Snap throws its hat in the original content ring
Snap is officially in the original content game. The parent company of multimedia messaging app Snapchat announced the rollout of a host of new shows under the banner Snap Originals. The move is part of the company’s partnership with NBCUniversal and Viacom. Viewers can expect offerings that include comedy, horror and reality docu-series from established film and TV vets. [Snap]
Catalog picks up $1.5M for its content creation platform
Catalog, an LA-based content creation startup, has landed a cool $1.5 million in seed funding and officially launched Wednesday, according to reports from Crunchbase. Techstars, Luma Launch and Moonshots Capital participated in the round. The company plans to use the fresh capital for new hires, and to advance its software. Companies are able to supply background information about their brand and state their design preferences, and Catalog manages the process of hiring, planning and producing original branded photos for their business. [Crunchbase]
Hollywood legend Jeffrey Katzenberg unveils the name of his streaming service
Film producer Jeffrey Katzenberg and former Hewlett Packard Enterprise CEO Meg Whitman’s mobile-focused streaming startup finally has a new name. The service will be known as Quibi, according to reports from the Los Angeles Business Journal. The company was originally called NewTV and raised a massive $1 billion in investments from most of the major Hollywood Studios, including Walt Disney Co., 21st Century Fox Inc., and NBCUniversal Media. Quibi will produce short, 10-minute episode TV shows. [The Los Angeles Business Journal]
BlackLine’s new partnership takes flight in Japan
BlackLine, a provider of cloud-based solutions for finance and accounting tasks, continues its expansion with the launch of BlackLine K.K., a new venture that will help companies automate their accounting, financial and risk management operations. The company has partnered with Tokyo-based professional services firm Japan Cloud in launching the new subsidiary. “We believe the market for BlackLine in Japan is untapped and vast. We are confident that BlackLine’s underlying technology will provide crucial solutions to streamline numerous processes across the finance and accounting function for Japanese companies,” BlackLine CEO Therese Tucker said Monday in a statement announcing the deal. [BlackLine]
