Since Verizon debuted their Go90 service late last year, AT&T has begun thinking about doing their own mobile streaming video service. After all, they are one of the bigger players when it comes to TV now, after finishing their DirecTV purchase in 2015. And as we’ve heard many times, mobile is the future of the TV industry. AT&T recently announced that they were partnering Fullscreen, which is a YouTube network designed to help creators get their work out there in front of more eyes, and also help them get products that will enhance their channel. Fullscreen also takes a cut of their revenue from their channel. Fullscreen has a big number of creators in their network, however this new partnership with AT&T only includes 10 of them.
This new partnership between the two companies is a big one. It means that AT&T is looking to create exclusive content, including podcasts, concerts, shows, and so much more. It’s a great way to get started with content for their mobile streaming service, which we’ve heard their execs hint at a few times. This partnership is a year-long partnership and it’ll be interesting to see how well it benefits both parties.
“We’re innovating with this new generation of creators because it’s a great way to connect what we do with an incredible new form of storytelling,” said David Christopher, Chief Marketing Officer, AT&T Mobility. “This digital generation’s creativity, empowered by wireless networks and smartphones, is changing the way we create and consume entertainment for the better.”
Together, these two companies have actually been collaborating since 2012. According to their press release “they pioneered new approaches to original programming”. Their first project, which was @Summerbreak – a YouTube-based reality series which is unscripted and now in its third season – has already brought in over 150 million views as well as over 2.9 billion impressions. They’ve also worked together on a scripted superhero series on Snapchat named SnapperHero. Between these two companies, we could see a pretty interesting partnership as well as a start to an over-the-top streaming service from AT&T and Fullscreen. While AT&T has yet to announce it formally, there have been loads of hints.