenzy, Hosts Launch Giveaway. Tubefilter. March 16, 2015. August 15, 2022.
  44. What's Happening to SuperPanicFrenzy?. Super Panic Frenzy. YouTube. April 24, 2016. March 24, 2017.
  45. Internet Hosts Be Like. SourceFed. YouTube. August 31, 2014. May 17, 2016.
  46. Web site: People Be Like Channel & Exclusive William Haynes Interview!. August 27, 2015. SourceFed. en-US. May 16, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20150829201824/https://sourcefed.com/people-be-like-channel-exclusive-william-haynes-interview/. August 29, 2015.
  47. PBL Update & Destroying SourceFed!. People Be Like. YouTube. June 14, 2016. July 6, 2018.

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