All Things Video

Chris Williams is the Founder & CEO of Pocket.watch, a kid-centric entertainment studio. Chris began his career as one of the first 100 employees at Yahoo!, then launched his first startup, FanLib, which later rebranded as Take180 and was acquired by The Walt Disney Company in 2008. Chris spent 3.5 years at Disney and then joined Maker Studios as Chief Audience Officer. Maker was also acquired by Disney in 2014, and Chris spent another two years there before leaving to start Pocket.watch. Chris and I cover a lot of ground in this episode, from creating participatory entertainment experiences around passionate subcultures to developing digital-first franchises for kids. Chris shares his perspective on what makes Bob Iger and Bob Bakish legendary media execs, the secret behind Viacom’s dramatic digital transformation, and what he sees as the subtle genius behind Quibi. We also debate the ultimate outcome of the streaming wars based on what Chris defines as the five pillars of the media industry: pipes, platforms, branded channels, franchises, and talent. Finally, Chris explains why Susan Wojcicki has “the most difficult job on the planet” and shares what pocket.watch is doing to close the value gap between digital franchises like Ryan ToysReview and traditional IP like SpongeBob and Paw Patrol. Host: James Creech ABOUT THE SHOW All Things Video is a podcast dedicated to uncovering the past and charting the future of the online video ecosystem. Listen to interviews with founders, executives, and thought leaders from the world’s leading media companies and engage in thought-provoking debates about the issues shaping the next generation of entertainment. From the short-form content revolution to the fragmentation of video viewership in an always-on world, All Things Video reveals the key trends and insights from the world of digital media.   Follow All Things Video on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn for new episodes and updates! ABOUT THE HOST James Creech is an entrepreneur focused on technology, online video, and digital media. He is the Co-Founder & CEO of Paladin, the essential influencer marketing platform for media companies, agencies, and brands. OUR SPONSOR This episode is brought to you by Epidemic Sound, the company reimagining music licensing for the digital age. Epidemic’s library contains tens of thousands of tracks that you can license a la carte or on a subscription basis. Unlike other music licensing companies, Epidemic Sound owns its entire catalogue and makes tracks available via one straightforward license to cover all your needs, worldwide and in perpetuity – no headaches around usage reporting, performance royalties, or murky rights ownership. It’s better for the artists and better for you, the creator! So whatever your music needs, Epidemic Sound has got you covered!