In Focus

Break

URL
http://break.com/

Date founded
June 1998

Target audience
18-34-year-old males

Key competitors
Heavy and SpikeTV

Online video niche
Break.com hosts user-generated content, exclusive content (Record Breakers, Dax Shepard's Bro Search, Kimbo Slice's What Would Kimbo Do?) and prosumer content. Other properties -- Holy Taco, Cage Potato, Chickipedia and Wall Street Fighter -- host editorial and/or user-generated content. 

Distinguishing features
Break.com specializes in the young male demographic with more than 35 million viewers each month. Break Media, Break.com's parent company, provides a wide range of content to this hard-to-reach demographic through its four sister sites, as well as on Break.com itself. Break ranked 10th among top U.S. online video properties in a November comScore ranking, with half a percent of the entire domestic video market. The only startup on November's comScore rankings and facing giants such as Google, Yahoo and MSN sites, Break boasted 47 million video views that month.

Types of ad campaigns
Break Media offers customizable campaigns across a variety of ad formats including Flash overlays, pre-roll, in-video bugs and companion units. The company provides advertisers an opportunity to target different niches and psychographics across its many sites. Advertisers can also choose from custom sponsorship opportunities, such as homepage programs, custom content integration and product placements.

Current or previous advertisers include:
Verizon, Burger King, Universal, Honda, Sony Pictures, Disney, HBO and Lionsgate

FYI
In January, Break Media announced the Break Men's Ad Network, which consists of 45 sites that focus on gaming, finance, comedy and sports. Break reports at least 150,000 visitors per month on each site, all of which also target younger males. The sites include Fretplay, LifeOnTop, The Bachelor Guy, BubbleBox and MMOABC.

 

Comments

Joe Wright
Joe Wright September 23, 2008 at 8:19 AM

Great research, it seems that all of these models are focused on original high end content creation with some user generated content all paid for by ads. The issue of getting video produced and online is still a challenge for many people. Do you intend to research video authoring tools, live streaming for comedy skits and those types of services? These types of things can be found at www.isatvideo.com

Richard Crook
Richard Crook September 20, 2008 at 12:09 PM

What about Vimeo? They are the only free video upload site that features HIGH DEFINITION. Check 'em out: www.vimeo.com

Frame Ghost
Frame Ghost May 12, 2008 at 5:15 AM

There are far more video sharing portals out there. I'm kinda surprised you didn't mention metacafe as the closest one to (no matter how far away from, though) Youtube in it's own business.

It is a nice overview anyway. Loved it. Added some video networks to my bookmark list.

Thanks!

David Rodriguez
David Rodriguez May 10, 2008 at 5:54 PM

I work in sales and I have found that everyone has an opinion about how the sales process works. But not everyone wants use the process that works.

Billy Saleebey
Billy Saleebey May 9, 2008 at 8:26 PM

Great Article! I feel that YouTube has paved the way for the growing online video community. My company (Believe Entertainment) is launching a movie trailer sharing site where users can watch, share and upload movie trailers. Check it out at www.TheTrailerSite.com

Henry Blechman
Henry Blechman May 9, 2008 at 12:06 PM

Metacafe (www.metacafe.com) is a top video site for short form entertainment. It has 6.7 million unique visitors in the U.S. According to comScore, Metacafe has more unique visitors in the U.S than the other 5 mentioned sites combined. ; )

sean ryan
sean ryan May 8, 2008 at 8:47 AM

maniaTV (www.maniatv.com) is an original video destination that has been providing clients with premium branded entertainment opportunities for over 3.5 years. We are an online TV network producing original premium entertainment with a fully functioning studio in LA. We are consistently ranked in the top 10 video sites, and have worked with over 75 advertisers including 40 of the top 50 brands in the world. We are disappointed that we were not included in your report and would love the opportunity to share additional details about our site, mission and success to date. Thank you - Sean Ryan, VP of Sales Operations, maniaTV - seanr@maniatv.com.

ben f
ben f May 7, 2008 at 6:43 PM

It's bizarre to read an article about video opportunities that doesn't mention Veoh or Hulu. Hulu has solid ad offerings for their premium NBC and Fox content. And Veoh has a thousands of premium shows, offers geo and behavioral targeting, and has 2x the user engagement than Youtube. These sites aren't dinky little sites -- they're two of the most popular and well-known video sites, so I can't believe neither was included in this list.

John Killam
John Killam May 7, 2008 at 1:14 PM

Great summary of the current video landscape. It's really an endless sea, but I'll add one for your consideration: http://ebaumsworld.com

This video site has been around for years and has a bit of a cult following within the youth market.

Kevin Reese
Kevin Reese May 7, 2008 at 10:34 AM

Hi Leah, Enjoyed your article today about the variety of video sites out there. Wanted to introduce you to www.sportzu.tv We are a video based youth sports community that launched on March 4th. We have built a site that it not just a social network, but through user generated and professionally produced video, is a community for kids, parents and coaches.
Sincerely, Kevin Reese, VP Marketing, SportZu.tv

Anders Sparre
Anders Sparre May 7, 2008 at 10:19 AM

Great article!
Another video site worth mentioning is www.ourstage.com.
They run monthly contests for video makers with cash prizes, mentor sessions, magazine spotlights etc.

eric holder
eric holder May 7, 2008 at 8:13 AM

good overview!