Ashley Kaplan is the head of content for Fullscreen (since December 2013).
Previously, Ashley was vice president of digital content and strategy for the Magical Elves production company. In this role, Ashley oversaw the development, production, and content partnerships for all media adjacent to the company’s television properties—most notably the Emmy-winning series Last Chance Kitchen, which ranked as the most viewed web series in Comcast history. Ashley was also responsible for the development and production of various original branded entertainment projects and spearheaded the launch of the Elves’ Latin programming division.
Before joining the Magical Elves, Ashley helped launch Logo’s digital content department, producing the first online original series for the channel. There she went on to create a vast library of content for the collection of Viacom websites. Previously, Ashley served as a producer at Current TV and as a development executive at Evolution.
Experience:
Multiplatform Producer LOGO/ MTV Networks
August 2006 – 2013
Manager of Development Evolution Film & Tape Inc.
June 2004 – June 2006 (2 years 1 month)
Manager of Development Evolution Film & Tape
2004 – 2006 (2 years)
Education:
Washington University in St. Louis
1999 – 2003
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=5553996&authType=name&authToken=TaT2&trk=prof-sb-browse_map-name
In the Media:
Ashley Kaplan spoke at Born to Stream: The Economics and Ideals of Internet-Originated Television on April 29th.
With online video consumption rising fast, a new breed of television channels is emerging directly from the broadband Internet firmament. Professionally produced, built around strong brands and attracting significant audiences, this new programming wellspring offers viewers exciting new choices and paves the way for partnerships with traditional television networks and distributors. Find out what’s driving a fresh new content category – and where cable fits into the picture.
Audio: http://2014.thecableshow.com/schedule/Session/1053 (start: 4’50’’)
Fullscreen Names Ashley Kaplan as Head of Content
Seasoned Media Veteran with a Proven Track Record for Pioneering Online Content for Traditional Media Joins the Company to Supercharge Video Storytelling for Creators and Brands
Fullscreen http://www.fullscreen.com/press/fullscreen-names-ashley-kaplan-head-content/
Fullscreen, Inc., the media company powering the creation and sharing of video with the connected generation, has selected television and digital media veteran Ashley Kaplan as the company’s new Head of Content. Kaplan brings her knowledge and expertise in content creation, development, production, and content partnerships for traditional and online media to the company’s leadership bench. At Fullscreen, Kaplan will be charged with overseeing the ongoing production and development of premium content with talent and brands.
After years of producing both award-winning television programming and digital, short-form content, Kaplan was sought out by CEO George Strompolos to head up and build out Fullscreen’s original content division and production capabilities. “The connected generation prefers streaming video to traditional programming,” said Strompolos. “We’re continuing to witness increased viewership across our network online and on across mobile devices—from 9% to more than 40% over the past two years—and Ashley is the perfect person to capitalize on this growing audience through the creation of stories that these new viewers can shape, influence, and personally engage with.”
Kaplan’s passion for short-form digital content began in 2005, when she served as a producer at Current TV. She later went on to create a vast library of content at Viacom websites. Notably, Kaplan helped launch the digital content department for Logo (a Viacom property), and produced the first online original series for the channel.
“The conventions of storytelling are changing,” said Kaplan. “The younger generation craves media that is drastically different from what traditional television programming offers. They want personalized content that is available across devices at a moment’s notice. Fullscreen embraces these new conventions and offered me the perfect environment to create premium content with and for this generation.”
Kaplan joins the company after serving as Vice President of Digital Content and Strategy for the Magical Elves production company, where she oversaw development, production, and content partnerships for all media adjacent to the company’s television properties. Her work included the Emmy award–winning series Last Chance Kitchen, which ranked as the most viewed web series in Comcast history. Kaplan was also responsible for the development and production of various original branded entertainment projects and spearheaded the launch of the Elves’ Latin programming division.
Fullscreen Names Ashley Kaplan Head of Content to Develop Premium Online Video (3/5/2014)
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/fullscreen-names-ashley-kaplan-head-686129
Fullscreen, with its software and analytics tools, has positioned itself as one of the most tech-focused of the YouTube networks. But the Culver City company is putting a greater emphasis on premium online video with the appointment of Ashley Kaplan as head of content.
Kaplan joined Fullscreen in December from Magical Elves, where she was vp digital content and strategy and oversaw such projects as Last Chance Kitchen, the web series companion to Bravo’s Top Chef.
In her new role, Kaplan will oversee ongoing production and development of premium content with Fullscreen talent and brands.
“I’m really starting almost from scratch and building a full-service, world-class production facility,” Kaplan tells THR. “Fullscreen has become one of the leading MCNs on YouTube — we have the opportunity to continue our evolution into a media company. The connected generation and content is a big part of that.”
CEO George Strompolos founded Fullscreen in 2011. Today the company, which is backed by The Chernin Group, Comcast Ventures and others, works with online talent including The Fine Brothers and violinist Lindsey Stirling. It was the No. 3 YouTube partner channel in January with 26.4 million total unique viewers behind Vevo and Zefr, according to comScore.
Kaplan says the company wants to continue to grow that audience, especially on mobile. Mobile was only 9 percent of Fullscreen’s traffic in 2011, she says, but had grown to more than 40 percent as of late 2013.
Fullscreen’s mobile focus is not surprising given its January acquisition of Supernova, the developer behind video sharing app Viddy.
Kaplan adds, “What’s really interesting is an intersection between technology, product and content. That’s what makes me really excited about the future of Fullscreen.”
Fullscreen Is Building An Off YouTube Subscription Video Site For Millennials (Exclusive) (5/22/2014)
No word yet on when Fullscreen’s subscription initiative is scheduled to launch, but we’re told the company’s new Head of Content, Ashley Kaplan and team are already working on securing premium comedy programming that will be distributed on the site.
http://www.tubefilter.com/2014/05/22/fullscreen-subscription-site-off-youtube/