The Secret Behind Specialty Programming -- Fred Seibert (Chief Creative Officer, WOW! Unlimited Media)

Fred Seibert is the Chief Creative Officer of WOW! Unlimited Media, a Canadian animation and media holding company. Fred began his career in radio and music production before transitioning to television as MTV’s first Creative Director. He later co-founded a media branding agency and then served as President of Hanna-Barbera Cartoons before it was acquired by Time Warner. Fred was the Founder & CEO of Next New Networks, one of the first multi-channel networks which was acquired by YouTube in 2011, after which he founded Frederator, which he’s run for the past 23 years. In this episode, we discuss media’s impact on pop culture over the last few decades. Fred marvels at the impact that the previously unknown artist Lil Nas X’s has had on the music industry with his record-breaking hit “Old Town Road,” which initially gained traction on TikTok and other social platforms. We also debate the effectiveness of Netflix’s programming strategy and examine why newer SVOD entrants all seek to copy the Netflix model. Finally, Fred predicts a resurgence in specialty programming to serve niche audiences and explains why animation can’t be easily commoditized in the same way as music and television. Host: James Creech LISTENER SUPPORT If you’d like to make a small monthly donation  to help support future episodes, please visit https://anchor.fm/all-things-video/support ABOUT THE SHOW All Things Video is a podcast dedicated to uncovering the past and charting the future of the online video ecosystem. Listen to interviews with founders, executives, and thought leaders from the world’s leading media companies and engage in thought-provoking debates about the issues shaping the next generation of entertainment. From the short-form content revolution to the fragmentation of video viewership in an always-on world, All Things Video reveals the key trends and insights from the world of digital media. Follow All Things Video on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn for new episodes and updates! ABOUT THE HOST James Creech is an entrepreneur focused on technology, online video, and digital media. He is the Co-Founder & CEO of Paladin, the essential influencer marketing platform for media companies, agencies, and brands.