MIPCOM 2012 – Cannes. Rightster Studios has agreed an exclusive deal with Viral Spiral to produce Original Series featuring Harry and Charlie.
Rightster’s expertise has been enlisted by Viral Spiral, a viral content management company, to help distribute and monetise original content. As part of this collaboration, Rightster has made a strategic investment in Viral Spiral to establish Viral Studios, which will co-produce and finance new digital content in conjunction with Rightster Studios. Viral Spiral will work with Rightster Studios to create original programming based on the hugely successful “Charlie Bit My Finger” brand, YouTube’s most viewed viral video of all time with almost half a billion views.
Rightster has also announced the hiring of two new key team members from ITV to support Rightster growth; Jonathan Bates and Ben Freeman.
Jonathan Bates joins Rightster as director of content and partnerships and will lead efforts to help producers, talent, content owners and rights holders better work with Rightster to fully realise the potential of their brands on and off YouTube.
Jonathan has 15 years experience in the broadcast industry and was previously Head of Multiplatform Video at ITV where he worked with broadcast and commercial teams to create video content for ITV’s key shows and commercial partners.
Ben Freeman has been appointed as head of Rightster Studios and will work closely with Rightster’s customers to create brand new original programming. Ben was previously the Head of Scripted and Sponsored Multiplatform Content at ITV, and has worked in digital entertainment since 2001, in charge of the production and creation of some of the most innovative digital content for broadcasters, producers, and iconic entertainment brands such as Coronation Street and Big Brother. Now, Ben will use his skills to stimulate and facilitate the creative community in the creation of brand new original programming for YouTube and other video distribution channels.
In addition, Rightster has also attracted former Google TV director for key management position Donagh O’Malley as Global VP Platforms and general manager US. In his role, Donagh will play a fundamental role in further developing and implementing Rightster’s strategy and value propositions to both the local US market and global platform players.