Reddit is one of the most powerful social networks in the world and has had a big effect on TV. As the social web has matured the major social networks are experimenting with video as they have enormous audiences that make it worth it to invest high quality and relevant content. reddit, described as “the front page of the internet,” is launching it’s first live stream to capture the chaos of Black Friday via the redditgifts Shopping Network . Here’s their brand new promo video (obtained exclusively by Lost Remote) and an interview with reddit General Manager Erik Martin.
Live streamed content continues to become a big part of the evolution of TV as we know it and reddit is making a big statement with their investment in this unique video production. The Hollywood Reporter recently described the production as follows.
The 12-hour livecast, which will stream on Reddit’s YouTube channel as well as other online outlets, will feature demos of products (available at redditgifts.com) as well as comedy segments and on-air AMAs, reddit’s popular ask-anything sessions with celebrities and other notable personalities.
You can also read all the details here on reddit’s blog. Here’s our interview with Martin, including his advice for the TV world.
Lost Remote: Why is reddit doing this?
Erik Martin: Partly, because we have some really outstanding mom & pop vendors on the redditgifts marketplace and we wanted to do something to get them some love (instead of all the big box stores) on Black Friday. Partly because we know we’ll have a lot of users bored at home and we wanted to do something fun for them. Ease their pain.
LR: What can the TV industry learn from this?
Martin: I have no idea. Maybe nothing. Maybe “have more fun”? I think in general people underestimate the narrative power of home shopping product demo format. That genre is ripe for a reboot! (Am I using the right industry words?)
LR: Anything else?
Martin: If you are considering working with sloths, I highly recommend choosing a Hoffman’s two-toed sloth as we did for this broadcast. Originally, we tried to do a segment with a three-toed Pale throated Sloth. Never again!
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