Videoelephant Assumes Management of the USA Today Fast Channel
by on 30th Jan 2025 in News
VideoElephant, a leading video solutions provider, has assumed programming and distribution of the USA TODAY FAST Channel and Over the Top (OTT) properties, part of Gannett Co., Inc. America’s largest newspaper publisher. This engagement is an expansion of VideoElephant’s more than five-year relationship with Gannett and the USA TODAY Network of over 200 publications, providing premium short-form video content for Gannett local audiences and USATODAY.com.
USA TODAY’s streaming channel features award-winning, editorial documentaries from the USA TODAY Network, franchise series produced by USA TODAY Studios, as well as on-the-ground reporting and news from across the nation. The USA TODAY Channel is available on multiple streaming platforms including Samsung, Vizio, Amazon, Roku, Plex, Local Now, Xumo, and more.
“We are looking forward to this collaboration with VideoElephant across our USA TODAY FAST Channel,” said Cathy Kononetz, executive director and general manager of video monetisation at Gannett. “We are confident their expertise will enable us to continue building audiences and drive engagement across the USA TODAY Network’s OTT channel with content that serves our communities.”
VideoElephant, which operates three of its own FAST Channels, Beyond Paranormal, Travel Escapes, and Real Crime Uncovered, launched its FAST Managed Service for third party content owners in late 2024. Following the success of these owned channels, VideoElephant will apply its proven track record to the operation of the USA TODAY FAST Channel with the focus on audience growth. VideoElephant will focus on delivering compelling programming and deploy a multi-faceted approach to grow revenue and engage audiences.
“With years of on-the-ground experience,” adds Brian Cullinane, VideoElephant’s chief commercial officer, “we know how to manage FAST Channels effectively and efficiently, from handling the programming and scheduling to ad break optimisation for a 24/7 broadcast-style schedule. Our three FAST channels have seen a 45% increase in hours of viewing month over month and that’s why launching a FAST Managed Service in the market made sense. It removes the challenges and overheads for content owners to enter the FAST market and provides those with existing channels a way to focus on what they excel at - content production, while we handle the rest.”
VideoElephant will oversee operational management including scheduling, distribution, and reporting, in addition to monthly promotional initiatives to drive audiences and channel growth.
For more information about VideoElephant's FAST services, visit VideoElephant FAST Managed Services.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the safe harbour provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that relate to our current expectations and views of future events. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release, including statements relating to whether the transaction will drive VideoElephant or Gannett’s revenue and cash flow growth, result in or be able to leverage any synergies or be accretive to VideoElephant or Gannett’s revenue, are all forward looking statements. These statements represent our opinions, expectations, beliefs, intentions, estimates or strategies regarding the future, which may not be realised. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “believe,” “may,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “should,” “plan,” “expect,” “predict,” “potential,” “could,” “will,” “would,” “ongoing,” “future” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions that are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Forward-looking statements are based largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, short-term and long-term business operations and objectives and financial needs. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, contingencies, changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially and/or significantly different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statement. For a discussion of some of the risks and important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations, see the risks and other factors detailed in Gannett’s 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K and Gannett’s quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and each of Gannett’s other filings with the SEC, in each case as such factors may be updated from time to time. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof and accordingly undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Gannett disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than to the extent required by applicable law.
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