Web-Video App Makes the Internet More Like TV

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By Josh Dickey2014-03-31 18:52:26 UTC

With all the hashtags on your TV screen these days, it sure seems like television is trying real hard to be more like the Internet. It’s probably about time the Internet tried to be more like TV.

That’s the thinking behind Pluto.tv, a new app and website that launched Monday. Its purpose: to bring all those web videos you’re already watching into a more TV-like environment, with something like the “channel guide” that pops up from your cable remote.

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Comedy clips, epic fails, skateboard sizzle-reels, animals being funny, viral bric-a-brac –- it’s all in one easy-to-find place now, curated within more than 100 programmed channels. The hitch is that the clips are stitched together into “shows” and programmed at a certain time, which might frustrate viewers used to hopscotching around for content via search.

But once a “show” sucks you in, you’re likely to stick with it for a lot longer than, say, your average keyboard-cat clip.

The free platform is now available for download on Apple’s iTunes store and Android’s Google Play. “Guest content curators” will help with the launch, including hip-hop artist Nas, Scandal actress Darby Stanchfield, Iron Chef Cat Cora and fashionista Nasty Gal, for starters, who’ll be “spinning” videos Tuesday night at 8 p.m. Eastern.

“We’re making the process of discovering new content easy by delivering free programming around areas of interest anytime, anywhere,” said co-founder Nick Grouf. “Pluto.TV has done the heavy lifting for you, so you can sit back, watch, and enjoy.”

The platform has partnered with dozens of already-popular web content creators to fill its many channels, from Louis C.K. to Bill Simmons, Funny or Die, The Young Turks, RocketJump and Jay Z’s IconicTV.

And lest you think Hollywood is getting hijacked on this one, think again: Investors include several entertainment-industry heavy hitters, from Terry Semel (former Warner Bros. exec and Yahoo CEO), United Talent Agency CEO Jeremy Zimmer, to ICM president Chris Silbermann and Interscope Records co-founder Tom Whalley, just to name a few.

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Topics: Entertainment, Pluto.tv, Television, Video, Videos