BlackBoxTV

BlackBoxTV
YouTube information
Channel
Years active2010-present
GenreHorror
Subscribers1.10 million[1]
(August 2018)
Total views204.87 million[1]
(August 2018)
Associated acts
100,000 subscribers2012
Last updated: 10 Jul 2022

BlackBoxTV is a commercial YouTube channel and production studio founded by director Tony E. Valenzuela.[2] It was launched on August 17, 2010[3] and relaunched on April 13, 2012[4] as part of YouTube's $150 million original channel initiative.[5] The channel, which has collaborated with Wes Craven,[6] Guillermo del Toro[7] and Anthony E. Zuiker,[8] is home to BlackBoxTV Presents, which Variety called "the longest-running scripted drama online" in March 2016.[9]

History

The channel originally launched in August 2010 with one scripted series - BlackBoxTV Presents, a horror anthology featuring a cast of YouTube creators including Philip DeFranco, Justine Ezarik and Shane Dawson.[10]

In October 2011, it was announced[11] that BlackBoxTV was among 100 entities YouTube had partnered with as part of a $150 million investment in television-style programming.[12] The channel relaunched on April 13, 2012, with four new series: Silverwood, Black Friday, True Stories and Anthony E. Zuiker Presents, produced in collaboration with CSI creator Anthony E. Zuiker and Collective Digital Studio.[13]

In 2014, Legendary Entertainment partnered with the channel to produce Versions of Elloise for the “YouTube Space House of Horrors: A Legendary Halloween short film contest.”[14] The film was selected among ten finalists by Guillermo del Toro.[15] Also in 2014, Alpine Labs (formerly Ketchum Labs)[16] partnered with BlackBoxTV to distribute the reality competition series Fight of the Living Dead.[17]

Programming

Year Title Featuring Notes Status
2010–Present BlackBoxTV Presents Bree Essrig
Nikki Limo 		Horror anthology series in the vein of The Twilight Zone created by Tony E. Valenzuela.[18] Current
2012–2013 BlackBoxTV: Silverwood Brea Grant
Drake Bell 		Eleven-part scripted horror anthology series set in the remote mountain town of Silverwood, California.[19] Concluded
2012-2013 Black Friday Various Weekly news magazine hosted by rotating correspondents exploring genre pop culture.[20] Concluded
2012 True Stories Jessica Rose Unscripted reality series focusing on the scary and supernatural, including sleepovers in real haunted houses and exploring frightening places.[21] Ongoing
2012–2013 Anthony E. Zuiker Presents Bill Bellamy
Goran Višnjić 		Scripted anthology series featuring 10- to 15-minute episodes developed by Anthony E. Zuiker.[22] Concluded
2013–Present BlackBoxTV Pranks Jesse Wellens Hidden camera series featuring staged pranks and hoaxes based on horror films.[23] Concluded
2015 The Fourth Door Joey Graceffa Twelve-episode scripted supernatural drama series also starring Monique Coleman. Acquired by go90[24]
2015-2016 Fight of the Living Dead Meghan Camarena
Iman Crosson 		Reality competition series where 10 YouTube creators try to survive a simulated zombie apocalypse.[25] Acquired by YouTube Red[26]
2015–Present BlackBoxTV Presents: Horror | 360 Monique Coleman
Lenne Klingaman 		Virtual reality anthology featuring fictional characters and urban legends from the world of horror. Ongoing
2017-2018 Find Me Madison Lawlor VR/360 narrative series produced in partnership with Collab and the Los Angeles Times featuring visual codes and puzzles for viewers to solve.[27] Ongoing

360/Virtual Reality

In October, 2015 the channel launched BlackBoxTV Presents: Horror | 360, a virtual reality series for mobile devices and VR headsets. The 11-episode first season included collaborations with Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema.[28] On September 26, 2017[29] the series won "Best Immersive Series" for excellence in 360 and VR filmmaking at the 2017 Streamy Awards.[30] In September, 2016 Collab announced[31] it had signed a deal with BlackBoxTV to represent the channel and fund two 360 video projects.[32] In 2017, the channel debuted Find Me, a scripted virtual reality series, mobile app and game produced in partnership with Collab and the Los Angeles Times.[33]

Audio Series

In 2018, Serial Box acquired the rights[34] to produce Silverwood: The Door, a scripted audio series and eBook that will expand the BlackBoxTV: Silverwood universe.[35]

