SBTV was founded in 2006 by Jamal Edwards as a way to share amateur music videos from local artists in West London on YouTube. It has grown tremendously successful with millions of online views. SBTV provides production, broadcasting, and editorial services, allowing emerging artists to gain exposure. One artist who benefited greatly was Ed Sheeran, whose acoustic video published by SBTV in 2010 received over 7 million views and helped launch his career.

1. How has it been successful in the
Web 2.0 era?
Jacob Newman

2. What exactly is SBTV?
SB.TV Global Ltd, also known as SB.TV or SmokeyBarz, is a multi-faceted
company run by a small team of amateur young people who work on webbased viral content at different music-based events. The media platform
has its origins and roots in urban music. Most of its content can be seen
on its own YouTube channel which was created on November 2, 2006 or
the official SB.TV website. Much of the content includes unprofessional
footage, or 'street-shot' freestyle raps and music videos. However, even
though its earlier uploaded videos contained entirely amateur footage, the
channel's latest uploads contains some professional recordings.
The reasonable popularity of the channel amongst London's underground
scene has led to short columns in RWD, The Observer, The Guardian, The
Independent, Dazed & Confused, the Sunday Times Style magazine as well
as assistant production credits from when Edwards was working as a
junior runner for the BBC, and Tiger Aspect Productions as well as joining
the young persons panel at The Guardian's new technology conference
activate summit alongside Martha Lane Fox and others. Today, its YouTube
channel has gained many millions of views and thousands of subscribers,
as well as Facebook fans and Twitter followers.

3. Who founded SBTV? When? Where?
Jamal Edwards is the man responsible for
founding SBTV in 2006. He would try to
get in contact with Grime MC’s from his
local area in West London and video
them with his handheld camera and
then upload the clip to YouTube. Some
of the names that featured in the early
videos from SBTV when Jamal first
started shooting are pretty impressive
including the likes of Wiley, Dizzee
Rascal, Tinchy Stryder and
Chipmunk, Jamal managed to do
everything using his computer and his
camera, he was able to expand his
business and make it into a international
success, this would not of been possible
without the evolution of Web 2.0
allowing Jamal to share his works with
the online community.

4. So why did it start?
Why did Jamal start SBTV?
Back when Jamal was 15, he says he and his video camera immediately became inseparable, and he
started to film friends rapping or singing.
Not instantly aware of the commercial potential of what he was doing, Jamal says he started to upload
the videos to YouTube simply to make it easier for his extended friends to see them. In his own
words, "You can say my videos had mixed reviews to begin with, some people didn't get them, but
others thought they were sick [good]," he says. "So I started to put them up on YouTube so everyone
could see them, and it just grew from there.“
Leaving school and getting a job in clothing company Topman, Jamal continued to make videos avidly in
his spare time.
Building up a reputation for the quality of his work, he would film up-and-coming rappers and
singers, while also targeting more established stars outside nightclubs, hotels and dance music radio
station Kiss 100.
As word of mouth spread, his videos on YouTube, put up under the name SBTV (the SB stands for
SmokeyBarz, Jamal's own rapping nickname) started to get hundreds of thousands of
hits, predominantly from 13- to 30-year-olds.
And so Jamal contacted YouTube to see if he was eligible for a share of advertising revenues.
YouTube, owned by internet search engine giant, Google, turned him down three times, but Jamal
persisted. YouTube ultimately agreed after he was able to prove that all the videos he was uploading
were original content that he had made himself.
Soon after he started to receive cheques and the amount they were worth kept growing and growing.

5. What exactly does SBTV do?
SBTV ultimately provides 3 services consisting of Production, Editorial and Broadcasting.
Broadcasting
“SBTV started off as and will always continue to broadcast video whether for
music, freestyle, acoustic, interviews or any other categories within youth culture. All of our content is
hosted on our YouTube channel which boasts millions of views but continues to grow over time.”
“Our content is always SBTV produced so as to continue the trusted style of our shoots and unbiased opinions
which we feel is important to our viewers.”
“SBTV also have a large social networking presence which we use to inform our audience of new blog
articles, relevant news and the life of SBTV!”
Production
“Starting from scratch all those years ago we naturally produce content and have grown and developed
industry techniques to help compliment our production. SBTV are used to shooting in fast and agile
situations making the best of all locations and opportunities. Alongside we also shoot, produce, direct and
develop music videos, documentaries and event material.”
Editorial
“With editorial experience from various printed urban publications, SBTV’s blog team work day to day to
provide news on the latest releases, films, music videos, artists and more.”

6. Why is it successful?
In my opinion SBTV has been so successful because it gave young artists and producers the
chance to get recognised through the use of social media which has been a huge part of the
development of Web 2.0.
SBTV allows people to view and share the videos they publish easily across all types of media.
One thing that has helped SBTV establish there position in the music industry and the world
of media is the diverse range of media they produce which appeals to all different types of
web users being, bloggers, artists, producers and music lovers. These include the following
series...
Another reason for the success of SBTV is that is
has been a vital part of the growth in the Grime
and Hip Hop genres in the UK, so if a fan of an
artist wants to see some exclusive interview
footage or free styling they can check SBTV
because chances are the artist will of been on
SBTV at some point or another.
Not only do SBTV supply a web service but they
also have a merchandise store selling all types
of apparel and accessories ranging from
hoodies to phone cases.

7. How has it benefitted an artist?
One great example of an artist who has benefitted greatly from the services of SBTV is Ed Sheeran, whose video
‘You need me, I dont need you’ has recieved over 7 million views to date.
SBTV published the video on there YouTube channel on 28th February 2010, as part of there up and coming (at
the time) A64 series which is a spin off result of the very popular F64 series which focuses on freestyle
bars sessions rather than an acoustic session, and it caught the attention of many music fans all over the
world and web especially. People were very surprised at the performance they witnessed when watching
the video and were left feeling impressed and wanting to share the video with there friends.
As a result of the major popularity of the video on the web Ed Sheeran has since released an album which
charted very well in the UK and he has become a real internet sensation with the help of SBTV, releasing
more collaboration videos with them since.