Betting on Black20
I’ve just invested in Black20, an energetic and creative new small-TV company that is sure to grow big. Virginia Heffernan wrote a great piece telling their story so rather than try to tell it again, I’ll just say go there. And go watch some Black20 videos. These guys are talented, funny, ambitious, smart, and tireless. I’ve just invested in the studio of the future.
Other investors and amounts aren’t being announced — sorry, Staci, Rafat, Om, and Liz.
I have been blathering a lot about exploding TV. But I am putting my money and time where my mouth is with my own small video venture — so far producing IdolCritic and PrezVid — and with my investment in Black20. The new means to produce and distribute — contrasted with the incredible cost of the old ways — opens up incredible opportunity. Keep an eye on the guys at Black20.
Tags: disclosures, Exploding_TV, idolcritic, prezvid
May 10th, 2007 at 10:43 am
[...] Jarvis announced today he has invested in Brooklyn-based web video production shop Black20, which we profiled in [...]
May 10th, 2007 at 12:36 pm
[...] Jeff Jarvis, a guy who I absolutely admire as a thought leader in journalism and new media, has invested in Black 20. That makes me feel good because I have also reached out the folks over at Black 20 for project [...]
May 10th, 2007 at 4:57 pm
Jeff,
Incredible opportunity for what? Income, prestige, influence? There’s no viable video ad model yet. It’s fun, light-hearted entertainment but there are tens of thousands of other people out there with the same ideas and nothing to show for it.
May 11th, 2007 at 11:09 am
Wayne’s World, excellent.
May 15th, 2007 at 3:51 am
[...] an NYC-based online video production company, has received angel investment from Jeff Jarvis. The site, co-founded by two NBC creatives among others, got a gushing writeup in NYTimes last [...]
May 16th, 2007 at 9:00 am
[...] reported that online video production company (and NYC headquartered) Black20 received funding from Jeff Jarvis (about). Immediately following the story it was announced that Mogulus (another NYC company) got a [...]
May 22nd, 2007 at 10:29 pm
I see no reason that stuff this good and this funny won’t find a revenue stream down the line. I check Black 20 almost every day after discovering it here, hoping there will be something new to watch. If they can keep up the quality, and keep the cameras rolling, I gotta believe the revenue will folo. It’s that good.
May 23rd, 2007 at 7:00 am
[...] this year. “I have been blathering a lot about exploding TV,” Jarvis wrote on his blog, BuzzMachine. “But I am putting my money and time where my mouth [...]
May 23rd, 2007 at 9:07 am
[...] Joost signed a deal with mega-agency CAA (Creative Artists Agency) to produce content [...]
September 12th, 2007 at 6:22 pm
@David: This site allows you to monetize videos: http://www.flvorful.com. It’s just a matter of time before more come to light.
October 24th, 2007 at 9:12 pm
[...] or Die raised millions from Google backers Sequia and launched in April. Media analyst Jeff Jarvis invested in Black20, a small comedy video troup, in May. And venture funded ad sales network SpotRunner [...]