A pitch for BuzzFeed to adopt its own TV-esque channel on Facebook's "Watch" tab to bridge the gap between TV and online video. The final pitch for COM400 at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications in Syracuse University, Fall 2017 semester.

1. BFUTN (BuzzFeed Un-Television Network)
Haley Jones
S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
COM400 - BuzzFeed: Future Media Skills
The Format:
BuzzFeed’s Un-TV Network would help embrace
the shift towards online video -- which will be about
80% of all media consumed in 5 years (Fung, 2015) -- by
creating a broadcast-type network in which series such as
“Worth It” and “Unsolved” would be “aired” (posted) at the same
times every week. In the same manner that BuzzFeed’s morning
show “AM to DM” is partnered with Twitter, this channel could
partner with Facebook to have their own section on the new
“Watch” tab where this long-form series content would live in
one streamlined place. This would allow viewers to look forward
to the postings like they would their favorite TV shows while
being presented in an innovative way. Morning entertainment or
news shows, late-night talk shows, or other live content could
live on this channel. I also suggest starting more series that
encapsulate BuzzFeed’s humor in a sitcom-esque or more
scripted fashion to really be a well-rounded network while
maintaining the relatable vibe BuzzFeed is famous for.
To capitalize on the changing media landscape away from traditional television and towards online video, this TV-esque channel
hosted by BuzzFeed and fueled by social media would continue this transition in the fun, engaging way for which BuzzFeed is known.
Show Me The Money:
BuzzFeed could make money off this
approach by taking some of TV’s ad dollars. It
could sway advertisers to move to this space where
they would be able to get really specific demographics
and views to know who is seeing their ads. Viewers
could eventually decide to pay for a subscription and opt
out of ads on BuzzFeed’s “Watch” tab for uninterrupted viewing.
This idea would come to market by taking BuzzFeed’s already strong
content and adapting it to fit the trend of more long-form videos and
series in the TV style that has been successful for decades.
Fung, B. (2015, May 27). In 5 years, 80 percent of the whole Internet will be online video. The Washington Post. Retrieved
from https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2015/05/27/in-5-years-80-percent-of-the-whole-internet-will-be-online-video/?utm_term=.d1ed60d908a9
BuzzFeed TV