NBCU & Snap Inc. Partner for Digital Content

NBCUniversal and Snap Inc. have joined forces to form a new digital content studio, which will create made-for-mobile programming to primarily debut on Snapchat.

The initial focus will be to develop and produce shows—across scripted and other genres—for the Snapchat platform. NBCUniversal and Snap Inc. have equal equity stakes in the new venture.

Lauren Anderson, a veteran of NBC Entertainment, has been named chief content officer for the digital content studio. Most recently, Anderson was senior VP of prime-time programming at NBC.

The joint venture’s first deal will be with the Duplass Brothers’ creative shop, Donut. Mark and Jay Duplass founded Donut Studios earlier this year to collaborate with platforms and brands to create entertainment content, in addition to championing the talent and ideas of a new generation of filmmakers by executive producing projects that bring new creators forward.

“NBCUniversal is proud to have been Snap’s first partner to create Shows, and we’ve seen consistent audience growth and engagement on the platform,” said Maggie Suniewick, the president of NBCUniversal Digital Enterprises. “This digital content studio is an extension of our already strong partnership and an opportunity to develop new IP and franchises for a mobile-first audience.”

“We see scripted as the next exciting chapter to dive into, and are thrilled to be charting this path with NBCUniversal, who have been amazing collaborators from the start, and with the leadership of Lauren, who has a fantastic track record in this space,” added Sean Mills, the head of original content for Snap Inc. “We’re huge fans of Mark and Jay, and can’t wait to see how they bring their innovative storytelling to Snapchat.”

“As mobile audiences continue to grow, we’re excited to expand the type of content we can develop,” said Anderson. “By combining the best-in-class creative expertise of NBCUniversal with the broad digital reach of Snapchat, we have the unique ability to take mobile programming to the next level, creating compelling shows for both viewers and advertisers.”

“We’re super psyched to partner with Snap and NBCUniversal,” said Mark Duplass, creative director of Donut. “For us, shooting in that vertical mobile format is a terrifying and thrilling creative challenge. We’ll try not to f&*% it up.”