{"id":339766,"date":"2017-05-02T03:26:27","date_gmt":"2017-05-01T19:26:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/techcrunch.com\/?p=1483794"},"modified":"2017-05-02T03:26:27","modified_gmt":"2017-05-01T19:26:27","slug":"awesomeness-is-launching-a-news-division-aimed-at-gen-z","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/people.utm.my\/asmawisham\/awesomeness-is-launching-a-news-division-aimed-at-gen-z\/","title":{"rendered":"Awesomeness is launching a news division aimed at Gen Z"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

Awesomeness, the digital media company programming content for a\u00a0young, YouTube-obsessed audience, is\u00a0getting into news. The company announced\u00a0a\u00a0new project called Awesomeness News at its NewFronts presentation today in New York. The editorial brand will focus on stories\u00a0aimed at the\u00a0\u201cGen Z\u201d audience, including those on\u00a0issues they care about, like politics, social justice and the environment, it says.<\/p>\n

One of the early movers in crafting content for a younger audience who spends more time watching videos online than traditional television, AwesomenessTV was scooped up<\/a> by DreamWorks in 2013 for $33 million. That company remains the majority shareholder with a 51 percent stake. Verizon (which owns TechCrunch parent AOL) snatched a 24.5 percent stake<\/a> in the business just over a year ago, and Heart holds the remaining 24.5 percent.<\/p>\n

The DreamWorks deal was notable for being one of first examples of a traditional media company betting on a digital future, where disruption is more mobile, streaming and over-the-top.<\/p>\n

According to an Awesomeness-backed study<\/a> also released today on Gen Z\u2019s viewing habits, this generation \u2013 which includes those born 1996 through 2011 \u2013 now makes up 25 percent of the U.S. population, making them larger than Boomers, Gen X\u2019ers and Millennials. Beyond their sheer numbers, they\u2019ve grown up streaming video online and on mobile devices, and are almost constantly connected.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

71 percent of the teens\u2019 typical entertainment consumption is now streaming \u2013 and they tend to do more streaming on smartphones (34 percent) than computers (26 percent), TVs (24 percent), tablets (10 percent) or other devices (6 percent).<\/p>\n

They\u2019re also highly involved on social media, where Snapchat (79 percent use), Instagram (73 percent) and YouTube (68 percent) play a major role.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

According to Awesomeness, the editorial content of its debut news brand will cater to Gen Z\u2019s interest in socially\u00a0conscious issues. While many generations have faced social change, Awesomeness says that the difference with Gen Z is that they\u2019ve learned how to use the platforms at their disposal to get\u00a0their voice heard and enact change. That hints at a more activism-focused network, compared with traditional news media.<\/p>\n

The program will be available on all AwesomenessTV platforms, but the company didn\u2019t announce further details about launch date, or programming specifics.<\/p>\n

The news program was one of several announcements made today at the NewFronts. The other notable one is the release of Awesomeness Films\u2019 Netflix original movie, \u201cYou Get Me,\u201d which arrives on June 16th, and tells a story of a high school love triangle.<\/p>\n

Awesomeness has also teamed with retailer Hollister on an original YouTube series, and it announced\u00a0multiple AwesomenessTV scripted series have been renewed for new seasons including \u201cFreakish\u201d on Hulu, \u201cFoursome\u201d on YouTube Red, \u201cGuidance\u201d and \u201ct@gged\u201d on Verizon\u2019s go90 and \u201cThe Commute\u201d on AwesomenessTV.<\/p>\n