Playboy Unveils Original Digital Video Programming Slate & New Branded Content Studio at Inaugural NewFront Presentation
Taps Social Media Luminaries, Actors, Comedians, Chefs, Tech Gurus, Fashion Mavens & Other Influencers with Combined Social Media Reach of 150 Million-Plus
NEW YORK, May 13, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- For more than 63 years, Playboy has delivered groundbreaking content from the world's greatest iconoclasts, writers, photographers, artists and more. With the explosive success of its revamped website and momentum surrounding its recently redesigned magazine, Playboy's editors introduced today to a packed house at the annual NewFronts a unique mix of original digital video offerings debuting this summer on Playboy.com. For its 2016-17 season, Playboy has tapped a deep talent pool whose audience, when combined with Playboy's properties, reaches more than 150 million consumers each month, providing an enormously powerful platform for content creators and advertisers to reach the much sought after young millennial male audience.
Today's event, held in New York, was emceed by Waris Ahluwalia, an influential designer and frequent Wes Anderson collaborator, and British import Chelsea Leyland, who served as the DJ for the afternoon. At the gathering, Playboy reinforced its definitive leadership role as the world's foremost lifestyle brand for millennial males, serving as a cultural leader, an advocate for freedom, a provocateur and an influential powerhouse.
"For decades, Playboy has been a platform for expression and creativity – a catalyst for progress," said Scott Flanders, CEO, Playboy Enterprises. "We've often been an advocate and an activist – a proponent of individual freedom. We have always pushed the boundaries of imagination, we're an aspirational brand and have been a vanguard for exploration, all the while giving a voice to provocative opinions. Now, with the debut of our original video slate, we're continuing to usher in a new era of Playboy. And we're just getting started…"
Playboy delivers a comprehensive 360-degree vision for "the good life" – a blueprint on everything from entertainment and travel, to food and drinks, to nightlife and style, to gaming and technology, to humor – and, of course, sex. There are numerous cross-platform solutions for advertisers and media buyers that are interested in engaging with Playboy's vast audience in the digital, mobile and social spaces, as well as via content publishing, custom ad products, experiential activations, licensing partnerships and talent alignment, among other integration opportunities.
In addition to its summer lineup of new shows, Playboy announced today the formation of Playboy Studios, the company's in-house branded content studio, which will be headed up by Playboy magazine's Deputy Editor and resident style expert, Hugh Garvey.
"Nothing has been more exciting than leading this content transformation at Playboy," said Cory Jones, Chief Content Officer, Playboy Enterprises. "The slate of original video programming we have introduced today reflects our authoritative voice, advising and entertaining men. We have never had a bigger audience at Playboy and we are all very eager to introduce them to this incredible collection of new franchises."
Playboy's Chief Digital Officer, Phillip Morelock commented, "As a top 10 social media publisher, Playboy is one of the most digitally engaged media brands available to advertisers. The introduction of this ambitious slate of original video programming and the formation of Playboy Studios are the next steps in building a comprehensive platform for advertisers that enables them to tap directly into the lives of young, ambitious men and women – wherever and however they consume our content."
Among the new scripted / unscripted series for the 2016-17 season are:
Lifestyle
House of Waris: Waris Ahluwalia hosts a regular dinner party with interesting luminaries. The first episode features Natasha Lyonne (Orange Is the New Black), Kim Gordon (Sonic Youth), comedian Horatio Sanz and filmmaker Liz Goldwyn.
The Life by Playboy: Get an inside look at the process of editing the iconic lifestyle section of Playboy magazine.
Tech 360: Famed tech blogger, Jon Rettinger, of TechnoBuffalo, and model / pro-gamer, Amy Willerton, take audiences on a full-fledged tour of the most hallowed tech destinations. Tech 360 is Playboy's first series shot in virtual reality.
Documentaries
Meccas: Playboy explores the world's most sought after destinations – from the one wave that every surfer dreams of riding, to the vineyard every sommelier dreams of visiting. The pilot episode is shot in Cuba's rum haunts.
Coaching Trees (Chef Edition): In this documentary series, Playboy delves into the interconnections between the most respected chefs. The first episode shows how lauded chef and restaurateur Thomas Keller has spawned a movement of perfectionist cooking from French cuisine to hamburgers and fried chicken.
Journalista: In the hosted documentary series Journalista, Playboy correspondent, 25-year-old Yoonj Kim takes audiences into the fascinating worlds of sex, drugs, and alternative lifestyles through experiential and immersive journalism.
Food & Spirits
What The Food?!: Preeminent molecular gastronomist Wylie Dufresne (WD50) and molecular mixologist Dave Arnold (Booker & Dax) star in this food series that's more MythBusters than traditional food show. Watch them deconstruct and reconstruct celebrities' favorite food in each episode.
Dinner Date with Furious Pete: YouTube star Peter Czerwinski, better known by his stage name Furious Pete, has built a following of more than four million viewers by showcasing both his inspiring fitness regimen, as well as his competitive eating ability. How can a guy with washboard abs eat 12 pizzas? The world isn't fair. That's how. In Dinner Date, Pete teaches guys how to cook impressive yet easy meals for their dates, and his female friends give him feedback on both his food and dating skills.
The Booze Room "All the News That's Fit to Drink": In this weekly comedy news show, comedian Josh Wolf (Chelsea Lately) and world renowned mixologist Alex Day (Death & Co.), discuss the news of the week. One part news, two parts comedy and one stiff drink.
Scripted Comedy
Sprout: Follow protagonist Chris Cooper, an overweight, foul mouthed, cigarette smoking Hollywood-type, through a hilarious satirical view of Los Angeles culture. Expect lots of fun cameos from actors and social media stars.
Fronting: Infused with high caliber actors from popular films and TV shows and featuring Facebook and Vine star Jon Paul Piques, Fronting is a raucous comedy series about a group of misfits running a sports agency together.
Robots Are Hard: Set three years into the future, this scripted comedy series follows the brilliant engineers at an artificial intelligence (AI) robotics company. Their only problem is that their robots, who are all played by social media stars, have more personality than they can handle and there is no way to destroy them. Robots Are Hard is created by Aaron Shore (The Office) and Jonathon Magnum (Whose Line Is It Anyway?).
Gaming
Strangeplay with Mr. Sark: Hosted by the Grand Poobah of gaming and YouTube sensation Mr. Sark, this series explores the world of gaming. Through hilarious skits, reenactments and game play commentary, viewers are taken on a journey of the latest in gaming with appearances by the biggest names in the industry.
Gamer Next Door: Brought to you by hardcore gamer and Playmate Pamela Horton, Gamer Next Door is what every gamer wants: a chance to catch up with influencers in the gaming community; a way to check out previews, learn limited edition details and dispel game rumors; and an opportunity to play some video games.
About Playboy Enterprises, Inc.
Playboy is one of the most recognized and popular consumer brands in the world. Playboy Enterprises, Inc. is a media and lifestyle company that markets the brand through a wide range of media properties and licensing initiatives. The company publishes Playboy magazine in the United States and licenses foreign editions of Playboy around the world; operates Playboy.com, a leading men's lifestyle and entertainment site; and creates content for distribution via television networks, websites, mobile platforms and radio. Through licensing agreements, the Playboy brand appears on a wide range of consumer products in more than 180 countries, as well as retail stores and entertainment venues. For more information about Playboy Enterprises, please visit www.PlayboyEnterprises.com.
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SOURCE Playboy Enterprises, Inc.
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