FOX Broadcasting Company (FOX) has entered into a multi-year pact with YouTube original drama channel WIGS. Building upon News Corporation's initial investment, FOX and WIGS have formed a programming, marketing and distribution partnership designed to expand the breadth of offerings through the WIGS channel, and test and nurture dramatic concepts and talent in the digital realm. Under the terms of the partnership agreement, FOX will assume a collaborative role in developing and marketing the channel to grow its base of female viewers, with an eye toward building content that can be programmed on FOX and/or other channels.
"Our overarching goal is to create an ecosystem where creative people and ideas can find expression independently in the online environment, but benefit from the resources that the larger platform of the network affords," said
Kevin Reilly, Chairman of Entertainment,
FOX Broadcasting Company. "It takes unique creators and operators like Jon and Rodrigo and Jake Avnet, who not only understand the unfettered and entrepreneurial digital system, but also have a firm grasp on the mainstream - and can capitalize on both. They've spent a year building a novel production process and a vibrant alternative pipeline, and we're excited to help them take those tremendous stories and talent and develop them into long-term digital or on-air assets."
"Rodrigo, Jake and I are looking forward to working with Kevin and his team on the next iteration of WIGS. We will continue to write, direct and produce quality scripted entertainment with many of the most talented actors, writers, directors and producers in our business for our YouTube platform.
FOX will allow us to expand our horizons and offer us limitless possibilities, which we intend to fully take advantage of in all traditional media platforms, as well," said
Jon Avnet.
WIGS was launched in May 2012 by director/producers Avnet ("
BLACK SWAN," "Fried Green Tomatoes," "Risky Business"),
Rodrigo Garcia ("Albert Nobbs," "In Treatment," "Big Love") and Jake Avnet, and is now the No. 1 channel for scripted drama on YouTube, with over 22 million views to date and more than 100,000 subscribers. The channel offers high-end original series, short films, and documentaries, all starring female leads. Popular series on the WIGS channel include "Blue," about a mother with a secret life, starring
Julia Stiles, Uriah Shelton, and
Jeanne Tripplehorn; "Lauren," a narrative about the complications from a military rape, starring
Troian Bellisario and
Jennifer Beals; "Serena," a story of lust, temptation and forbidden love, starring
Jennifer Garner and
Alfred Molina; and "Jan," about a young woman whose first job goes awry, starring
Virginia Madsen,
Stephen Moyer and Caitlin Gerard.
Additional WIGS offerings have included such actors as
America Ferrera,
Alison Pill,
Dakota Fanning, Jimmy Wolk,
Allison Janney,
Walton Goggins,
Maura Tierney,
Michael C. Hall,
Sarah Jones,
Jason Isaacs,
Catherine O'Hara,
Chris Messina,
Lois Smith,
Gary Cole,
Jena Malone,
Gary Dourdan,
Sarah Paulson and Eric Balfour. Writers and directors include Paul Brickman, Betty Thomas, Les
Li Linka Glatter, Rose Troche,
Mitch Albom, Ami Canaan Mann, Scott Turow, Amy Lippman,
Neil LaBute,
Leah Rachel, Mattie Brickman,
Patricia Cardoso,
Mykelti Williamson and
Lee Krieger.
WIGS can be found at www.youtube.com/wigs, www.youtube.com/wigsespanol and www.watchwigs.com.
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