SnagFilms
Encyclopedia
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. 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.
. Venture capitalist Miles Gilburne and Revolution LLC
chairman Steve Case
are also investors in the start-up. 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 . SnagLearning which categorizes educational documentaries from the SnagFilms library by grade level and content area was formed two years after the launch of SnagFilms. In January 2011, SnagFilms released a free app for the iPad providing on-demand streams of full-length nonfiction films.
In 2009 SnagFilms expanded its partnerships and made a deal with Hulu
to provide a large portion of its library to its documentary section. Snagfilms also added IMDb and YouTube
as exhibitors of its content. In the summer of 2010, SnagFilms announced a partnership with Comcast’s video on demands channels and Verizon FiOS TV. In Spring 2011, SnagFilms launched a channel on Roku and became available on Boxee's internet platform.
National Geographic Channel
National Geographic Channel, also commercially abbreviated and trademarked as Nat Geo, is a subscription television channel that airs non-fiction television programs produced by the National Geographic Society. Like History and the Discovery Channel, the channel features documentaries with factual...
and PBS
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
and titles such as Super Size Me
Super Size Me
Super Size Me is a 2004 American documentary film directed by and starring Morgan Spurlock, an American independent filmmaker. Spurlock's film follows a 30-day period from February 1 to March 2, 2003 during which he eats only McDonald's food...
, Life & Times of Harvey Milk, and Nanking.
History
SnagFilms was launched in July 2008 by Internet pioneer Ted LeonsisTed Leonsis
Theodore John Leonsis is an Internet pioneer, sports team owner, venture capital investor, filmmaker, author and philanthropist. His early new media company, Redgate Communications was acquired by America Online in 1994, and Leonsis became a senior AOL executive for the next 13 years...
. Venture capitalist Miles Gilburne and Revolution LLC
Revolution LLC
Revolution LLC is a principal investment firm and the parent company to several companies including Revolution Places, a resort management company, Revolution Health, a personal health care network, Revolution Living, a personal wellness network, and Revolution Money, a Web 2.0 payment platform...
chairman Steve Case
Steve Case
Stephen McConnell "Steve" Case is an American businessman best known as the co-founder and former chief executive officer and chairman of America Online . Since his retirement as chairman of AOL Time Warner in 2003, he has gone on to build a variety of new businesses through his investment...
are also investors in the start-up. While at AOL
AOL
AOL Inc. is an American global Internet services and media company. AOL is headquartered at 770 Broadway in New York. Founded in 1983 as Control Video Corporation, it has franchised its services to companies in several nations around the world or set up international versions of its services...
Leonsis founded True Stories, an online source for documentaries. That website would become the inspiration for Snagfilms.
SnagFilms also owns indieWire
IndieWire
indieWIRE is a daily news site for the independent film community. It covers indie, documentary and foreign language films, as well industry news, film festival reports, filmmaker interviews and movie reviews...
, an online publication covering the independent film industry . SnagLearning which categorizes educational documentaries from the SnagFilms library by grade level and content area was formed two years after the launch of SnagFilms. In January 2011, SnagFilms released a free app for the iPad providing on-demand streams of full-length nonfiction films.
In 2009 SnagFilms expanded its partnerships and made a deal with Hulu
Hulu
Hulu is a website and over-the-top subscription service offering ad-supported on-demand streaming video of TV shows, movies, webisodes and other new media, trailers, clips, and behind-the-scenes footage from NBC, Fox, ABC, and Obstacle on October 20th 2011 Nickelodeon and CBS and many other...
to provide a large portion of its library to its documentary section. Snagfilms also added IMDb and YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
as exhibitors of its content. In the summer of 2010, SnagFilms announced a partnership with Comcast’s video on demands channels and Verizon FiOS TV. In Spring 2011, SnagFilms launched a channel on Roku and became available on Boxee's internet platform.