VENN

VENN, short for The Video Game Entertainment & News Network, was an American streaming television network created for audiences interested in video games, esports, digital creators, and broader pop culture. The company was co-founded in 2019 by Ben Kusin, a former Electronic Arts brand marketer, and Ariel Horn, formerly Riot Games’ head of esports content. Its concept combined the programming conventions of a television network with the immediacy and participation of livestreaming platforms. Rather than relying only on prerecorded shows, VENN emphasized live interaction through viewer polls, audience comments, Twitch chat, and its Discord community. The network was publicly announced in April 2020, during a period when gaming and online video consumption were expanding rapidly. Its proposed programming mix included gaming news, entertainment, music, esports coverage, and original series built around creators and influencers. VENN established a studio in Playa Vista, California, and planned a second facility inside 3 World Trade Center in New York City. The New York project was delayed during the COVID-19 pandemic. VENN entered beta on August 5, 2020, initially offering more than 30 hours of new programming each week. Its distribution strategy was predominantly digital and connected-TV based. Programming was made available through Twitch and YouTube, and the network was also distributed through Facebook Gaming, Xumo, Samsung TV Plus, The Roku Channel, Vizio, Plex, DistroTV, and Stirr. This broad platform approach positioned VENN between a conventional television channel, a creator-driven media company, and a livestreaming publisher. The company attracted substantial venture and private investment. A seed financing round led by Bitkraft Esports Ventures and Eldridge Industries reportedly raised $17 million. In October 2020, VENN announced that its Series A financing had brought total funding to more than $43 million, including more than $26 million raised in that round. The company said the financing would support expansion, and it appointed former MTV employee Jeff Jacobs as executive vice president and general manager. In 2021, VENN adjusted its content and distribution strategy. Ariel Horn described a stronger emphasis on esports, including a simulcast arrangement involving Fan Controlled Football. The company also created VENN Download and VENN Esports YouTube channels while repositioning its principal channel as VENN Plays. Existing programs such as The Download and Guest House were reworked toward shorter-form formats. VENN also explored possible linear television syndication and additional production for streaming services. The strategic changes did not prevent financial and organizational difficulties. In July 2021, VENN retained Armanino LLP to explore a possible acquisition. The following month, the company reportedly reduced its staff by approximately half. A program associated with VENN, Facecheck, moved to G4 for its fourth season after its third season had been acquired by VENN. VENN’s website and social accounts later became inactive, and the network came to be regarded as defunct. A May 2022 report by Input cited former employees who attributed the shutdown to alleged management problems. VENN therefore represents an early attempt to build a dedicated gaming television network around livestream distribution, but it ultimately failed to sustain operations.

VENN was formed in 2019 by Ben Kusin and Ariel Horn as a proposed television and digital-media network dedicated to gaming and adjacent youth culture. Kusin brought brand-marketing experience from Electronic Arts, while Horn had led esports content at Riot Games. Their concept sought to address the growing overlap between traditional television, livestreaming, esports, and online creator communities. The network was announced publicly in April 2020. Its planned editorial mix extended beyond competitive gaming: VENN described a schedule encompassing gaming news, entertainment, music, and original productions featuring creators and influencers. The company built a production studio in Playa Vista, California, and planned another studio in New York at 3 World Trade Center. The New York facility was delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. VENN launched its beta service on August 5, 2020. It produced more than 30 hours of new content each week and distributed the programming primarily through digital platforms rather than a conventional cable channel. Twitch and YouTube were central outlets, while Facebook Gaming and multiple free ad-supported or connected-TV services broadened its reach. Live community interaction was a defining feature: hosts could respond to comments, conduct polls, and engage with viewers in Twitch chat or through Discord. The business raised $17 million in seed financing led by Bitkraft Esports Ventures and Eldridge Industries. In October 2020, VENN announced a Series A round exceeding $26 million, bringing its stated cumulative funding above $43 million. The company also recruited Jeff Jacobs, a former MTV employee, as executive vice president and general manager. During 2021, VENN changed its content strategy to place greater emphasis on esports and platform-specific distribution. It entered a simulcasting arrangement involving Fan Controlled Football, launched VENN Download and VENN Esports on YouTube, and renamed its main YouTube channel VENN Plays. The Download and Guest House were adapted toward shorter formats, while the company considered linear syndication and additional streaming-platform production. Facecheck, a show whose third season had been acquired by VENN, subsequently moved to G4 for its fourth season. The company’s expansion plans were followed by retrenchment. In July 2021, VENN engaged Armanino LLP to investigate a possible acquisition. In August, it reportedly laid off about half of its employees. Its website and social-media accounts later stopped updating, and the network was generally considered defunct. A 2022 Input report presented former employees’ allegations that mismanagement played a role in the shutdown. No later operating activity is established by the supplied reference material.

