AOL, A Global Leader in Online Premium Video, Announces First Foray into Long-Form Video
New Original Series “Connected” Documents Self-Filmed Lives of Five New Yorkers Online Premium Video Leader Adapts International Series for U.S. Audience
NEW YORK (01 Apr 2014)
AOL has commissioned its first long-form video series, Connected, for inclusion in the AOL On Network, AOL’s premium video platform. Connected, which captures the authentic voices of five individuals as they put their lives on camera, has seen tremendous success in international markets and will now be adapted for U.S. audiences by AOL. The show will debut later this year as part of the slate of new original series unveiled at AOL’s Digital Content NewFronts on April 29th in Brooklyn.
Connected joins a successful slate of fifteen original series that launched in 2013 and have collectively amassed nearly 150 million views to date. The show chronicles the lives of five seemingly disconnected New Yorkers as they explore the concept of family in New York City. As five parallel stories unfold and eventually come together in a cohesive storyline, viewers are reminded of the universal bond that family has on individuals and on society as a whole -- regardless of social status, income, gender, marital status or sexual orientation.
“With Connected, we are capturing and elevating the type of authentic content that has already resonated so deeply with our viewers,” said Ran Harnevo, President of AOL Video. “At AOL, we are committed to producing premium, engaging video content -- and as a result, we are very intentional with the show themes and production styles we select. Our original content offerings are constantly evolving and long-form was the natural next step.”
Connected represents AOL’s first acquisition and adaptation of a new storytelling format — one that has already proven to be successful in international markets. Connected currently airs in Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Holland, India, Ireland, Israel, Netherlands, Norway, Romania and Ukraine; has been named Denmark’s “Best Observational Documentary Series” and is one of Israel’s highest-rated cable TV series ever.
“On the heels of our international launch and the success of our original programming, AOL On continues to emerge as both a global leader in online video and a major media brand,” said Tal Simantov, Vice President of Global Video Strategy at AOL. “As we expand our original content offerings, and dive into new international markets, it makes sense for us to carry over unique production styles to the United States. Connected has seen major success across the globe, and we are confident that the universal themes and focus on real life will speak just as loudly to American audiences as they have abroad.”
“We are excited and inspired to produce Connected for AOL’s premium video platform,” said Ram Landes, Connected’s creator and the founder of Koda Communications, the Israeli company leading production in the US. “Connected is an authentic series that we feel perfectly matches the values of AOL Originals and the overall goal of AOL’s video business. We created this series with the intention of converting internet-style communication into a high-quality show. Presenting Connected online for the American market brings things full-circuit and is very satisfying.”
Connected on AOL On is just one of the original series that will comprise the online video property’s 2014 slate. After the show’s debut at the AOL Digital Content NewFronts, it is expected to premiere in January. Adding to AOL Video’s library of over 890,000 videos, Connected will be available throughout the entire AOL On Network and across a selection of our 1,700 partner sites.
About AOL
AOL Inc. (NYSE: AOL) is a brand company, committed to continuously innovating, growing, and investing in brands and experiences that inform, entertain, and connect the world. The home of a world-class collection of premium brands, AOL creates original content that engages audiences on a local and global scale. We help marketers connect with these audiences through effective and engaging digital advertising solutions.
About Koda Communications
Koda Communications is one of Israel's most innovative television production companies, which was established 9 years ago by Ram Landes, a recognized creative force in Israel's television industry and the founder of Israel's leading Evening News channels. Koda has created and produced numerous award-winning programs, top-rated drama and documentary series, and novel scripted and unscripted formats.