The Colin and Samir Show The Fast Approaching Death of Hot Ones
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Jul 15, 2024 BuzzFeed's struggle to sell Hot Ones for $70 million, the challenges of monetizing media content, the rise of individual creators in the industry, potential buyers for Hot Ones including Spotify, and speculations on Mr. Beast or the host buying the show.
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Origin Story: Cheap Host, Big Format Fit
- Hot Ones began in 2015 at Complex from Chris Schoenberger's idea and used Sean Evans as a low-cost host.
- The simple violent-hot-wings format unexpectedly aligned with YouTube's algorithm and grew into a flagship show.
Jenga Storytelling Boosts Retention
- Hot Ones' format leverages 'Jenga storytelling' where stakes and authenticity increase over time, boosting retention.
- That structural build makes the show especially favored by YouTube's algorithm for long-form engagement.
Media Is The Acquisition Of Attention
- Media companies monetize attention via advertising and commerce, and IP helps de-risk attention acquisition.
- BuzzFeed used talent-driven shows and commerce (e.g., Tasty kitchenware) to convert attention into revenue.