Jukin Media is looking to develop television formats around its library of viral video content and has tapped former Lifetime reality executive Jessica Samet to lead the initiative.
Samet joins Culver City-based Jukin as head of TV production, the company announced Tuesday. She has previously held roles as vp reality programming at Lifetime and as senior vp development and original programming at MTV, where she oversaw series including Jackass and WildBoyz.
“Jessica brings a tremendous wealth of experience in the TV space,” said Jukin CEO Jonathan Skogmo. “She’ll come in and contribute immediately, and help take our TV and original content efforts to the next level.”
Jukin acquires the rights to user-generated videos that have the potential to gain buzz on the Internet, including the Hero Cat clip showing the family pet that saves a boy being attacked by a dog, and then distributes them on its network of YouTube channels — including blooper-focused FailyArmy — or licenses them for TV shows or commercials. The company already has signed a deal to license clips for the upcoming Nickelodeon game show Webheads from Ryan Seacrest Productions, and announced in April its plan to bring FailArmy to international television with Dick Clark Productions.
“Jukin’s video content has a proven appeal for TV audiences,” Samet said. “The natural progression for the company is to develop its own original formats based on both its successful digital brands, as well as around its truly compelling and unique clip content library.”
Jukin raised $1 million in May from investors including Maker Studios, Bertelsmann Digital Media and Launchpad LA.
Email:Natalie.Jarvey@THR.com
Twitter: @NatJarv
