SnagFilms

SnagFilms
Founded July 2008
Headquarters Washington, D.C.,  United States
Area served United States
Key people Ted Leonsis
Slogan Find. Watch. Snag. Support.
Website http://www.snagfilms.com
Type of site Video on demand
Available in English

SnagFilms is a website that offers advertising-supported documentary films. Films are streamed on the website, which contains a library of around 2,000 films.[1] Filmmakers can submit documentaries for consideration as well. The site includes documentary films produced by National Geographic and PBS and titles such as Super Size Me, Life & Times of Harvey Milk, and Nanking[2].

History

SnagFilms was launched in July 2008 by Internet pioneer Ted Leonsis. Venture capitalist Miles Gilburne and Revolution LLC chairman Steve Case are also investors in the start-up[3]. While at AOL Leonsis founded True Stories, an online source for documentaries. That website would become the inspiration for Snagfilms.

SnagFilms also owns indieWire, an online publication covering the independent film industry [4]. SnagLearning which categorizes educational documentaries from the SnagFilms library by grade level and content area was formed two years after the launch of SnagFilms. [5] In January 2011, SnagFilms released a free app for the iPad providing on-demand streams of full-length nonfiction films. [6]

In 2009 SnagFilms expanded its partnerships and made a deal with Hulu to provide a large portion of its library to its documentary section[7]. Snagfilms also added IMDb and YouTube as exhibitors of its content[8]. In the summer of 2010, SnagFilms announced a partnership with Comcast’s video on demands channels and Verizon FiOS TV. [9] In Spring 2011, SnagFilms launched a channel on Roku [10] and became available on Boxee's internet platform. [11]

References

  1. ^ Kerr, Ronny. "SnagFilms raises $10 million for free films". VatorNews. http://vator.tv/news/2010-10-29-chad-hurley-isnt-really-youtube-ceo-anymore. Retrieved January 18, 2011. 
  2. ^ "SnagFilms Finds Virtual Theaters for Documentaries | Walt Mossberg | Personal Technology | AllThingsD". Ptech.allthingsd.com. 2008-07-16. http://ptech.allthingsd.com/20080716/snagfilms-finds-virtual-theaters-for-documentaries/. Retrieved 2011-03-12. 
  3. ^ "SnagFilms Puts Documentaries On The Web - SnagFilms". InformationWeek. 2008-07-17. http://www.informationweek.com/news/internet/b2c/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=209100810&cid=RSSfeed_IWK_News. Retrieved 2011-03-12. 
  4. ^ Cieply, Michael (July 18, 2010). "SnagFilms to Expand Distribution of Documentaries". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/19/business/media/19snag.html. 
  5. ^ Byrne, Richard (August 27, 2010). "SnagLearning is SnagFilms for School". Free Technology for Teachers. http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2010/08/snag-learning-is-snag-films-for-schools.html. 
  6. ^ Mathis, Joel (January 10, 2011). "SnagFilms brings free documentaries to iPad". Macworld. http://www.macworld.com/article/157029/2011/01/snagfilms.html. 
  7. ^ Martin, Peter (2009-03-19). "Indie Roundup: SnagFilms Joins with Hulu, 'Sunshine Cleaning' Cleans Up - The Moviefone Blog". Cinematical.com. http://www.cinematical.com/2009/03/19/indie-roundup-snagfilms-joins-with-hulu-sunshine-cleaning-cl/. Retrieved 2011-03-12. 
  8. ^ "SnagFilms Joins Forces With IMDb, YouTube; Enter Founder's Alliance". indieWIRE. http://www.indiewire.com/article/in_solidarity_snagfilms_join_forces_with_imdb_hulu_youtube_enters_founders_/. Retrieved 2011-03-12. 
  9. ^ Rea, Steve (July 21, 2010). "SnagFilms snags new deals with Comcast, iPad, FiOS and more". Philadelphia Inquirer. http://www.philly.com/philly/business/technology/SnagFilms_snags_new_deals_with_Comcast_iPad_FiOS_and_more_.html. 
  10. ^ Lawler, Ryan (May 31, 2011). "SnagFilms Brings Free, Ad-Supported Movies to Roku". GigaOm. http://gigaom.com/video/snagfilms-roku/. 
  11. ^ Gil, Billy (April 20, 2011). "SnagFilms Docs Come to Boxee". Home Media Magazine. http://www.homemediamagazine.com/vod/snagfilms-docs-come-boxee-23741. 

External links