The Channel Frederator Network is an American animation, video game and pop culture
multi-channel network
A multi-channel network (MCN) is an organization that works with video platforms to offer assistance to channel owners in areas such as "product, programming, funding, cross-promotion, partner management, digital rights management, monetizati ...
founded by cartoon producer and serial media entrepreneur
Fred Seibert
Frederick G. Seibert is an American television producer and media proprietor.
Seibert began his professional career as a jazz and blues record producer and audio engineer in the 1970s. He co-founded the record label Oblivion Records by 1972 an ...
and managed by
Frederator Networks.
After launching
Frederator Studios, Seibert spent a year as president of MTV Networks Online, realizing the potential of streaming video programming and distribution.
History
The origin of the Channel Frederator Network can be traced back as early as 2005, when Seibert founded Channel Frederator, and originally launched as the "first cartoon video podcast" on November 2, 2005, distributing episodes through
Apple
An apple is a round, edible fruit produced by an apple tree (''Malus'' spp.). Fruit trees of the orchard or domestic apple (''Malus domestica''), the most widely grown in the genus, are agriculture, cultivated worldwide. The tree originated ...
's
iTunes
iTunes is a media player, media library, and mobile device management (MDM) utility developed by Apple. It is used to purchase, play, download and organize digital multimedia on personal computers running the macOS and Windows operating s ...
onto devices like the Apple
iPod
The iPod is a series of portable media players and multi-purpose mobile devices that were designed and marketed by Apple Inc. from 2001 to 2022. The iPod Classic#1st generation, first version was released on November 10, 2001, about mon ...
and the Sony
PlayStation Portable
The PlayStation Portable (PSP) is a handheld game console developed and marketed by Sony Interactive Entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on December 12, 2004, in North America on March 24, 2005, and in PA ...
(PSP). According to the launch press release, Channel Frederator's weekly episodes "will contain several short form original and vintage cartoons submitted by producers from around the world, packaged into 10 to 15 minute episodes."
Tumblr
Tumblr (pronounced "tumbler") is a microblogging and Social networking service, social networking website founded by David Karp in 2007 and is owned by American company Automattic. The service allows users to post multimedia and other content ...
founder
David Karp
David Karp (born July 6, 1986) is an American businessperson, best known as the founder and former CEO of the microblogging platform Tumblr.
Karp began his career, without receiving a high school diploma, as an intern under Fred Seibert at th ...
edited the first week's episodes, created its first website, and co-designed the channel logo. The original format was three independently produced animated films separated by
Adult Swim
Adult Swim (stylized as dult swimand s is an American adult-oriented television programming block that airs on Cartoon Network which broadcasts during the evening, prime time, and Late-night television, late-night Dayparting, dayparts. T ...
-like promos and Channel Frederator logos. Channel Frederator began distributing on the
YouTube
YouTube is an American social media and online video sharing platform owned by Google. YouTube was founded on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim who were three former employees of PayPal. Headquartered in ...
platform on February 23, 2007. The channel’s success led to his creation of
Next New Networks with Emil Rensing and, eventually, a group of co-founders. Next New Networks invented the concept of the Multi-Channel Network, eventually distributing dozens of creator owned video channels and becoming one of YouTube’s top 5 view contributors. Google and YouTube acquired the company in 2010, with Seibert retaining ownership of Channel Frederator, and subsequently creating Frederator Networks as the parent company.
In 2012,
Frederator Studios began producing television-quality cartoons for the Internet as part of the $100 million
YouTube Original Channel Initiative, and has since produced two successful series and many successful shorts as
Too Cool! Cartoons
''Too Cool! Cartoons'' is a series of adult animated shorts on the YouTube channel Cartoon Hangover. It was created by Fred Seibert and produced by Frederator Studios. The series premiered on April 4, 2013, with the short ''Our New Electrica ...
and
GO! Cartoons, including
Pendleton Ward
Pendleton Ward is an American animator, screenwriter, producer, director, and voice actor who has worked for Cartoon Network Studios, Frederator Studios, and Netflix Animation. He created the series ''Adventure Time'', the Internet series ''Brave ...
's ''
Bravest Warriors'',
Natasha Allegri's ''
Bee and PuppyCat'' and
Elyse Castro's ''The Summoning''.
In the summer 2014, Seibert launched the Channel Frederator Network as an animation multi-channel network, eventually becoming the largest animation network on YouTube.
In 2022,
Ethan Schulteis (The Amagi) began managing the Official Youtube channel of the network and later took charge of ''Cinematica'', the live-action channel.
Affiliated influencers
Among the network’s leading channels are
Jaiden Animations,
Domics,
FilmCow,
Cartoon Hangover, and RebelTaxi.
Once part of the network, Channel Frederator handles all advertising and distribution for its channels on YouTube, promoting the show and its licensed merchandise; the network also provides on-demand consulting, and weekly events for open to all network members.
Parent company
Channel Frederator is a division of
Frederator Networks, which itself is part of the media holding company
Wow Unlimited Media
Wow Unlimited Media Inc. (stylized as WOW! Unlimited Media) is a Canadian animation and media holding company. It was formed as a result of a merger between Rainmaker Entertainment, Frederator Networks and Ezrin Hirsh Entertainment (EHE). The com ...
(itself a subsidiary of
Kartoon Studios).
Frederator Networks was founded in 2012 by
Frederator Studios founder Fred Seibert to build a media company that organizes and super serves specialized audiences with online video. In addition to Channel Frederator and
Cartoon Hangover, Frederator Networks also operates Frederator Books, and Frederator Studios, which produced ''
Castlevania'' for
Netflix
Netflix is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service. The service primarily distributes original and acquired films and television shows from various genres, and it is available internationally in multiple lang ...
, among other television series, such as
Butch Hartman's ''
The Fairly OddParents
''The Fairly OddParents'' is an American animated television series created by Butch Hartman for Nickelodeon. The series follows the adventures of Timmy Turner, a 10-year-old boy with two Fairy godmother, fairy godparents named List of The Fai ...
'' for
Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon (nicknamed Nick) is an American pay television channel and the flagship property of the Nickelodeon Group, a sub-division of the Paramount Media Networks division of Paramount Global. Launched on April 1, 1979, as the first ca ...
and
Pendleton Ward
Pendleton Ward is an American animator, screenwriter, producer, director, and voice actor who has worked for Cartoon Network Studios, Frederator Studios, and Netflix Animation. He created the series ''Adventure Time'', the Internet series ''Brave ...
's ''
Adventure Time
''Adventure Time'' is an American fantasy animated television series created by Pendleton Ward and co-produced by Frederator Studios for Cartoon Network. The series follows the adventures of a boy named Finn the Human, Finn (Jeremy Shada) and ...
'' for
Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network (CN) is an American cable television television channel, channel and the flagship property of the Cartoon Network, Inc., a sub-division of the Warner Bros. Discovery Networks division of Warner Bros. Discovery. It launched on ...
.
References
{{Frederator Studios
Frederator Studios
Multi-channel networks
Mass media companies based in New York City
Internet properties established in 2012
Mass media companies established in 2012
2012 establishments in New York City
YouTube channels launched in 2007
American companies established in 2012