RISE is an Exclusive Platform for Premium Video Creators and Digital Media Networks to Target Millennials Across Connected TVs and Mobile Phones

Today we’re launching our exclusive platform RISE, a new premium, over-the-top (OTT) technology+full-service offering to enable content creators to grow their video businesses through direct access to consumers. RISE helps the most popular online video creators and digital media networks deploy apps directly to all the places millennials consume content — from connected TVs like Apple TV, Roku, Android TV, and Amazon Fire TV, to iOS and Android devices.

We’ve been building our products to service the television market for five years, anticipating the inflection point where mobile and TV would converge: much like our technology infrastructure rebuild for mobile in 2012, which allowed us to ensure ubiquitous delivery and access to premium content anywhere.

Founder Frank Sinton explains, “The message is simple: If you’re a premium online video creator or digital media network, RISE is the conduit through which you grow your direct to consumer video business on OTT services like Apple TV, as well as effortlessly deploying and maintaining a multiscreen presence across all mobile devices.”

We will be evaluating video influencers and digital media brands for inclusion in the new full-service OTT offering on a case-by-case basis. The first round of RISE video brand partners invited to enjoy Apple TV and ‘video everywhere’ support include: ICON Network (18 channels), Pranks (3 channels), Collective Digital Studio (5 channels), jugandoconnatalia, SMASHER, JoshPalerLin, JoBlo Movie Network (5 channels), Kip Kay, Vintage Beef, Nicolas Arrieta, Guilherme Gamer, Paint, Dormtainment, WatchMojo.

With RISE, creators not only distribute their content to mobile and TV, but they also have the opportunity to customize the experience, fully monetize, and receive valuable analytics on their audience’s engagement. Monetization comes in the form of video advertising as well as through subscription video on demand (SVOD) models, allowing creators to receive maximum value for their content. RISE also implements an exclusive video upload feature that offers unique app experiences, an important part of furthering relationships with audiences.

In addition to the full-service RISE, self-service Builder will still remain a product for producers of video to deploy apps across iOS and Android devices. It’s through Builder that we began experimenting with OTT apps — studying the TV industry dynamics, validating the OTT app market, and bolstering our existing video syndication and monetization solutions for digital media network apps across connected TVs.

“We want the most successful media programmers online using RISE as their technology platform to deploy video content everywhere, with a focus on OTT services like Apple TV,” added Sinton. “We learned a lot these past few years providing creators with self-service tools to effortlessly deploy apps across mobile phones and connected TVs, and RISE represents our decision to invest heavily in being a full-service partner to digital media’s most prominent video brands.”

With strategic relationships with ARRIS and Amazon in place, RISE apps can enjoy a ‘network effect’ of cross-app promotions across connected TVs. RISE apps also enjoy best practices and learnings on driving audiences to apps, as well as helping creating and executing comprehensive app marketing plans.