Blip

Blip, originally styled as blip.tv, was an American online video company that operated a platform for serialized web programming. Founded in 2005 by Mike Hudack, Dina Kaplan, Justin Day, Jared Klett, and Charles Hope, it emerged from its founders’ experience in Yahoo’s video-blogging group. Rather than concentrating on short viral clips or personal video uploads, Blip attempted to build a professionalized ecosystem for independent web-series producers. Its service combined video hosting, distribution, audience discovery, advertising sales, and production support. The founders initially financed the business themselves and acquired the blip.tv domain before building the first version of the site. The company’s early proposition was to provide a high-quality hosting and monetization service for producers of niche and recurring online shows. In 2006, Eric Mortensen became the first employee and led content and programming, marking a shift from being primarily a technology service toward becoming a media company. Blip later attracted investment from Ambient Sound Investments, Canaan Partners, and Bain Capital Ventures. The platform hosted dramas, comedies, arts programming, sports, technology shows, reviews, documentary material, and other forms of episodic video. Its business model emphasized advertising revenue shared between the platform and producers, with Blip also selling customizable advertising formats such as interactive pre-rolls and video overlays. The company promoted itself as a destination for original series and worked with independent producers, established digital studios, advertisers, and distribution partners. Blip expanded its reach through relationships with YouTube, Vimeo, NBC Local Media New York, Roku, and Yahoo. In 2008, it helped distribute Michael Moore’s documentary Slacker Uprising with Brave New Films, an early prominent example of a feature-length film being offered online for free. The platform became especially important to web-video creators whose long-form or episodic work did not fit YouTube’s earlier format and length constraints. Notable users and partners included Channel Awesome, Rooster Teeth, RedLetterMedia, My Damn Channel, Julian Smith, Ray William Johnson, and FremantleMedia North America’s The Pet Collective. In 2011, after reporting more than three billion cumulative video views, the company dropped the “.tv” from its public brand and relaunched as Blip. The redesign placed popular series at the center of the viewing experience and represented a strategic move from a distributor-oriented service toward a curated video destination. In 2012, Kelly Day became chief executive, with Max Smith joining as chief financial officer and Jason Krebs taking responsibility for sales and marketing. Blip also established Blip Studios under Steve Woolf to develop and distribute higher-profile programming with brands, talent, and production companies. Blip’s studios and partnerships produced or supported programs including The Gauntlet with Rooster Teeth, additional Channel Awesome programming, and content from My Damn Channel. In 2013, the company announced plans involving projects from Ray William Johnson, producer Michael Uslan, and FremantleMedia North America. Blip was acquired by Maker Studios on August 21, 2013, and its executive team remained involved after the transaction. The business later narrowed access for some independent users. In 2014, users reported notices stating that uploading would end for them in July and their channels would close in September, without individualized policy violations being cited. Maker Studios shut down Blip.tv on August 20, 2015. The website subsequently became inactive. Blip is therefore best understood as a defunct pioneering web-series platform whose history reflects the transition from blogs and standalone online video hosting to professionally produced, advertiser-supported digital programming.

