SnagFilms

SnagFilms was launched in July 2008 by Internet pioneer Ted Leonsis. Venture capitalist Miles Gilburne and Revolution LLC chairman Steve Case are also investors in the start-up.{{cite web |url=http://www.informationweek.com/news/internet/b2c/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=209100810&cid=RSSfeed_IWK_News |title=SnagFilms Puts Documentaries On The Web – SnagFilms |publisher=InformationWeek |date=2008-07-17 |access-date=2011-03-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080822130807/http://www.informationweek.com/news/internet/b2c/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=209100810 |archive-date=2008-08-22 }} While at AOL Leonsis founded True Stories, an online source for documentaries. That website would become the inspiration for SnagFilms.

SnagFilms owns comedy website Thundershorts, which The New York Times called "a discriminating boutique."{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/11/arts/funny-kooky-and-short-on-the-net.html|title=Funny, Kooky and Short on the Net|first=Jason|last=Zinoman|newspaper=The New York Times|date=10 September 2014|access-date=14 March 2017}} SnagFilms previously owned IndieWire, an online publication covering the independent film industry.{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/19/business/media/19snag.html | work=The New York Times | first=Michael | last=Cieply | title=SnagFilms to Expand Distribution of Documentaries | date=July 18, 2010}}

SnagFilms’ curated collection is viewed on its own site and a digital network of more than 110,000 affiliated sites and webpages worldwide, including partners such as Comcast's XfinityTV.com, Hulu,{{cite web |last=Martin |first=Peter |url=http://www.cinematical.com/2009/03/19/indie-roundup-snagfilms-joins-with-hulu-sunshine-cleaning-cl/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090521181221/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/03/19/indie-roundup-snagfilms-joins-with-hulu-sunshine-cleaning-cl |url-status=dead |archive-date=2009-05-21 |title=Indie Roundup: SnagFilms Joins with Hulu, 'Sunshine Cleaning' Cleans Up – The Moviefone Blog |publisher=Cinematical.com |date=2009-03-19 |access-date=2011-03-12 }} IMDb, AOL/Huffington Post, hundreds of non-profits, special interest sites and blogs – and via its applications for tablets, including Apple's iPad (AirPlay-enabled),{{cite news| url=http://www.macworld.com/article/157029/2011/01/snagfilms.html | work= Macworld | first= Joel| last= Mathis | title= SnagFilms brings free documentaries to iPad| date=January 10, 2011}} Amazon's Kindle Fire and other Android-based tablets; Android smartphones; OTT platforms Roku and Boxee; and soon to launch on connected TVs from Sony, Samsung and Vizio. SnagFilms’ titles have been featured on more than 3.5 billion pageviews across its network.

SnagFilms added IMDb and YouTube as exhibitors of its content.{{cite web|url=http://www.indiewire.com/article/in_solidarity_snagfilms_join_forces_with_imdb_hulu_youtube_enters_founders_/ |title=SnagFilms Joins Forces With IMDb, YouTube; Enter Founder's Alliance |date=21 May 2009 |publisher=indieWIRE |access-date=2011-03-12}} In the summer of 2010, SnagFilms announced a partnership with Comcast's video on demands channels and Verizon FiOS TV.{{cite news| url= http://www.philly.com/philly/business/technology/SnagFilms_snags_new_deals_with_Comcast_iPad_FiOS_and_more_.html|work= The Philadelphia Inquirer| first= Steve| last= Rea | title= SnagFilms snags new deals with Comcast, iPad, FiOS and more| date= July 21, 2010}} In Spring 2011, SnagFilms launched a channel on Roku{{cite news| url=http://gigaom.com/video/snagfilms-roku/| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110603064507/http://gigaom.com/video/snagfilms-roku/| url-status=dead| archive-date=June 3, 2011| work=GigaOm| first=Ryan| last=Lawler| title=SnagFilms Brings Free, Ad-Supported Movies to Roku| date=May 31, 2011}} and became available on Boxee's internet platform.{{cite news|url=http://www.homemediamagazine.com/vod/snagfilms-docs-come-boxee-23741|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314062253/http://www.homemediamagazine.com/vod/snagfilms-docs-come-boxee-23741|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 14, 2012| work= Home Media Magazine| first= Billy| last= Gil| title= SnagFilms Docs Come to Boxee| date= April 20, 2011}} In late 2011, Snag became available on the Kindle Fire as well as many BlackBerry and Android tablets and smartphones. Their films are also available on iTunes, Amazon.com,{{cite web| url=http://www.snagfilms.com/films/everywhere| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605061124/http://www.snagfilms.com/films/everywhere/| url-status=usurped| archive-date=2011-06-05| title=SnagFilms Everywhere| publisher=SnagFilms.com| access-date=2012-01-20}} DIRECTV and digital streaming providers VUDU, Samsung Media Hub, Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network.

SnagFilms was named one of the fastest-growing technology companies in the Washington, D.C., area. Gizmodo has named SnagFilms as a “Best iPad App,” OVGuide has twice named SnagFilms a Top Site, and MovieMaker Magazine named SnagFilms to its annual list of “50 Best Websites for Moviemakers.” SnagFilms, Inc. was named as one of Red Herring's 2013 Top-100 Technology Companies in North America.{{citation needed|date=November 2014}} Snagfilms.com was a Webby finalist as 2014's top entertainment site and a 2013 Webby Honoree.{{citation needed|date=November 2014}}

According to their homepage, "With deep regret, we have shut down the SnagFilms service, and by the end of May [2020] will be wrapping up our relationships with the filmmakers, production companies and other content owners we have been honored to serve for more than a decade."{{cite web|url=http://snagfilms.com/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080414183914/http://snagfilms.com/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=April 14, 2008|title=SNAGFILMS}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190703010325/https://www.snagfilms.com/ |date=July 3, 2019 |title=Official website }}
• [http://www.c-spanvideo.org/prhfyfutiuoiuogram/293186-1// Ted Leonsis Interview about SnagFilms on C-SPAN]

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Category:Advertising video on demand

Category:American film websites

Category:Defunct video on demand services

Category:Internet properties established in 2008

Category:Internet properties disestablished in 2020