Discover is Snapchat's collaboration with publishers, where partners can create and distribute daily content that includes full-screen articles, videos, photos and vertical video advertising, all optimized for mobile.
General Electric is the channel’s official brand launch partner. Like the rest of Snapchat’s partners, both NowThis and Snapchat will sell advertising space for the channel.
NowThis is the 21st publisher to partner with Snapchat. According to a report from Re/code, publishers are fighting for a spot on the coveted media hub.
"We believe news should be fun, easy to access and never feel like homework,” stated Sarah Frank, editor of NowThis. “Joining Discover means we can continue to reach a young audience that is typically ignored by traditional media.”
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NowThis president Athan Stephanopoulos told re/code that the company has about 10 people working exclusively on Snapchat content.
In a statement announcing the partnership, Stephanopoulos said, "As a distributed media company, we are entirely focused on bringing interesting and entertaining videos to where our audience lives. In a way, that is conducive to the platform where the content is being consumed.”
The media company produces and distributes video directly for social consumption. NowThis doesn’t have a Web homepage and instead shares its content directly to platforms like Facebook and YouTube. It already had a Snapchat account, but now it has an official channel.
"NowThis was an early adopter of Snapchat and really understands how to story tell through mobile video," stated Nick Bell, vice president of content at Snapchat.
The NowThis channel will feature daily videos, covering topics like breaking news, entertainment, politics, pop culture and tech. There will also be real-time election coverage that highlights the moments and issues relevant to young voters.
The channel will have a segment that curates important things to know for that day. Or, “things to know to sound smarter and more interesting at school, at work, at the bar or simply among friends,” according to a statement.