Blip was founded on May 5, 2005, by Mike Hudack, Dina Kaplan, Justin Day, Jared Klett, and Charles Hope. The founders had worked in Yahoo’s video-blogging group and saw an opportunity for a platform designed specifically around independent, serialized programming rather than the broad personal-video model associated with general video-sharing sites. They initially bootstrapped the company, acquired the blip.tv domain, and built an early interface in approximately a week. The service attracted producers interested in hosting, distributing, and monetizing niche shows. The appointment of Eric Mortensen as the company’s first employee in 2006, with responsibility for content and programming, signaled Blip’s development into a media business. Ambient Sound Investments provided early financing in 2007, followed by additional backing from Bain Capital Ventures and other investors. Blip’s model combined a producer dashboard with an audience-facing site and advertising infrastructure. Advertising revenue was generally divided between Blip and participating content producers, while advertisers could use customized video formats. The company gained visibility by supporting distinctive long-form and episodic programming. Its 2008 collaboration with Michael Moore and Brave New Films on Slacker Uprising demonstrated that the internet could be used to distribute a feature-length film at no charge. Blip also became a home for programs from Channel Awesome, Rooster Teeth, RedLetterMedia, My Damn Channel, Julian Smith, and other digital creators. Its service was useful to producers whose programs were longer or more structured than the clips favored by some competing platforms. During 2009, Blip broadened its distribution relationships through YouTube, Vimeo, NBC Local Media New York, and Roku. The company reported more than 100 million video views in 2010 and more than three billion cumulative views by the following year. In 2011, it relaunched under the shorter name Blip, removed the “.tv” from its branding, and redesigned its website around discovery of popular web series. This marked a strategic shift from primarily enabling distribution to operating a curated viewing destination. Leadership changes followed in 2012. Kelly Day, formerly associated with Discovery Communications, became chief executive. Max Smith joined as chief financial officer, and Jason Krebs became president of sales and marketing. Blip also introduced Blip Studios, led by Steve Woolf, to create programming in collaboration with brands, talent, and independent producers. One example was The Gauntlet, a video-game competition series produced with Rooster Teeth. Blip also worked with Yahoo on reciprocal promotion and distribution involving programming shown on Yahoo Screen and Blip. By 2013, Blip Studios had developed or announced agreements involving Channel Awesome, Juliansmith.tv, My Damn Channel, Ray William Johnson, Michael Uslan, and FremantleMedia North America. The company reported that Blip Studios programming had accumulated more than 250 million views. FremantleMedia’s The Pet Collective used Blip for first-run distribution and advertising sales while continuing to distribute material elsewhere. Maker Studios acquired Blip.tv on August 21, 2013. After the acquisition, user-agreement terms changed, including stronger requirements that uploaded material be part of a series and meet quality expectations. The service also added Facebook commenting. In 2014, users reported receiving notices that their upload privileges would end and their channels would subsequently close. Maker Studios ultimately shut down Blip.tv on August 20, 2015. The site became inactive, and Blip’s remaining operations were absorbed into the broader restructuring of Maker Studios and the later Disney Digital Network era.

1. 2015Service shutdown

   Maker Studios closes Blip.tv on August 20, ending the platform’s active service.

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2. 2013Acquisition by Maker Studios

   Maker Studios acquires Blip.tv and incorporates its team and operations.

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3. 2012Blip Studios launches

   The company creates a studio division for partnerships with brands, talent, and digital producers.

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4. 2011Rebrand to Blip

   The company drops the “.tv” from its public name and redesigns the platform around web-series discovery.

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5. 2008Slacker Uprising distribution

   Blip works with Michael Moore and Brave New Films on the free online release of Slacker Uprising.

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6. 2006First employee joins

   Eric Mortensen is hired to lead content and programming, helping move the company toward a media-oriented operating model.

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7. 2005Blip.tv is founded

   The founders establish a web-video service focused on independent serialized programming, hosting, distribution, and monetization.

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A curated, producer-oriented alternative to general-purpose viral-video platforms, focused on serialized original web programming, distribution, and monetization.

• Blip web-series platformOnline video platform2005

  The core Blip destination hosted and promoted serialized online programs across genres including comedy, drama, arts, sports, reviews, technology, and documentary video. Its editorial and product strategy favored recurring shows over isolated viral clips. Viewers could browse show pages, while producers used the service to publish episodes and reach audiences across web and partner channels.

• Producer dashboardCreator tools2005

  Blip provided independent producers with tools for uploading, organizing, distributing, and monetizing episodic video. The service supported show-oriented presentation through posters, headers, and banners, and connected producers with advertising opportunities. Its positioning was closer to a professional publishing and distribution system than to a simple personal-video archive.

• Blip StudiosOriginal content production2012

  Launched in 2012 under Steve Woolf, Blip Studios worked with brands, digital talent, and independent production companies to develop higher-quality web programming. Projects included The Gauntlet with Rooster Teeth, while other relationships covered Channel Awesome, My Damn Channel, and additional digital creators. The division represented Blip’s effort to participate directly in content development rather than only provide infrastructure.

• Blip advertising networkDigital advertising2005

  Blip sold advertising around web-series programming and shared advertising revenue with participating producers. The platform supported customizable formats, including interactive pre-rolls and video overlays, and worked with major advertisers and external distribution partners. It also served as an advertising-sales partner for selected programming such as The Pet Collective.

• 2013The Pet Collective distribution arrangement

  United States · Online

  Blip worked with FremantleMedia North America on first-run distribution and advertising sales for The Pet Collective.

  Outcome. The programming continued to appear on other services while Blip received an early distribution role and advertising responsibility.

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• 2012Yahoo distribution partnership

  United States · Online

  Blip and Yahoo arranged cross-distribution and promotion involving selected Blip-controlled shows and Yahoo video series.

  Outcome. The arrangement expanded audience access beyond Blip’s own destination site.

