TAPP TV
{{Short description|Subscription-based content network}}
TAPP TV ("TAPP" stands for TV APP) was a subscription-based online video content network, home to individual "channels" built around public personalities with large followings.{{cite web|last=Jarvey|first=Natalie|title=Jeff Gaspin, Jon Klein to Launch Online Video Platform TAPP|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=11 March 2014 |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/jeff-gaspin-jon-klein-launch-687588}}{{cite web|last=Wallenstein|first=Andrew|title=CNN, NBCU Alums Jon Klein, Jeff Gaspin Team Up for Online Video Venture|date=11 March 2014 |url=https://variety.com/2014/digital/news/nbcu-cnn-alums-jon-klein-jeff-gaspin-team-up-for-online-video-venture-1201129490/}} It was founded in 2013 by Jeff Gaspin, former chairman of NBC Universal Television, and Jonathan Klein, former president of CNN US. Michael Greer, former CTO of the Onion, was a co-founder and CTO.
TAPP TV subscribers paid $9.95 per month or $99.95 per year to receive daily video content from subscribed video channels.{{cite web|title=Gaspin & Klein launch 'TAPP' – a new subscriber based online video company|url=http://salingermedia.com/jon-klein-on-his-new-online-venture-weve-created-the-company-that-i-feared-would-come-along/|publisher=Salinger Media}} Each channel was sold separately.
TAPP TV's investors included Discovery Communications and Demarest Films, and individual investors including Eric Schmidt, Executive Chairman of Google, and investment bankers Ken Moelis, Peter Ezersky and Michael Huber.{{cite web|last=Palmeri|first=Christopher|title=Discovery Backing Web-Video Service Along With Schmidt|url=http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-03-11/discovery-backing-web-video-service-along-with-google-s-schmidt|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325141228/http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-03-11/discovery-backing-web-video-service-along-with-google-s-schmidt|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 25, 2014}} In addition to Gaspin and Klein, the TAPP TV board included Sean Atkins, senior vice president and general manager, Digital, at Discovery Communications.
The last post on TAPP's account on the social media platform X is dated 2017.{{cite web |url=https://x.com/tapptv?lang=en |title=TAPP Media |publisher=X |accessdate=1 July 2024}} As of July 2024, its official website is no longer operating.{{citation |url=http://www.tapptv.com/ |title=This site can't be reached |accessdate=1 July 2024}}
TAPP channels
In March 2014, Gaspin and Klein announced plans to launch a roster of channels on the TAPP platform in 2014.
TAPP launched its first channel on March 20: New Life TV, featuring Steve Arterburn, an American syndicated radio host with 2 million weekly listeners to his New Life Live program.{{cite web|last=Ross|first=L.A.|title=Jeff Gaspin, Jon Klein's New Digital Platform Launching First Channel With Christian Radio Host Steve Arterburn|date=30 August 2023 |url=http://www.thewrap.com/tapp-first-channel-new-life-tv-christian-radio-steve-arterburn}} Arterburn is a Christian counselor, author and motivational speaker, focused on relationships, family and addiction. He is the founder of New Life Ministries and Women of Faith.
In March 2014, reports circulated that Sarah Palin would be launching a TAPP channel.{{cite web|last=Weprin|first=Alex|title=Sarah Palin plans 'Rogue TV'|url=http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/media/2014/03/8541966/sarah-palin-plans-%E2%80%98rogue-tv%E2%80%99}}{{cite web |last1=Wilstein |first1=Matt |title=Sarah Palin's 'Rogue TV' Reportedly Coming to a Computer Near You |url=http://www.mediaite.com/online/sarah-palins-rogue-tv-reportedly-coming-to-a-computer-near-you/ |website=Mediaite |accessdate=2020-04-01 |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20140521224208/http://www.mediaite.com/online/sarah-palins-rogue-tv-reportedly-coming-to-a-computer-near-you/ |archivedate=2014-05-21 |date=14 March 2014 |url-status=unfit}}{{cbignore|bot=InternetArchiveBot}}{{cite web|last=Abbruzzese|first=Jason|title=A Sarah Palin Channel? You Betcha!|website=Mashable|date=14 March 2014 |url=http://mashable.com/2014/03/14/sarah-palin-247-former-alaska-governor-to-launch-digital-video-channel/}} The Palin channel was shuttered in 2015.{{cite journal |url=https://variety.com/2015/digital/news/sarah-palin-internet-subscription-video-channel-1201535281/ |title=Sarah Palin Pulls Plug on Internet Subscription-Video Channel |last=Spangler |first=Jeff |date=7 July 2015 |journal=Variety |accessdate=30 June 2024}}
Online subscription video industry
TAPP's founders had cited Glenn Beck's Blaze TV, which launched in 2012, as one inspiration for their business model. Reports put The Blaze's subscriber base at 300,000 people paying $9.95 per month.{{cite news|last=Stelter|first=Brian|title=Beck Takes His Conservative Internet Shows to the Dish Network|work=The New York Times |date=12 September 2012 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/12/business/media/glenn-becks-show-heads-to-dish-network.html?pagewanted=all}} In December 2013, Chernin Entertainment announced it had taken a majority stake in Crunchyroll, which aggregates online anime videos offered on both a subscription and pay-per-view basis.{{cite web|last=Spangler|first=Todd|title=Chernin Group Takes Majority Stake in Anime Website Crunchyroll|date=2 December 2013 |url=https://variety.com/2013/digital/news/chernin-group-takes-majority-stake-in-anime-website-crunchyroll-1200910515/}} In February 2014, WWE launched its own subscription video channel, and has announced more than 600,000 monthly subscribers since launch.{{cite web|last=Luckerson|first=Victor|title=WWE Online Network Is Already Body-Slamming Tons of Subscribers|date=7 April 2014 |url=https://time.com/51882/wwe-online-network-is-already-body-slamming-tons-of-subscribers/}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official|https://www.tapptv.com/}}
{{VOD services}}
Category:Video on demand services