Slate, the daily online magazine, has launched
Slate V, a new online video magazine that will feature video daily including original video, top picks from around the Web and selected user-generated video.
Slate V will cover a wide range of topics, including news and politics, culture and entertainment, and humor and animation, all through the lens of video. The entire library of videos that have appeared on Slate in the past will be archived on Slate V, and every day a new video will be added.
Slate V is powered by Brightcove's Internet TV platform.
"Slate V is not just a holding place for video on the Web—we will be producing new video daily in the unmistakable Slate voice our users have come to love," said Andy Bowers, the new Editor of Slate V, formerly a longtime NPR correspondent and creator of Slate's award-winning podcast and video. "Slate V will offer daily web video with the unique Slate voice: smart and topical, yet also irreverent and fun."
During the first week, viewers will see a range of familiar Slate franchises: Emily Yoffe's "Dear Prudence" set to animation, a video version of The Explainer and a Shopper about stain removers that will link to a print piece in Slate. The first week will also bring the premiere of a Slate V political series, "Achilles Heel with John Dickerson," which looks at how presidential candidates are trying to overcome their biggest weaknesses. And visitors to the site will get their first taste of a Slate V original, "Bad Movies," in which host Mark Jordan Legan looks at some of the worst films ever made.
User-generated video will also be an important part of Slate V, and just as Slate professionalized user-generated content in the 90's, Slate V will professionalize selected user-generated video by selecting the best submissions and paying for exclusive rights to show it on the site. This will widely expand the pool of talent contributing to the site, and still maintain the editorial integrity of the magazine.
Slate has also hired multiple Emmy winner Bill Smee as Executive Producer of Slate V. Smee most recently oversaw content at Discovery Times Channel and the current affairs documentaries across Discovery networks. He previously worked in CNN's long form and documentary video units.
In addition, Nissan's Infiniti signed an exclusive 10-month deal to sponsor Slate V with ads that began running in the weeks leading up to launch.