Newen Studios has created Newen Digital – a new business dedicated to digital production and distribution. The business has been developed to be an innovations lab, looking to generate value for the Newen Group’s production companies and their IP, as well as IP distributed by the group.
With a remit covering social platforms and the AVOD (Advertising Video On-Demand) and FAST (Free Ad-Supported TV) markets, Newen Digital will seek to explore new ways of producing and distributing innovative content. The business has two principal goals: to be responsible for supporting the digital extensions and original content made by the Newen Group's production companies, and distributing IP from Newen Connect’s catalogues and digital first initiatives on digital platforms in both France and internationally.
In 2022, Newen Studios brought oversight of its digital channels in-house and recruited digital media experts to launch its MCN (Multi-Channel Network) on YouTube, Facebook, Snapchat and TikTok, resulting in 250 million views on YouTube in the first year through channels like Faites entrer l’accusé, Plus Belle La Vie, L'Effet Papillon, and 100% Docs. In creating its own business to support its development slate in 2023, Newen Studios is also looking to broaden its ambition by offering these services to all production companies within the group and by expanding its MCN into international markets.
The new business will be spearheaded by Olivier Levard, who has been promoted to Director and will oversee a seasoned team of experts. Furthermore, drawing on her experience at Studiocanal, MK2, and more recently after a year at Newen Connect (the group's distribution arm), Camille Dupeuble has been appointed Director of Distribution; while Remi Laforce, who previously worked at Meltygroup and Reworld Media, becomes Editorial Director.
“With the creation of Newen Digital, we aim to put a team of digital platform experts at the disposal of all the group’s production units as we seek to drive forward content created by our teams as well as our partners into the digital space at the same time as creating new IP for these platforms. The business will be focused on delivering against our digital ambitions and to seeking out new audiences,” said Olivier Levard, Director at Newen Digital.