Vuguru

Vuguru properties are distributed internationally in over forty countries. The company produces web television series for distribution on the Internet, portable media devices, television, and cellphones.{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com/Business/article/191059 |title=Eisner launches studio to make Internet videos |access-date=2007-03-20 |newspaper=Toronto Star |date=March 13, 2007}} The name of the company was developed from the French word "vous" and the English word "guru", and combining the words creates a synthetic term that refers to "you are the guru viewing" according to company founder Michael Eisner. Eisner also stated that the purpose of the firm was to produce "story-driven content for the Internet that up until now could only be found in movie theaters or on television". In October 2009, Vuguru was spun off as a separate LLC with funding from Rogers Communications, one of Canada's largest communications companies.{{cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704335904574497203924881602 |author=Mike Barris |title=Eisner's Vuguru Becomes Stand-alone Firm |date=October 26, 2009 |access-date=December 21, 2012 |newspaper=Wall Street Journal}}{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com/business/article/716207--rogers-buys-stake-in-eisner-web-video-firm |title=Rogers buys stake in Eisner's web video firm |date=October 26, 2009 |access-date=November 23, 2012 |author=Iain Marlow |newspaper=Toronto Star}}

In November 2010, Vuguru signed an agreement with AOL to produce a minimum of six scripted series over the next year, each a series of roughly 90-minute episodes, for distribution by AOL.{{cite web |url=https://www.thewrap.com/media/column-post/michael-eisner-vuguru-aol-announce-video-content-deal-22406 |title=Eisner's Vuguru, AOL Announce Original Video Content Deal|access-date=2011-11-01 |website=The Wrap |date=2010-11-10}} Vuguru also signed a distribution and first-look deal with Content Film in 2010 for regions outside of North America.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.adweek.com/news/technology/eisners-vuguru-inks-output-deal-103366 |date=September 23, 2010 |access-date=November 24, 2012 |title=Eisner's Vuguru Inks Output Deal |author=Andrew Wallenstein |magazine=Adweek Magazine}} In 2012 Eisner signed a distribution deal with Universal Studios, which he stated is a step towards film development for both Vuguru produced projects and other properties.{{cite news |url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/2012-11-13/news/35094012_1_tornante-michael-eisner-pictures-chairman-adam-fogelson |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130130144622/http://articles.nydailynews.com/2012-11-13/news/35094012_1_tornante-michael-eisner-pictures-chairman-adam-fogelson |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 30, 2013 |title=Ex-Disney chief Eisner making movies with Universal |date=November 13, 2012 |access-date=November 23, 2012 |newspaper=New York Daily News}} Vuguru signed an additional content creation pact with Yahoo!, in addition to its deals with Hulu and YouTube.{{cite magazine |url=https://variety.com/2012/digital/news/yahoo-vuguru-pact-for-scripted-series-1118051332/ |magazine=Variety |author=Andrew Wallenstein |title=Yahoo, Vuguru pact for scripted series |date=March 12, 2012 |access-date=November 23, 2012}} In 2013 FremantleMedia will become the main international distributor for Vuguru, distributing its products outside of the US and Canada.{{cite magazine |url=https://variety.com/2012/film/news/fremantlemedia-chief-eyes-high-stakes-game-1118060412/ |author=Steve Clarke |title=FremantleMedia chief eyes 'high stakes game' |date=October 8, 2012 |access-date=December 21, 2012 |magazine=Variety}}

Early Vuguru multi-platform series included SamHas7Friends (which Vuguru acquired in 2007){{Cite news| url = https://variety.com/2007/digital/markets-festivals/eisner-unveils-web-studio-1117960952/ | title = Eisner unveils Web studio | author = Dade Hayes | work = Variety | date = 2007-03-12}} and Foreign Body, a prequel to the novel by Robin Cook, shot primarily on location in New Delhi, India.{{Cite news | url = http://www.nypost.com/seven/01252008/business/digital_dreamers_411773.htm | title = Digital dreamers | date = 2008-01-25 | work = New York Post | access-date = 2008-01-25 | first=Peter | last=Lauria}} In 2010 Vuguru targeted the production of ten to fifteen new series for Internet distribution. In 2011 Vuguru partnered with comic book guru Stan Lee's company POW! Entertainment to produce additional content. New Vuguru web series have included Don't Ask, Don't Tell,{{cite web |url=https://www.thewrap.com/movies/column-post/eisners-vuguru-sets-its-next-film-30605 |title=Eisner's Vuguru Debuts 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' on Sept. 20 |date=August 31, 2011 |access-date=November 24, 2012 |website=The Wrap |author=Joshua L. Weinstein}} Little Women Big Cars,{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-tornante-strikes-deal-with-universal-20121112,0,2336520.story |title=Michael Eisner's Tornante Co. in deal with Universal Pictures |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |author=Dawn C. Chmielewski |date=November 13, 2012 |access-date=November 24, 2012}} The Millionaire Tour, Nuclear Family, Off Season, Fetching, Crawlspace,{{cite web |url=http://corp.aol.com/2012/04/24/aol-and-vuguru-announce-original-web-series-fetching/ |title=AOL AND VUGURU ANNOUNCE ORIGINAL WEB SERIES: FETCHING |date=April 24, 2012 |access-date=November 24, 2012}} and Pretty Tough.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/26/business/media/26eisner.html?_r=0 |title=Eisner's Web Video Studio to Emerge With Backing |newspaper=New York Times |author=Brian Stelter |date=October 25, 2009 |access-date=November 24, 2012}}