References

  1. ^ a b "About BlackBoxTV". YouTube.
  2. ^ Young, Aaron (January 13, 2017). "This movie shows how creepy Iowa's Villisca Axe Murder House is". USA Today. Retrieved August 15, 2018 – via Gannett.
  3. ^ Miller, Liz Shannon (August 17, 2010). "Sxephil, iJustine and Shane Dawson Spill Secret Fears for Black Box TV". GigaOm. Archived from the original on June 20, 2018. Retrieved June 18, 2018 – via Knowingly, Inc.
  4. ^ Shen, Maxine (April 13, 2012). "CSI's Anthony Zuiker is back with BlackBoxTV Web fears". New York Post. Retrieved August 21, 2018 – via NYP Holdings, Inc.
  5. ^ Lyons, Dan (November 7, 2011). "Google Plans to Turn Existing TV Industry Upside Down". The Daily Beast. Retrieved June 18, 2018 – via The Daily Beast Company.
  6. ^ "Wes Craven on BlackBoxTV". BlackBoxTV. 14 September 2010. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  7. ^ Graser, Marc (September 2, 2014). "Legendary, YouTube Launch Halloween Film Contest with Guillermo del Toro". Variety. Retrieved August 18, 2018 – via Variety Media, LLC.
  8. ^ Hale, Mike (September 4, 2012). "A Yahoo Series About Cyberterrorism". The New York Times. Retrieved August 22, 2018 – via The New York Times Company.
  9. ^ Young, Aaron (March 17, 2016). "Tribeca Film Festival Unveils Digital-Content Marketplace Event". Variety. Retrieved August 16, 2018 – via Variety Media, LLC.
  10. ^ Miller, Liz Shannon (August 17, 2010). "Sxephil, iJustine and Shane Dawson Spill Secret Fears for Black Box TV". GigaOm. Archived from the original on June 20, 2018. Retrieved June 18, 2018 – via Knowingly, Inc.
  11. ^ Szalai, Georg (October 28, 2011). "YouTube Announces TV Initiative With 100 Niche Channels". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 21, 2018 – via Hollywood Reporter-Billboard Media Group.
  12. ^ Lyons, Dan (November 7, 2011). "Google Plans to Turn Existing TV Industry Upside Down". The Daily Beast. Retrieved June 18, 2018 – via The Daily Beast Company.
  13. ^ Humphrey, Michael (October 17, 2012). "YouTube PrimeTime: The Collective Explains How A Digital Studio Works". Forbes. Retrieved August 21, 2018 – via Forbes Media, LLC.
  14. ^ Graser, Marc (September 2, 2014). "Legendary, YouTube Launch Halloween Film Contest with Guillermo del Toro". Variety. Retrieved June 18, 2018 – via Variety Media, LLC.
  15. ^ Yamato, Jen (October 27, 2014). "Guillermo Del Toro To Pick Finalists In YouTube Horror Hunt: Video". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 18, 2018 – via Deadline.
  16. ^ Johnson, Ted (July 21, 2014). "Alpine Labs Names Jamie Denenberg Partner and Chief Strategy Officer". Variety. Retrieved August 22, 2018 – via Variety Media, LLC.
  17. ^ Bramlett, Matthew (August 4, 2014). "Ketchum Labs and BlackBox TV Teaming Up to Terrify YouTube Stars and Explore Haunted House". TheWrap. Retrieved August 21, 2018 – via The Wrap News, Inc.
  18. ^ Young, Aaron (March 17, 2016). "Tribeca Film Festival Unveils Digital-Content Marketplace Event". Variety. Retrieved August 16, 2018 – via Variety Media, LLC.
  19. ^ Baldwin, Drew (April 13, 2012). "Anthony E. Zuiker Debuts Original Series on BlackBoxTV". Tubefilter. Retrieved June 18, 2018 – via Tubefilter, Inc.
  20. ^ Hallam, Scott (April 4, 2012). "BlackBoxTV YouTube Channel Launching on Friday, April 13th". Dread Central. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  21. ^ Baldwin, Drew (April 13, 2012). "Anthony E. Zuiker Debuts Original Series on BlackBoxTV". Tubefilter. Retrieved June 18, 2018 – via Tubefilter, Inc.
  22. ^ Shen, Maxine (April 13, 2012). "CSI's Anthony Zuiker is back with BlackBoxTV Web fears". New York Post. Retrieved June 18, 2018 – via NYP Holdings, Inc.
  23. ^ "Extreme photo booth prank a step too far?". The Telegraph. April 13, 2012. Archived from the original on July 17, 2013. Retrieved July 17, 2013 – via Telegraph Media Group, Limited.
  24. ^ Coggan, Devan (October 25, 2015). "YouTube: The Fourth Door web series trailer starring Joey Graceffa". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 22, 2018 – via Meredith Corporation.
  25. ^ Robinson, Will (August 9, 2016). "YouTube: Fight of the Living Dead trailer features YouTube stars, zombies". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 16, 2018 – via Meredith Corporation.
  26. ^ N'Duka, Amanda (5 August 2016). ""YouTube Red Making 'Lazer Team' Sequel, Picks Up 'The Thinning' Digital Film- TCA"". Deadline. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  27. ^ Sprague, Mike (December 14, 2017). "Check Out Episode 1 of the New VR/360 App Narrative Series Find Me". Dread Central. Retrieved August 16, 2018.
  28. ^ Spangler, Todd (July 15, 2016). "In Nod to Lights Out YouTube Origins, Warner Bros. Taps YouTube Creators for Scary Promos". Variety. Retrieved August 23, 2018 – via Variety Media, LLC.
  29. ^ Hipes, Patrick (April 27, 2017). "Streamy Awards 2017 Sets Date For Twitter Live Stream". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 23, 2018 – via Penske Media, LLC.
  30. ^ "Winners 7th Annual Streamy Awards Winners". Streamy Awards. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  31. ^ Longwell, Todd (September 29, 2016). "Collab Signs Horror Channel BlackBoxTV to Network, Partners on 360 Videos". VideoInk News. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
  32. ^ Weiss, Geoff (September 29, 2016). "Multi-Platform Network Collab Signs YouTube Horror VR Channel BlackBoxTV". Tubefilter. Retrieved August 23, 2018 – via Tubefilter, Inc.
  33. ^ Sprague, Mike (December 14, 2017). "Check Out Episode 1 of the New VR/360 App Narrative Series Find Me". Dread Central. Retrieved August 16, 2018.
  34. ^ Sprague, Mike (July 26, 2018). "Serial Box Unveils SILVERWOOD Cover". Dread Central. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
  35. ^ Sprague, Mike (July 26, 2018). "Serial Box Unveils SILVERWOOD Cover". Dread Central. Retrieved August 23, 2018.