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• 2012The Gauntlet

  United States · Online

  Blip Studios collaborated with Rooster Teeth on The Gauntlet, a video-game competition series.

  Outcome. The project illustrated Blip Studios’ move toward direct original-content production with established digital studios.

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• 2008Slacker Uprising online release

  United States · Online

  Blip partnered with Michael Moore and Brave New Films to distribute Slacker Uprising free over the internet, giving the platform a prominent role in an early digital feature-film release.

  Outcome. The release increased Blip’s visibility as a distribution outlet for substantial online video projects.

  Source

• 2015Closure of Blip.tvOther

  Maker Studios announced that the service would be discontinued.

  What changed. Maker Studios shut down Blip.tv on August 20, 2015.

  Aftermath. The website became inactive, ending Blip’s operations as an independent web-series platform.

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• 2014Restriction of user uploadsStrategy

  Users reported notices indicating that the service would stop accepting their uploads and later close their channels.

  What changed. Blip notified affected users of planned loss of uploading access and channel closures; the notices did not identify individual policy violations.

  Aftermath. The changes preceded the eventual shutdown of the platform and reduced its role for independent producers.

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• 2013Sale to Maker StudiosM&A

  Blip was operating in an increasingly consolidated digital-video market.

  What changed. Maker Studios acquired Blip.tv on August 21, 2013, with Blip’s executive team included in the transaction.

  Aftermath. The platform later changed some user terms and was ultimately closed by Maker Studios in 2015.

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• 2012Creation of Blip StudiosStrategy

  Blip sought to develop more premium programming and deepen relationships with advertisers, talent, and production companies.

  What changed. It established Blip Studios under Steve Woolf to produce and support original web video.

  Aftermath. The division supported projects with Rooster Teeth and other digital-media partners and became part of Blip’s effort to operate as a media company.

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• 2011Shift from distributor to video destinationStrategy

  After rapid growth in cumulative viewing, Blip reassessed its role in the online-video market.

  What changed. It rebranded from blip.tv to Blip and redesigned its site to foreground popular original web series.

  Aftermath. The change placed greater emphasis on audience discovery and curated programming rather than solely on producer distribution tools.

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• 2015Maker Studios shuts down Blip.tv

  Maker Studios closed the Blip.tv service on August 20, ending the platform’s operation and leaving its website inactive.

  BankruptcyOther
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• 2014Blip users report planned loss of uploading access

  Users reported notices indicating that uploading would be discontinued for them and channels would later be closed, with the notices suggesting an economic or strategic rationale rather than specified individual violations.

  Other
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• 2014Blip users receive notices about the end of uploading and channel closures

  Users reported notifications stating that uploading would end and channels would later be closed. The notices did not identify policy violations and indicated a business-driven reduction of the service.

  Other
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• 2013Maker Studios acquires Blip.tv

  Maker Studios acquired Blip.tv and retained its executive team as part of the transaction.

  M&A
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• 2012Blip appoints Kelly Day as chief executive

  Kelly Day joined as chief executive, while the company also strengthened its finance and sales leadership.

  Leadership change
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• 2012Blip launches Blip Studios

  Blip created a studio operation to work directly with brands, talent, and independent producers on higher-quality original web programming.

  Product launch
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• 2011Blip rebrands from blip.tv

  Following substantial cumulative viewing, the company introduced a new identity using the shorter Blip name and redesigned its service as a destination for popular web series.

  Product generation
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• 2011Blip rebrands and redesigns its video destination

  Blip dropped the .tv styling from its public brand, introduced a new logo, and redesigned its website to foreground popular web series.

  Product generation
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• 2009Blip expands its distribution partnerships

  The platform added or developed relationships involving YouTube, Vimeo, NBC Local Media New York, and Roku as it broadened distribution for web-series programming.

  Other
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• 2009Blip expands distribution partnerships

  The platform added relationships involving YouTube, Vimeo, NBC Local Media New York, and Roku as it broadened the reach of its serialized video catalog.

  Other
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• 2008Blip distributes Slacker Uprising with Michael Moore and Brave New Films

  Blip participated in the online distribution of Michael Moore’s feature-length documentary, an early high-profile test of free internet film release.

  Product launchOther
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• 2008Blip.tv partners with Michael Moore and Brave New Films to distribute Slacker Uprising

  Blip helped distribute Michael Moore’s feature-length documentary Slacker Uprising online at no charge, giving the platform a prominent role in an early internet film-release experiment.

  CampaignProduct launch
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1. Blip.tv