File:Promqueenlogo.gif Season One logo]]

The studio's first project, Prom Queen, consisted of 90-second shorts in 80 episodes and was distributed online, beginning in April 2007.{{cite news |url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070313/media_nm/media_eisner_dc |title=Eisner launches Internet video studio Vuguru |access-date=2007-03-20 | work=Yahoo News | author=Li, Kenneth | date=2007-03-12}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}} The cost of each 90-second episode was approximately $3000.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/18/magazine/18wwln-Q4-t.html?_r=0 |author=Deborah Solomon |author-link=Deborah Solomon |title=The Media Mogul |date=November 18, 2007 |access-date=November 23, 2012 |newspaper=New York Times}} The project was well reviewed online and attracted over twenty millions viewers.{{cite news |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SAEC&p_theme=saec&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=11F602F22BAE5F80&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |author=L.A. Lorek |title=Eisner now producing content for Internet NEW TUBE |date=March 12, 2008 |access-date=November 24, 2012 |newspaper=San Antonio Express-News}} The second season was entitled Prom Queen: Summer Heat, and the third season Prom Queen: Homecoming was released on the CW network platforms.{{cite news |title=The CW acquires Vuguru's 'Prom Queen', available online now |date=October 17, 2012 |author=DANIELLE TURCHIANO |newspaper=Los Angeles Examiner}}

The Vuguru web series The All-for-Nots was distributed online by HDNet. The show has been described as modern version of The Monkees or Spinal Tap, as it features a made-for-the-web indie band with the same name as the title of the show. The web series follows the All-for-Nots, a band originating in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, on a fictional national tour across the US. It was released in 24 seven-minute episodes, in addition to 30 shorter web clips that provide background on the band and its members.{{cite news |url=http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/ae/music/hey-hey-its-the-all-for-nots-a-made-for-the-web-rock-band-384196/ |date=March 9, 2008 |access-date=November 24, 2012 |author=Adrian McCoy |title=Hey, hey, it's the All-For-Nots, a made-for-the-Web rock band |newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette}} The show was nominated for three Streamy Awards in 2009, including Best Cinematography in a Web Series, Best Original Music in a Web Series, and Best Ad Integration in a Web Series, which it lost to fellow Vuguru web series Back on Topps.

File:Backontopps-logo.png

Vuguru produced two seasons of the sports comedy web series Back on Topps. The show was nominated for a Sports Emmy Award for Outstanding New Approaches in Sports Programming: Short Format in 2009.{{cite web |url=http://www.emmyonline.org/mediacenter/sports_30th_nominees.html |title=NOMINEES FOR THE 30TH ANNUAL SPORTS EMMY® AWARDS ANNOUNCE AT IMG WORLD CONGRESS OF SPORTS |date=April 2, 2009 |access-date=November 24, 2012 |publisher=Sports Emmy Awards |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090405014552/http://www.emmyonline.org/mediacenter/sports_30th_nominees.html |archive-date=April 5, 2009 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }} That year the show also won a 2009 Streamy Award for Best Ad Integration in a Web Series.{{cite web |url=http://www.streamys.org/nominees-winners/2009-nominees/ |publisher=Streamy Awards |access-date=November 24, 2012 |title=2009 Nominees and Winners}} In 2010 it was the winner of the Streamy Award for Best Branded Entertainment Web Series and nominee for the 2010 Streamy Awards for Best Writing for a Comedy Web Series, Best Ensemble Cast in a Web Series, and Best Guest Star in a Web Series.{{cite web |url=http://www.streamys.org/nominees-winners/2010-nominees/ |publisher=Streamy Awards |access-date=November 24, 2012 |title=2010 Nominees and Winners}} Eisner's investment company is the owner of the Topps merchandise company,{{cite news |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/oukin-uk-media-eisner-idUKN1235368120070313 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160119220140/http://uk.reuters.com/article/oukin-uk-media-eisner-idUKN1235368120070313 |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 19, 2016 |title=Eisner launches Internet video studio Vuguru |date=March 13, 2007 |author=Kenneth Li |access-date=November 23, 2012 |work=Reuters}} from which the series gets its name. The comedy was played on FoxSports.com, and was described in its first season as a seventeen episode mockumentary.{{cite web |url=http://gigaom.com/video/foxsportscom-to-premiere-new-vuguru-comedic-sports-show/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130124012939/http://gigaom.com/video/foxsportscom-to-premiere-new-vuguru-comedic-sports-show/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 24, 2013 |date=September 29, 2008 |title=FoxSports.com to Premiere New Vuguru Comedic Sports Show |author=Liz Gannes |access-date=November 23, 2012 }}

