CNN Digital is in the midst of the most successful year in its history. We’ve shattered records for video views, unique users and page views, across all platforms. We are now reaching more people in more places than we ever have before.
But, the digital landscape continues to change, and we must continue to evolve as well, to maintain our position as the worldwide leader in mobile and video news and information.
It is with that in mind that I am thrilled to announce an exciting new venture that will allow us to continue to future-proof CNN.
Casey Neistat, Matt Hackett, and the team behind the mobile video company, Beme, have joined CNN Worldwide. Together we are launching a new media company dedicated to timely and topical video content powered by bleeding edge mobile technology.
Casey is one of the most compelling voices on the web. A filmmaker, entrepreneur and content creator, Casey’s YouTube channel has nearly six million passionate subscribers. His unique view of the world has enabled him to engage an entire generation. A wholly original storyteller, Casey will serve as executive producer of the new company and will work with Chris Berend and me to establish its editorial vision.
As we launch this new media brand, it’s essential for it to be powered by truly innovative technology. That’s where Beme comes in. We’ll marry Casey’s voice with a nimble technology group led by Matt Hackett, CTO of Beme, the video messaging application he founded with Casey in 2015. A star in his own right, Matt was the former VP of Engineering and Head of Brand Strategy at Tumblr, prior tolaunching Beme. His technical expertise has established him as one of the most respected innovators in the digital media industry. The Beme engineering team will join Matt in building mobile video products to power our new company, and they will work closely with CNN and Turner’s technology teams to supercharge the mobile video experience across all of our digital properties.
Like Great Big Story, the new media brand will operate as a standalone company – another startup with its own staff, space and culture. And while we’re still in the process of narrowing down our ideas (including a name!) for the new brand, I can tell you this: it will speak with an authentic and thoughtful voice, it will be relevant to conversations happening across the country and around the world, and it will tap into the natural sense of curiosity that drives us all.
We intend to launch the new company by summer of 2017.
Please join me in celebrating this exciting new venture with Casey, Matt, and their team, and the opportunities this will bring to CNN at a time when we continue to innovate, experiment and create. We look forward to sharing more information with you as the new company comes to life.
