How the Evolution of Self-Distribution Video Technology Enabled Non-profit Environmental Film Distributor Green Planet Films to Launch Two Streaming Channels in Six Months

Green Planet Stream was launched as both an Amazon Channel and a self-branded channel in Q4 2016

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Feb 21, 2017, 09:00 ET

MILL VALLEY, Calif., Feb. 21, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Green Planet Films, a non-profit distributor of nature and environmental films primarily to the academic market, announces their entrance into the consumer video market with the launch of Green Planet Stream.

The non-profit utilized new DIY streaming technologies to launch their Amazon Channel last December, and also used VHX, a film distribution platform acquired by Vimeo, to offer pay-per view, downloads and subscription viewing options.

IMAGE: Green Planet Stream's Amazon Channel landing page. Non-profit environmental film distributor Green Planet Films entered the home video market by utilizing Amazon Video Direct to create one of the first 100 Amazon Channels that launched. They also created a self-branded channel which is hosted on the self-service video distribution platform VHX. Evolving technology for self-serve video platforms for premium content has allowed the organization to launch these two channels in six months.

LOSING THE WEST is a documentary on small ranching and farming, exemplified by the story of a lifelong Colorado cowboy. Howard Linscott is a gruff, chain-smoking 70-year-old who's been ranching all his life. With sweeping shots of the Colorado Rockies, the film explores whether cherished Western traditions and this fiercely independent lifestyle can survive as they collide with population growth in the West and dwindling natural resources. Directed by Alex Warren, watch on Green Planet Stream.

Since 2003, Green Planet Films has been curating content by independent producers on topics such as fracking, water, organic food, land, green building, energy, pollution, and sustainability among others, with a goal of bringing these films about important issues of our times to new and wider audiences.

Founder Suzanne Harle noted difficulties in getting popular streaming platforms to license environmental documentaries. These platforms behaved as 'gate-keepers' selecting only films that might have theatrical releases or were on broadcast TV.

"When we first started streaming in 2010, building a digital platform was very cumbersome, especially for an 'accidental programmer' like me," she said. "We started streaming by using free resources like WordPress and JWPlayer plus a complimentary year of S3 from Amazon Web Services." Managing updates and hand-coding proved this method too cumbersome to scale over time.

In May 2016, Amazon announced Amazon Video Direct, which allows premium video content suppliers to upload films directly. Green Planet Films jumped on the opportunity. Four weeks after the initial announcement their first video went live on Amazon Prime. The film TULARE The Phantom Lake, an obscure regional California short film about the disappearance of one of America's largest lakes due to water diversion, garnered 36,000 minutes of viewing in its first month. Viewer comments wishing for longer lake restoration segments has motivated director Christopher Beaver to prepare a follow up film. "These are the kinds of comments one dreams to hear," stated Beaver.

Media Contact: Suzanne Harle 415.377.5471 [email protected]

About

Green Planet Films is a California-based non-profit distributor of nature and environmental films who recently launched Green Planet Stream as an Amazon Channel and a self-branded channel. Green Planet Stream offers a free trial and thereafter is $5.99/month.

SOURCE Green Planet Films