The Booth at the End, a psychological thriller in 23-minute installments, made its debut in 2010 in Canada on the website of CityTV.{{cite web |url=http://www.citytv.com/toronto/citynews/entertainment/news/article/91043--watch-the-booth-at-the-end-first-on-citytv-com |title='The Booth At The End' Airs On Citytv Friday |date=August 20, 2010 |access-date=November 24, 2012 |publisher=CityTV |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121001164459/http://www.citytv.com/toronto/citynews/entertainment/news/article/91043--watch-the-booth-at-the-end-first-on-citytv-com |archive-date=October 1, 2012 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }} The content is also available in 62 separate two-minute online episodes, and on FX. The Guardian said of the quality of the series that, "There is more talent and effort poured into one 120-second nugget, demanding a corresponding surge in effort and engagement from the viewer, than there is in almost any hour of TV elsewhere that you care to name."{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2011/apr/12/booth-at-end-lucy-mangan |title=Cable girl: The Booth at the End |date=April 12, 2011 |access-date=November 24, 2012 |newspaper=The Guardian |author=Lucy Mangan}} The show centers around individuals who encounter a man named Xander Berkeley. Berkeley sits in a diner booth silently looking out the window, waiting for a stranger to approach him with friendly banter. When they do, their journey begins. Tasks have included the robbing of a bank for exactly $101,043 in exchange for beauty or setting off a bomb in a cafe in order for a woman's husband to be cured of Alzheimer's.{{cite news |url=http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/tv/booth-at-the-end-review-new-series-1.3881428 |newspaper=Newsday |author=Verne Gay |title='Booth at the End' review: New series |date=August 3, 2012 |access-date=December 10, 2012}}

The Chairman and founder of Vuguru is Michael Eisner.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.mediacastermagazine.com/news/digital-media-studio-vuguru-names-president/1000351093/ |date=December 15, 2009 |access-date=November 23, 2012 |title=Digital Media Studio Vuguru Names President |magazine=Broadband & Content Mediacaster |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019093105/http://www.mediacastermagazine.com/news/digital-media-studio-vuguru-names-president/1000351093/ |archive-date=October 19, 2013 |url-status=usurped }} In 2009 Vuguru hired Larry Tanz as the company's first President,{{cite magazine |url=https://variety.com/2010/digital/news/vuguru-beefs-up-exec-roster-1118017296/ |author=Cynthia Littleton |magazine=Variety |title=Vuguru beefs up exec roster |date=April 6, 2010 |access-date=November 23, 2012}} after having previously served as President and Chief Executive Officer of LivePlanet. They also hired David Shall as their head of business operations, now COO, who was formerly a business affairs executive at Fox. In 2010 the company hired Kristin Jones as its Chief Creative Officer, a former senior vice-president of production, international development, and acquisitions with Miramax. Jones left Vuguru in August, 2013.{{cite web|last=Patel|first=Sahil|title=Kristin Jones Out at Vuguru|url=http://www.thevideoink.com/breaking-news/kristin-jones-out-at-vuguru/#.UmBui2RbWTg|work=VideoInk|access-date=17 October 2013}} Tanz was promoted to CEO in February 2012. Eisner stated of Tanz that, "Under his leadership, the company has expanded its production slate, created valuable partnerships and increased profitability."{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUS390876782520120221 |work=Reuters |title=Vuguru President Larry Tanz Promoted to CEO |date=February 21, 2012 |access-date=November 23, 2012 |author=Joshua L. Weinstein}}

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• [http://www.vuguru.com Official site]

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Category:Private equity portfolio companies

Category:Streaming television in the United States

Category:Rogers Communications

Category:Michael Eisner