Dick Clark Prods. has finalized plans for an awards show that will honor original programming created for digital platforms.
After nearly three years of inaction, the Streamy Awards will be rebooted online by DCP, which is currently attracting bids from various entities interested in acquiring the production company.
The third annual Streamys returns with a new date, venue and categories as part of DCP’s bid to build the award show into a full-fledged franchise the size of its other kudocasts, including the American Music Awards or Academy of Country Music Awards.
“It’s a great asset with real growth potential,” said DCP president Orly Adelson, who added that the uncertainty over the company’s ownership future would not affect this new venture.
Streamys will be streamed live from the Hollywood Palladium on Feb. 17; the organization has just begun accepting submissions on its website, Streamys.org. DCP struck a deal last year to produce Streamys with Tubefilter, an online publication devoted to online-video content that retains the rights to the show.
In a vote of confidence for the show, DCP has already brought on Coke as a presenting sponsor for the event and plans to add more marketers.
The shift to February from the Streamys’ previous April perch reflects the interest of DCP and Tubefilter in scheduling the kudocast during the traditional awards season, populated by bigger events like the Oscars, when it could potentially draw more attention.
The timing of the return of the Streamys coincides with a surge in original programming everywhere from full-length series by major digital players including Netflix, Hulu and Yahoo to the continuing vitality of amateur talent who are amassing huge audiences on YouTube. Studios including Warner Bros. have also been creating content strictly for digital platforms.
“The space has matured so much and so rapidly that the types of programming being considered at the Streamys is unbelievable,” said Drew Baldwin, co-founder of Tubefilter.
Streamys is aiming to have the best of both worlds represented at the event, from mainstream celebrities to purely online sensations plenty famous in their own right. Winners will be selected by a blue-ribbon panel still being assembled.
Streamys were last held in 2010. The production was so marred by technical problems that it prompted the International Academy of Web Television to disassociate itself from the event after teaming with Tubefilter for its first two years.
IAWTV has gone on to produce its own event, which is scheduled for Jan. 8 at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
Streamys will be preceded online by a two-hour red carpet event, similar to what DCP has produced as companion content for some of its existing TV events. Streamys will be overseen by Ariel Elazar, VP of digital distribution and brand licensing at DCP.
