ABC News Teams Up with Digital Startup ATTN: for 10-episode Co-production Deal

Matt Lopez
Jul 25, 2017 · 2 min read

ABC News is the latest news organization to place a stronger focus on digital content. The news network has partnered with digital-media startup ATTN: to co-produce at least 10 original video segments within the next six months. The videos, which will range from short form (1–5 minutes) to midform (5–10 minutes) formats, will be designed for distribution through social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

The segments will be produced using ABC News footage and materials, including from “Good Morning America,” “World News Tonight with David Muir,” and “Nightline” broadcasts.

“Partnering with ATTN: allows us to experiment even further with new formats,” Colby Smith, VP of ABC News Digital, said in a statement. “We will take compelling stories and interviews and craft them in a way that feels organic to our digital platforms.”

Under the agreement, the two companies will split revenue generated from the videos, and Matthew Segal, ATTN:’s co-founder and editor-in-chief, will join ABC News as a contributor.

“This came together because we were very interested in working with a legacy media company with a tremendous level of resources, and the journalistic capacities of a broadcast network,” Segal said.

This move by ATTN: follows the recent trend of news organizations trying to make a spot for themselves on the digital landscape, including CNN which is launching a daily news show from YouTuber Casey Neistat, and NBC News with the launch of their in-house social-video unit titled Left Field.

The first video under the partnership is expected to debut in the next six weeks.

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