It’s an interesting time in the video game content creation/streaming world with Mixer’s sudden departure, Ninja flipping the script, and Twitch’s tone-deaf Black Live’s Matter ad – and one company, VENN, hopes there’s a gap in the marketplace to claim a stake of the $150 billion pie.
VENN’s spiritual predecessor, G4, proved that a broadcast audience for video game content exists, VENN wants to bring back that feel and type of content that gamers have been looking for. Their strategy appears to be to recruit popular content creators and give them the support and infrastructure to build the TV show of their dreams.
Venn will provide 24/7 nerd and culture content starting August 5th. Today they announced the first 5 shows listed below:
VENN Arcade Live
A celebration of all things gaming and pop culture, packed into a daily variety show. Hosted by fan favorite League of Legends Championship Series host James ‘Dash’ Patterson among others soon-to-be announced, VAL will feature guest appearances, live performances, interactive gameplay and unparalleled audience participation from the hottest gamers, streamers, celebrities, athletes, musicians and rising stars. Filmed on the main Studio A set, and filled with daily surprises,VAL will drive the pop culture conversation.
Dare Package
The unboxing genre will never be the same. The world’s biggest streamers take on extreme challenges in this live competition format. Each week VENN airdrops real-life loot crates filled with mystery challenges – from solving Mensa-level puzzles to eating pickled brains – LIVE into streamers’ homes. Dare Package is hosted by the legendary @AustinOnTwitter, a modern day Oz who’s built a record-breaking fanbase from his earliest days of gaming into an empire of live reality tv.
“It’s been a dream of mine to elevate my shows to TV Network quality productions,” said Austin, content creator and VENN host. “VENN will help unlock the scale and scope of entertainment I’ve been looking forward to creating.”
Guest House
Each weekday afternoon VENN is inviting gaming’s biggest names, rising stars, and beloved creators to choose their own adventure and customize their own two hour tv show. Hosted by performing artist and gamer @ChrissyCostanza (lead singer of Against The Current), Guest House will take the concept of “streaming entertainment” to a whole new level. “Guest House” provides guest creators with access to the ultimate streaming space, packed with the latest tech and audience interactivity tools, and backed by the support of a full broadcast production team.
The Sushi Dragon Show
50% imagineer, 50% dancing dragon and 100% drinkable internet, no one who has entered the mind of @TheSushiDragon has ever quite been the same. Hosted by the eclectic and eccentric performance artist and streamer, The SushiDragon Show is variety, talk, performance and interactivity rolled into a bananas performance featuring musicians, artists and creators – and, of course, high energy dancing set against metaverse bending digital environments.
Looking for Gains
Who says gamers can’t be athletes? Hosted by YouTube sensation and competitive NBA2K Pro @CashNasty – best known for his blend of gaming, basketball and comedy content – LFG is VENN’s new interactive fitness show. Each week Cash welcomes a special celebrity guest to the ultimate quarantine workout, where viewers join the #LFGSquad and get after it live with Cash and guests. This show has it all, from exercises you can do at home, to celebrity Q&A, shake recipes and more
“We’re disrupting the traditional television business model and giving birth to a powerful voice in GenZ and Millennial entertainment. We identify and curate fan favorite talent, develop and elevate their content with a world class TV production infrastructure, then rapidly scale it all via our universally distributed network,” said Ben Kusin, Co-CEO of VENN. “There’s a currency in generational talents and a currency in generational movements, and that timeliness can’t wait for traditional TV to adapt. The time for VENN is now.”
VENN’s teased even more shows and talent announcements next week – and I can’t wait to see what they have to offer.
I think that a lot of companies have tried to recreate the magic of old video game shows but I think VENN may have what it takes to make it last.
Stay tuned to their twitter for more information.
