New Form Digital

New Form Digital was a digital entertainment studio established in 2014 with backing from notable figures like Ron Howard and Brian Grazer, alongside Discovery Communications. The company was managed by CEO Kathleen Grace, a seasoned creator and executive in the online video space with experience from YouTube and Next New Networks, and COO JC Cangilla. Grace's background as a creator of web series like "The Burg" positioned her to lead a studio focused on empowering emerging filmmakers from platforms like YouTube.

The studio's core business was the development, packaging, and distribution of original, scripted narratives for digital platforms, targeting millennial audiences. New Form's business model centered on producing premium video content by collaborating with digital talent who had established fan bases. The company utilized a data-driven strategy to inform its content decisions, analyzing social stats and engagement rates to identify promising creators and concepts. This approach involved creating short films through an "incubator slate" which served as pilots; successful shorts were then developed into full series for distribution partners. Over its operational years, the studio produced over 30 original series, selling projects to various platforms including TBS, go90, Freeform, and YouTube Red. Notable productions include "Final Space," "Mr. Student Body President," and "Oscar's Hotel for Fantastical Creatures."

The company's journey included securing investments from entities like ITV, which also acquired distribution rights for its content. In a significant milestone, New Form Digital was acquired by Whistle, a global sports and entertainment media brand, in January 2019. The acquisition aimed to combine New Form's scripted content expertise with Whistle's large audience and creator network, allowing for the expansion of successful short-form franchises into long-form intellectual property. Following the acquisition, Kathleen Grace and the creative team were set to continue leading the production and development slate under Whistle's leadership.

Keywords: digital studio, web series production, original content, scripted series, online video, YouTube creators, digital distribution, media production, entertainment studio, millennial audiences, content development, Kathleen Grace, Ron Howard, Brian Grazer, Final Space, Mr. Student Body President, Whistle acquisition, digital-first content, short-form video, long-form IP, content strategy, video production, entertainment media, digital storytelling