Next New Networks enters politics, buys BarelyPolitical
Next New Networks, a new company launching targeted online TV channels, has acquired BarelyPolitical.com, creator of the viral video show, Obama Girl.
The amount was undisclosed, but this is NNN’s way of entering the political comedy show business at a time when the coming U.S. elections is creating a renewed interest in politics. The political news site, Huffington Post, also recently raised capital on the thinking that the elections will widen its appeal.
BarelyPolitical was founded four months ago by Ben Relles, and will focus on producing political comedy shows on NNN, with its videobloggers and correspondents contributing content.
NNN raised $8 million to launch niche video sites across a number of genres. It’s obviously concluded that buying its way into to good content is a faster way to go. While Obama Girl’s video was reportedly viewed more than 100 million times, NNN’s strategy is always risky because there’s no way to tell how popular such shows will remain.
More context about the politics-related video scene on NewTeeVee.
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Matt launched VentureBeat in September of 2006, with the realization that no one else was covering the entrepreneurial and tech innovation scene with the velocity or depth that he was. Prior to founding VentureBeat, he covered venture capital for the San Jose Mercury News from 2001 to 2006. In 2002, Matt was awarded "Journalist of the Year" by the Northern California Society of Professional Journalists. Prior to working at the Merc, he was a correspondent for the Wall Street Journal in Bonn, Germany from 1995 to 1998, and a writer for the Washington Post in 1994. Matt holds a PhD in Government and an MA in German and European Studies from Georgetown University. In addition to VentureBeat, Matt is also the Executive Producer of DEMO, the leading launchpad event for emerging technologies.
