Eisner’s Vuguru Hires Agility Studios’ Tanz As President
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Larry Tanz, co-founder of Agility Studios, has been named president of Vuguru, the digital content studio founded by Michael Eisner. Less than two months ago, Eisner spun off the three-year-old Vuguru into a standalone company backed by an funding from Canadian telecom giant Rogers Communications. Originally, Vuguru operated under Eisner’s media investment company Tornante. Vuguru achieved some notice with the web series Prom Queen last year, but hasn’t had much buzz since. It’s currently planning on releasing 10- to 15 shows next year, including Prom Queen: The Homecoming. Eisner had previously said that he planned to create about 30 shows annually.
Before heading up Vuguru rival Agility, Tanz was president and CEO of LivePlanet, Inc., which he started with included Matt Damon and Ben Affleck; the company was best known for Project Greenlight, a hybrid contest/documentary series that aired on cable from 2001 to 2003.
SEE ALSO: With Investment From Rogers Communications, Eisner Spins Vuguru Off
Scaling back production from a planned 30 series to less than 15 suggests that Vuguru wants to be more selective about the content it creates. But it also reflects the diminished opportunities for online video as the effects of the recession linger, even as online video advertising is still slated to grow double digits this year and next. Hiring Tanz, Vuguru hopes the added connection to Hollywood stars, beyond Eisner, could help attract more high-profile talent to the content company’s productions.
Posted In: Entertainment, Industry Moves, Media & Publishing, Social Media, Video
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