Underknown Studios is making its debut this year at MipCom in Cannes. Find us at Palais-1 at booth L16.
‘What If’, the digital science show with over 65 million followers across social media is being launched as a long-form TV show at MIPCOM.
Canadian digital-first media company, Underknown, the creators of What If, will be making its TV production debut as Underknown Studios at MIPCOM, the Company announced today.
Partnering with West One International, Underknown aims to bring their new generation of factual entertainment and audiences to broadcasters and platforms via its award winning digital franchises and brands.
Underknown Studios will be showcasing their hugely popular factual web series brands which regularly add more than 400 million watch minutes each month, as reworked and reformatted TV shows at the market as the Company expands its online offering into long form programming.
The Company’s programming slate is led bys the internet’s No.1 science show. ‘What If’ takes us on epic voyages from inside the human body to the farthest reaches of the universe, asking us astonishing hypothetical questions that get audiences talking around the world. The hit online series adapts perfectly into a longform, lean back experience, where audiences can discover new theories and get answers to the most mind-tingling questions. 52 x 60-minute episodes of ‘What If’ are currently in production.
Underknown Studios is also creating original TV content with History in Living Colour (6 x 60’). Mystery and adventure await as world renowned visual historian Jordan Lloyd uncovers the fascinating, unknown stories behind history’s most incredible photographs.
West One International will raise finance and distribute Underknown Studios’ content globally. The development slate has been created by the duo of Connor Boals (formerly CNN’s Great Big Story), and Cameron Macdonald (formerly of Frantic Films).
Joining the Underknown Studios team as consultants are TV industry veteran Ken MacDonald (formerly Discovery Canada), Melissa Campbell (Contentum) and Carl Hall (West One International).
Commenting on today’s announcement, Co-Founder and CEO of Underknown, Steve Hulford, said: “We are excited to be attending MIPCOM for the first time. Underknown’s content already has strong endorsement from over one hundred million active viewers watching in a dozen languages and with over one billion views each month. We have identified some strong themes throughout the shows and with the huge amount of data we have collected, we are able to cherry pick the most engaging subjects – tailoring content market by market. By using our digital chops, we are able to present a compelling offering to broadcasters as we rework and reformat our digital IP for a global TV audience.”
Carl Hall, Managing Director, West One International added: “I am excited to be pitching Underknown Studios’ content to broadcasters in Cannes. From a TV perspective it’s like Steve and his team have put out promos of all the most exciting subjects online and we can take this viewing data to create TV programming that already has an in-built audience.”
Learn more about Underknown Studios here.
