Jash

Jash established itself as a comedy collective and digital production studio, notable for its unique assembly of founding talent and a commitment to creative freedom. The venture was launched on March 10, 2013, by a lineup of prominent comedians: Sarah Silverman, Michael Cera, the duo Tim & Eric (Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim), and musician-comedian Reggie Watts. The formation was part of the YouTube Original Channel Initiative in October 2012, with the official launch event held at South by Southwest (SXSW) and broadcast on the 'Comedy Bang! Bang!' podcast. The concept behind Jash was to create a platform where comedic partners had complete creative autonomy, free from the notes and restrictions of traditional television networks. This approach was intended to foster a variety of content with distinct voices, pushing boundaries and offering an unconventional viewer experience.

The company was also co-founded by former 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' executives Daniel Kellison and Doug DeLuca, alongside Maker Studios veteran Mickey Meyer. Initially conceived as a comedy-centric collective funded by YouTube, Jash operated primarily as a digital-first entity, distributing content through its YouTube channel. The business model evolved to include functioning as an advertising agency and production company, creating branded content and producing series for a wide array of platforms beyond YouTube, including go90, Snapchat, TBS, MTV, Netflix, and Comedy Central. This dual focus on original artistic projects and branded content allowed Jash to diversify its revenue streams, capitalizing on production budgets from brands and media budgets from digital platforms.

A significant milestone in the company's history was its acquisition by Group Nine Media on November 7, 2017. Following the acquisition, Jash was integrated into Group Nine's studios division rather than operating as a standalone brand. This move was designed to combine Jash's talent relationships and creative depth with Group Nine's large digital scale and portfolio of brands like NowThis and Thrillist. The goal was to develop more high-quality, episodic intellectual property and expand branded content capabilities. The entire Jash team, including CEO Daniel Kellison, continued to operate from their California offices, reporting to Group Nine leadership. Subsequently, Group Nine Media itself was acquired by Vox Media in a deal that closed in February 2022, folding the Jash legacy into the larger media conglomerate.

Keywords: comedy collective, digital production studio, Sarah Silverman, Michael Cera, Tim and Eric, Reggie Watts, YouTube Original Channel, branded content, creative autonomy, web series, sketch comedy, Group Nine Media, Vox Media, Daniel Kellison, online video, comedy network, digital media, entertainment production, JASH, artist-driven content