1. 2021Content and channel restructuring

   VENN increases its esports focus, launches additional YouTube channels, and retools several programs.

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2. 2021Acquisition search and layoffs

   VENN retains Armanino LLP to explore a possible acquisition and later cuts approximately half its staff.

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3. 2020Public announcement

   VENN is introduced as a network mixing gaming, news, entertainment, music, and creator-led originals.

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4. 2020Beta launch

   VENN begins streaming on August 5 with more than 30 hours of new weekly programming.

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5. 2020Series A financing

   The company announces more than $26 million in Series A funding and cumulative funding exceeding $43 million.

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6. 2019VENN is co-founded

   Ben Kusin and Ariel Horn establish the company behind the planned gaming and pop-culture network.

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A digitally distributed gaming and pop-culture television network combining live esports and gaming coverage with creator-led entertainment, music, news, and direct audience participation.

• VENN PlaysDigital video channel2021

  The rebranded principal YouTube channel for VENN programming. It served as a central outlet for the network’s gaming, entertainment, and creator-oriented video content after the company adjusted its channel strategy in 2021.

• VENN DownloadDigital video channel2021

  A YouTube channel introduced during VENN’s 2021 restructuring to distribute additional gaming and entertainment material in a platform-specific format.

• VENN EsportsDigital video channel2021

  A dedicated YouTube channel created to support VENN’s increased emphasis on esports coverage and related programming.

• The DownloadOriginal series

  A VENN program that was reworked toward a shorter-form format during the network’s 2021 content recalibration.

• Guest HouseOriginal series

  A VENN original program included in the company’s shift toward shorter digital series in 2021.

• FacecheckEsports program

  An esports-related show associated with VENN’s programming portfolio. After VENN acquired its third season, G4 acquired the program for its fourth season.

• 2021Recalibration around esports and short-form distributionStrategy

  VENN reassessed how to distribute its programming and increase relevance within esports and online video.

  What changed. The company expanded esports coverage, arranged a Fan Controlled Football simulcast, launched VENN Download and VENN Esports, renamed its main channel VENN Plays, and retooled shows for shorter formats.

  Aftermath. VENN also explored linear syndication and streaming production, but subsequently pursued a possible acquisition and reduced its workforce.

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• 2021Exploration of a possible acquisitionM&A

  VENN faced operational pressure after its initial expansion and strategic restructuring.

  What changed. The company retained Armanino LLP to seek a possible acquisition.

  Aftermath. The acquisition search was followed by substantial layoffs and the eventual cessation of VENN’s visible operations.

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• 2020Launch as a digital-first gaming television networkProduct launch

  VENN sought to combine television-style programming with livestreaming and creator-community participation.

  What changed. The company began beta operations on August 5, distributing more than 30 hours of weekly programming through Twitch, YouTube, and connected-TV platforms.

  Aftermath. The launch established VENN’s platform-led distribution model, but the network later became inactive and defunct.

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• 2022Allegations of mismanagement and shutdownControversy

  Former VENN employees told Input that management problems contributed to the company’s shutdown. These allegations followed the 2021 acquisition search, major layoffs, and the later disappearance of VENN’s active web and social presence.

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• 2021VENN recalibrates programming and distribution

  The company increased its esports focus, added new YouTube channels, reshaped several shows toward short-form video, and explored syndication and streaming partnerships.

  Product generation
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• 2021VENN explores a possible acquisition

  VENN retained Armanino LLP in July to seek a possible acquisition as the company reassessed its future.

  M&A
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• 2021VENN cuts approximately half of its staff

  The network reportedly reduced its workforce by half in August amid broader operational difficulties.

  Leadership changeOther
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• 2020VENN is publicly announced as a gaming-focused television network

  VENN announced plans for a network combining gaming, news, entertainment, music, and original creator-led programming.

  Other
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• 2020VENN begins beta distribution across digital platforms

  The network began beta operations on August 5 with more than 30 hours of weekly programming, distributed through Twitch, YouTube, and several connected-TV services.

  Product launch
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• 2020VENN announces Series A financing and appoints Jeff Jacobs

  VENN announced more than $26 million in Series A financing and hired Jeff Jacobs as executive vice president and general manager.

  Leadership changeOther
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1. VENN
2. Input report on VENN’s shutdown
3. VENN official website