VENN

VENN was co-founded in 2019 by former EA Brand Marketer Ben Kusin and Riot Games' former Head of Esports Content Ariel Horn.{{cite web |last1=Wolf |first1=Jacob |title=New esports network VENN to launch in 2020 |url=https://www.espn.com/esports/story/_/id/27636733/new-esports-network-venn-launch-2020 |website=ESPN |date=17 September 2019 |access-date=17 September 2019}} The network raised $17 million in a seed funding round led by Bitkraft Esports Ventures and private investment firm Eldridge Industries.{{cite web |last1=Perez |first1=Matt |title=Video Game Network Launches With $17 Million In Funding And Backing Of Riot, Twitch And Blizzard Cofounders |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/mattperez/2019/09/17/venn-esports-funding-riot-games/#4c3167c837a7 |website=Forbes |access-date=17 September 2019}}

VENN was officially announced in April 2020 as a gaming TV network that provides a "mix of gaming, news, entertainment, and music, as well as original series featuring creators and influencers."{{cite web |last1=Henry |first1=Jasmine |title=New Gaming TV Network VENN Announced |url=https://gamerant.com/venn-esports-network-announced/ |website=Game Rant |date=13 April 2020 |access-date=13 April 2020}} The network built a studio in Playa Vista, California with another one being constructed in New York City,{{cite news|last1=Zeitchik|first1=Steven|title=Network seeks to become MTV for the gamer generation|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/09/17/new-network-seeks-become-mtv-gamer-generation/|access-date=17 September 2019|newspaper=Washington Post}} located inside 3 World Trade Center.{{cite news|last1=Novy-Williams|first1=Eben|title=The Would-Be MTV of Esports Hastens Launch During Lockdown|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-04-09/would-be-mtv-of-esports-hastens-launch-to-benefit-from-lockdown|access-date=9 April 2020|newspaper=Bloomberg.com|date=9 April 2020 }} However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the completion and opening of the New York studio was delayed until further notice.{{cite web |last1=Dachman |first1=Jason |title=Inside the Launch of VENN 24/7 Gaming-Lifestyle Network in the Midst of the Pandemic |url=https://www.sportsvideo.org/2020/08/05/inside-the-launch-of-venn-the-new-24-7-gaming-lifestyle-network-built-in-the-midst-of-the-pandemic/ |website=Sports Video Group |date=5 August 2020 |access-date=5 August 2020}}

VENN beta launched on August 5, 2020, featured over 30+ hours of new content weekly, and was available on Twitch and YouTube.{{cite web|last1=Lee|first1=Wendy|last2=Sakoui|first2=Anousha|title=Hollywood has few jobs, but these companies are hiring workers idled by the coronavirus|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2020-04-11/coronavirus-hollywood-jobs-hiring-video-games-streaming|access-date=11 April 2020|website=Los Angeles Times|date=11 April 2020}}{{cite web |last1=Browne |first1=Ryan |title=TECH A new TV network aims to lure a generation brought up on video games in the coronavirus era |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/08/05/venn-tv-network-launches-to-lure-gaming-generation-in-coronavirus-era.html |website=CNBC |date=5 August 2020 |access-date=5 August 2020}} The network is broadcast on Twitch, YouTube, Facebook Gaming, Xumo, Samsung TV Plus, The Roku Channel, Vizio, Plex, Distro TV, and Stirr.{{cite web|title=VENN {{!}} WHERE TO WATCH|url=https://www.venn.tv/where-watch/|access-date=5 November 2020|website=VENN}} All of its programming prioritize live community interaction, either through polls or the hosts reading comments and answering questions from the Twitch chat or the official Discord server.

On October 20, 2020, it was announced that VENN had raised over $26 million during its Series A round of financing. The added investments bring its company total to $43 million and will be used to further expand its business.{{Cite web|last=Spangler|first=Todd|date=2020-10-20|title=VENN Raises $26 Million in Funding to Expand Gaming and Esports Network|url=https://variety.com/2020/digital/news/venn-funding-gaming-26-million-nexstar-1234809952/|access-date=2020-11-01|website=Variety|language=en-US}} The company also announced the hiring of former MTV employee Jeff Jacobs as their new EVP and general manager.

In 2021, Horn announced a recalibration of VENN's content creation and distribution. These include a heavy focus on its Esports coverage, a simulcasting deal with Fan Controlled Football,{{cite web |title=Johnny Manziel is playing Fan Controlled Football. Here's what that means |url=https://www.wrbl.com/venn/johnny-manziel-is-playing-fan-controlled-football-heres-what-that-means/ |website=WRBL 3 - Columbus |date=23 February 2021}} the launch of two new YouTube channels (VENN Download and VENN Esports, with its main channel being rebranded as VENN Plays), and the retooling of The Download and Guest House into more short-form series.{{Cite web|last=Fudge|first=James|date=2021-02-17|title=VENN's Ariel Horn on Lessons Learned From the First Six Months of Operation – The Esports Observer|url=https://esportsobserver.com/venn-ariel-horn-interview/|access-date=2021-05-09|website=The Esports Observer|language=en-US}} Horn also revealed they are in talks with linear television outlets for syndication deals and plan on producing more content for streaming platforms. In July, VENN retained accounting firm Armanino LLP to seek a possible acquisition. The following month, the network cut half of their staff and Facecheck, a show that was acquired for its 3rd Season by Venn, then became acquired by G4 for its 4th Season.{{Cite web|date=2021-07-30|title=VENN hires accounting firm for 'accelerated' acquisition process amid pivoting business, financial struggles|url=https://dotesports.com/business/news/venn-hires-law-firm-for-accelerated-acquisition-process-amid-pivoting-business-financial-struggles|access-date=2021-11-03|website=Daily Dot|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=2021-08-18|title=VENN furlough nearly half of staff, cancel 'Facecheck' show|url=https://dotesports.com/business/news/venn-furlough-nearly-half-of-staff-cancel-facecheck-show|access-date=2021-11-03|website=Daily Dot|language=en-US}} VENN's YouTube and social media accounts have since been inactive, with the network's website taken offline. VENN has since been considered defunct.{{Cite web|date=2021-11-29|title=How esports broadcaster Erin Ashley Simon managed to stand out from the crowd|url=https://www.nme.com/en_au/features/gaming-features/how-esports-broadcaster-erin-ashley-simon-managed-to-stand-out-from-the-crowd-3107440|access-date=2021-12-04|website=NME|language=en-US}}

One May 5, 2022, an article from the outlet Input revealed allegations from former VENN employees that claim that mismanagement led to the company shutting down. {{cite web | url=https://www.inputmag.com/gaming/venn-video-games-network-failure | title=Inside the colossal failure of VENN, the 'MTV of video games' | date=5 May 2022 }}

• G4 – A similar network owned by Comcast Spectacor that announced its relaunch a month before VENN's own launch.

{{Reflist|refs=

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• [https://www.venn.tv/ Official website]
• [https://www.twitch.tv/watchvenn Twitch page]
• [https://twitter.com/watchvenn Twitter]
• [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjhfuditlW14fHaV2yrVH-g Main YouTube channel (VENN Plays)]
• [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJzcVFWNGPnKWWGJyYq7n6Q VENN Download YouTube channel]
• [https://www.youtube.com/c/VENNEsports/featured VENN Esports YouTube channel]

Category:Streaming television in the United States

Category:Internet television channels

Category:Internet properties established in 2020

Category:Video game culture

Category:Esports television

Category:Companies based in Los Angeles