AwesomenessTV co-founder leaves company

Brian Robbins

Brian Robbins is leaving AwesomenessTV, the kids-focused multichannel network he founded five years ago.

Robbins co-created AwesomenessTV with Joe Davola in 2012, and together they turned the business into the pre-eminent MCN for children and teenagers, ultimately selling up to DreamWorks Animation.

With DreamWorks in turn selling to Comcast for US$3.8 billion, and the joint venture content platform AwesomenessTV was working on with shareholder Verizon shelved, Robbins this week told his staff of his exit in a memo.

Davola is remaining with the MCN, as is company president Brett Bouttier, while Robbins will leave after helping to find “a creative partner to help continue the expansion” of the business.

“After an amazing ride, five fantastic years building an awesome company and brand alongside an incredible team of people, the time is right for me to pass the baton and seek new challenges,” said Robbins.

AwesomenessTV began as a YouTube channel, before going on to become a multiplatform producer of scripted and unscripted shows for teens for the likes of YouTube and Netflix.

“It’s not a decision I made lightly,” said Robbins. “I love AwesomenessTV and all of you; I will really miss coming in here every day. I’m enormously proud of what we have been able to build together.”

Following investment from DreamWorks, Hearst and Verizon, his company was valued at around US$650 million. “We’ve exceeded any expectations I could have set when Joe and I started this journey,” said Robbins. “What began as a YouTube channel has turned into a global brand and the essential next generation media company for Generation Z.”

This year, AwesomenessTV launched as a brand-content block on ITV2 in the UK, as its TV ambitions have grown.