PocketWatch, Inc.
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| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Genre | Children and family |
| Founded | 2017 |
| Founder | Chris M. Williams |
| Headquarters | , |
| Owner | Chris M. Williams |
| Website | pocket |
PocketWatch, Inc. (stylized as pocket.watch) is a digital media studio that specializes in turning young stars on YouTube into global franchises. The company is the first and largest kids and family creator media company that develops, distributes, and monetizes content and IP for kids and families. Its offices and studio are based in Culver City, California. The company was founded in 2017 by Chris M. Williams. It is funded by Third Wave Digital in addition to other investors and angels such as Jon Landau, UTA Ventures, the venture arm of United Talent Agency (UTA), Robert Downey Jr. (Downey Ventures), and Chris Jacquemin (Partner, Head of Digital Media, WME).[1]
History
[edit]PocketWatch evolved out of the Social media influencer movement [2] and focuses on Generation Alpha (individuals born after 2013) who are migrating towards digital media platforms like YouTube.[3] Allen DeBevoise of Third Wave Digital proclaimed that the goal of the company is to "transform the kids’ digital entertainment space".[4]
Pocket.watch has driven many firsts for the Creator Economy, including launching the first creator branded toys at Walmart, the first creator-series and special distributed on Hulu in 2018, the first balloon in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade based on a YouTube star in 2020, and the first Emmy Awards nominated TV show starring a creator, Ryan's Mystery Playdate premiering on Nickelodeon in 2019. In 2023, pocket.watch launched pocket.watch Records, the first kid-creator record label, distributed by Universal Music Group.
The company was founded by Chris M. Williams, the former Chief Audience Officer of Maker Studios and former GM of Disney Online Originals.[5]
Variety named Williams as one of their Digital Innovators in 2019 and he was a finalist in the 2019 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year competition.[6]
PocketWatch executive team consists of former kids and family entertainment and other industries and include Albie Hecht, the former head of Nickelodeon Studios as Chief Content Officer, Kerry Tucker, the former CEO of Hello Sunshine and lead marketing executive at Martha Stewart Living and Victoria's Secret, as Chief Marketing Officer,[7] as well as Hollywood veterans Brian Robbins, President of Kids and Family entertainment at Paramount Global, and Beatriz Acevedo, founder of online video network Mitu[8][9] as Board Members for the company.[10][11][better source needed]
Clock.Work
[edit]Pocket.watch's advertising division, Clock.Work, is one of only a handful of companies granted YouTube Kids sales rights by Google. Clock.Work works with family advertisers including Mattel, Hasbro, Sony Pictures, and Nintendo.
In 2024, Clock.Work announced an AI partnership with Veritone to scale contextual targeting, allowing for precise, kid-safe ad placements to replace the otherwise manual process.[12]
Network
[edit]Pocket.watch's Studio both creates original series, specials, and movies starring creators, and transforms creator's YouTube content into TV ready series and specials. Pocket.watch curates, cures, enriches, and enhances creator content, turning it into traditional 22minute episodes and 15 episode seasons.
Pocket.watch's subscription channel, Ryan and Friends Plus, is the largest independent kids SVOD in the US. Pocket.watch's network of FAST Channels (free ad supported television), pocket.watch Channel and Ryan and Friends Channel, are the two most widely distributed kids and family FAST channels in the US. [13]
Revenue
[edit]In July 2018, Viacom raised $15 million in Series B for PocketWatch.[14]
Creator partners
[edit]- Ryan's World
- Toys and Colors
- Love, Diana; Kids Diana Show
- HobbyFamilyTV[15]
- EvanTubeHD[16]
- JillianTubeHD[17]
- Lilly Singh[18]
- Jason Vlogs
- K-City
- Dan Rhodes
- Hungry FAM
- Daniel LaBelle
- Papa Jake
- The Stella Show
- Hudson's Playground
- Captain Sparkles
- MarMar Land
- Lively Lewis
- Kaven Adventures
- GEM Sisters
- JillianTubeHD
- LankyBox
- Kamdenboy & Kyraboo
- The River, Wilder, and Archer Show
- My PB&J
- Braxton, Ryder, and Sawyer Show
- ChuChu TV Nursery Rhymes and Kids Songs
- Super Simple Songs
- Scratch Garden
- Koala & Giraffe
- Mackenzie Turner Roblox
- ShanePlays
- Art for Kids Hub
- MeganPlays
- Denis
- Vania Mania
- Doods
- Crafty Hacks
- JunyTony
- Karina Garcia
- Yogapalooza
- Woohoo Storytime
- Wilson World
- Dominoki Kids Songs
- McLure Twins
- SuperHeroKids
- Onyx Family
- Gaby and Alex
- Toys AndFun Sisters
- Alex TubeFun
- Super Polina
References
[edit]- ^ "Pocketwatch Announces $6M In Series A Funding To Launch The Ultimate Kids Media Brand". www.prnewswire.com (Press release). Retrieved July 17, 2019.
- ^ "The rise of social media influencers". CBS News. May 6, 2018. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
- ^ "Pocket.watch CEO on the business of kidfluencers". Yahoo! Finance. February 16, 2019. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
- ^ Calvario, Liz (March 22, 2017). "Chris Williams, Albie Hecht & Jon Moonves Announce Pocketwatch, New Media Brand Catered To Kids". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
- ^ Calvario, Liz (March 22, 2017). "Chris Williams, Albie Hecht & Jon Moonves Announce Pocketwatch, New Media Brand Catered To Kids". Deadline. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
- ^ "EY announces finalists for the Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2019 award in Greater Los Angeles". www.ey.com. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
- ^ Spangler, Todd (June 12, 2019). "Kerry Tucker Joins Pocket.watch as First CMO for Kids Media Startup". Variety. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
- ^ Jean-Louis, Jardley (April 11, 2017). "The Key to Getting Millennials to Love Your Brand". Inc.com. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
- ^ "Mitú's Beatriz Acevedo Wants To Be Voice of Millennial Generation". NBC News. July 24, 2015. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
- ^ "About". pocket.watch. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
- ^ "Ryan's Mystery Playdate and Hobby Kids Adventures Success Keys pocket.watch Slate Expansion". www.prnewswire.com (Press release). Retrieved September 27, 2021.
- ^ https://advanced-television.com/2024/09/05/pocket-watch-selects-veritone-as-ai-partner/
- ^ https://toybook.com/pocket-watch-fubo-fast-channels-partnership/
- ^ Spangler, Todd (January 16, 2019). "Variety's Digital Innovators 2019: The Trailblazers Pushing Media Boundaries". Variety. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
- ^ Spangler, Todd (April 26, 2017). "Startup Pocket.watch Signs YouTube's HobbyFamilyTV as First Creative Partner". Variety. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
- ^ Moss, Caroline. "This 8-Year-Old Makes $1.3 Million A Year By Posting YouTube Videos". Business Insider. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
- ^ Grothaus, Michael (May 4, 2015). "Meet The Father-Son Team Making $1.3 Million On YouTube". Fast Company. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
- ^ Spangler, Todd (February 4, 2021). "Lilly Singh Animated Princess LGBTQ Film in the Works at Digital Kids' Studio Pocket.watch". Variety. Retrieved September 27, 2021.