CEO Rich Antoniello has developed a profitable model for video while avoiding VC handouts and keeping a low profile.
At the center of Complex Networks is an unlikely digital media CEO. Raised in the blue-collar Canarsie section of Brooklyn, he keeps a low profile .
"It all comes back to brand, being the creator of the conversation," he said."Print experience informed that thinking 1,000%. Being a salesperson, of not just the audience, the pink sheets and Simmons data, but selling what it really means. That informed a lot of who I am today." Unusual for a text-rooted media company, Complex started making digital video in the form of longform series. The massive media industry"pivot to video" has since become ridiculed for its association with short, viral videos that did little for companies' businesses. Instead, Antoniello focused on making cable network-worthy, high-quality video series that could be adapted to many platforms and spawn other revenue lines.
For Complex Networks, the Go90 money enabled it to go from 12 to 33 video series but also move further upscale. It worked with"Friday Night Lights" director Peter Berg on a docu-series"QB1"; andcreated by Dan Powell and Bethany Hall and starring Chris Elliott and Amy Sedaris. Complex Networks has to return profits to its owners instead of having full freedom to reinvest it. And while Verizon is, questions swirl around Verizon's commitment to media now that it's closed Go90 and written down its media arm that contains AOL and Yahoo. Complex, though, is in a different boat from that arm given that it operates independently.
Antoniello said distributors initially pushed back, but he argued his shows had big followings of young men that are hard for advertisers to reach, and that using social media to promote shows would help maximize the viewership before audiences get bored and move on to the next thing.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Russia's Rusal invests $200 million in Kentucky plant after US lifts sanctionsRussian aluminum giant Rusal was sanctioned by the US. Now it's investing $200 million in a Kentucky mill.
Read more »
Rory McIlroy is Nike's $200 million man — here's how he spends his millions and lives his life off the courseHe makes $35 million in endorsements.
Read more »
Salesforce is paying $300 million to acquire its own charitable foundation, and it could add as much as $200 million to its annual revenueSalesforce raised its revenue forecast and lowered its earnings guidance in light of its $300 million planned merger with Salesforce.org.
Read more »
Analysis | Democratic candidates are making their case to an often-ignored group: The Christian leftAnalysis | Democratic candidates are making their case to an often ignored group: The Christian left
Read more »
Dallas man offered $200 to attack transgender woman after car accidentInvestigators in Dallas say a man was offered $200 to beat a transgender woman in an attack that was recorded as a crowd gathered to holler and watch.
Read more »
Stocks making the biggest moves: Johnson & Johnson, Western Digital, Bank of America & moreThese are the stocks posting the largest moves midday Tuesday.
Read more »
20 years on, Columbine survivors tell Parkland students: 'We're sorry we couldn't stop it.'Columbine and Parkland. Two high school massacres, two communities changed forever. Two fateful days, two decades apart. Tragic bookends in American history. In all, 30 lives lost: 13 in Colorado in 1999, 17 in Florida in 2018.
Read more »
Digital drove Bank of America's strong start to the yearBank of America's Q1 2019 earnings demonstrated that investments in its digital platform have been paying off in the form of increased engagement.
Read more »
J.K. Rowling, who denies being a billionaire, made $54 million last year. Here's how the famous 'Harry Potter' author makes and spends her fortune.J.K. Rowling is secretive about her fortune and has denied being a billionaire. Here's how the famous 'Harry Potter' author spends her millions.
Read more »
Trump's tweets have 'cheapened the presidency' and the media makes it worse, says PelosiTrump’s tweets have ‘cheapened the presidency’ and the media makes it worse, says House Speaker Nancy Pelosi
Read more »