Earlier this week NBC News Digital Group announced that it is creating an “Original Video Unit,” which the group describes as “an in-house production team dedicated to creating video for social, mobile, and web audiences.”
The unit’s main focus will be creating braded video series to broaden NBC News stories and will particularly target mobile and social audiences.
Emmy-nominated news producer Bill Smee will lead the new team at NBC News in September, taking the position of executive producer of original video production. Most recently Smee was executive producer at Slate V.
“The NBCUniversal News Group is already an industry leader in streaming clips from our television programing. We will now have an additional focus on original video that extends the news division’s on-air and digital brands,” said Vivian Schiller, SVP & Chief Digital Officer of NBC News, in the press release. “As an award-winning television journalist and a natural-born digital video storyteller, Bill is the perfect person to lead this effort.”
The digital video franchises will highlight journalists from all of NBC News’ shows and platforms.
“We’re building on the NBC News legacy of world-class video storytelling. Bill is a rare talent, and his expertise and innovative spirit will help change the way we tell and deliver stories,” said Gregory Gittrich, vice president of news and product, NBC News Digital, in the press release. “Our Original Video Unit will share important, unique and undiscovered stories while entertaining our audience.”