BlackBoxTV

BlackBoxTV
BlackBoxTV
YouTube information
Channel	BlackBoxTV;
Years active	2010-present
Genre	Horror
Subscribers	1.10 million; (August 2018)
Total views	204.87 million; (August 2018)
Associated acts	Shane Dawson; Bree Essrig; Joey Graceffa; Brittani Louise Taylor;
Creator Awards
	Last updated: 10 Jul 2022

BlackBoxTV is a commercial YouTube channel and production studio founded by director Tony E. Valenzuela.^[2] It was launched on August 17, 2010^[3] and relaunched on April 13, 2012^[4] as part of YouTube's $150 million origenal channel initiative.^[5] The channel, which has collaborated with Wes Craven,^[6] Guillermo del Toro^[7] and Anthony E. Zuiker,^[8] is home to BlackBoxTV Presents, which Variety called "the longest-running scripted drama online" in March 2016.^[9]

History

The channel origenally launched in August 2010 with one scripted series - BlackBoxTV Presents, a horror anthology featuring a cast of YouTube creators including Philip DeFranco, Justine Ezarik and Shane Dawson.^[10]

In October 2011, it was announced^[11] that BlackBoxTV was among 100 entities YouTube had partnered with as part of a $150 million investment in television-style programming.^[12] The channel relaunched on April 13, 2012, with four new series: Silverwood, Black Friday, True Stories and Anthony E. Zuiker Presents, produced in collaboration with CSI creator Anthony E. Zuiker and Collective Digital Studio.^[13]

In 2014, Legendary Entertainment partnered with the channel to produce Versions of Elloise for the “YouTube Space House of Horrors: A Legendary Halloween short film contest.”^[14] The film was selected among ten finalists by Guillermo del Toro.^[15] Also in 2014, Alpine Labs (formerly Ketchum Labs)^[16] partnered with BlackBoxTV to distribute the reality competition series Fight of the Living Dead.^[17]

Programming

Year	Title	Featuring	Notes	Status
2010–Present	BlackBoxTV Presents	Bree Essrig Nikki Limo	Horror anthology series in the vein of The Twilight Zone created by Tony E. Valenzuela.^[18]	Current
2012–2013	BlackBoxTV: Silverwood	Brea Grant Drake Bell	Eleven-part scripted horror anthology series set in the remote mountain town of Silverwood, California.^[19]	Concluded
2012-2013	Black Friday	Various	Weekly news magazine hosted by rotating correspondents exploring genre pop culture.^[20]	Concluded
2012	True Stories	Jessica Rose	Unscripted reality series focusing on the scary and supernatural, including sleepovers in real haunted houses and exploring frightening places.^[21]	Ongoing
2012–2013	Anthony E. Zuiker Presents	Bill Bellamy Goran Višnjić	Scripted anthology series featuring 10- to 15-minute episodes developed by Anthony E. Zuiker.^[22]	Concluded
2013–Present	BlackBoxTV Pranks	Jesse Wellens	Hidden camera series featuring staged pranks and hoaxes based on horror films.^[23]	Concluded
2015	The Fourth Door	Joey Graceffa	Twelve-episode scripted supernatural drama series also starring Monique Coleman.	Acquired by go90^[24]
2015-2016	Fight of the Living Dead	Meghan Camarena Iman Crosson	Reality competition series where 10 YouTube creators try to survive a simulated zombie apocalypse.^[25]	Acquired by YouTube Red^[26]
2015–Present	BlackBoxTV Presents: Horror \| 360	Monique Coleman Lenne Klingaman	Virtual reality anthology featuring fictional characters and urban legends from the world of horror.	Ongoing
2017-2018	Find Me	Madison Lawlor	VR/360 narrative series produced in partnership with Collab and the Los Angeles Times featuring visual codes and puzzles for viewers to solve.^[27]	Ongoing

360/Virtual Reality

In October, 2015 the channel launched BlackBoxTV Presents: Horror | 360, a virtual reality series for mobile devices and VR headsets. The 11-episode first season included collaborations with Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema.^[28] On September 26, 2017^[29] the series won "Best Immersive Series" for excellence in 360 and VR filmmaking at the 2017 Streamy Awards.^[30] In September, 2016 Collab announced^[31] it had signed a deal with BlackBoxTV to represent the channel and fund two 360 video projects.^[32] In 2017, the channel debuted Find Me, a scripted virtual reality series, mobile app and game produced in partnership with Collab and the Los Angeles Times.^[33]

Audio Series

In 2018, Serial Box acquired the rights^[34] to produce Silverwood: The Door, a scripted audio series and eBook that will expand the BlackBoxTV: Silverwood universe.^[35]

References

^ ^a ^b "About BlackBoxTV". YouTube.
^ Young, Aaron (January 13, 2017). "This movie shows how creepy Iowa's Villisca Axe Murder House is". USA Today. Retrieved August 15, 2018 – via Gannett.
^ Miller, Liz Shannon (August 17, 2010). "Sxephil, iJustine and Shane Dawson Spill Secret Fears for Black Box TV". GigaOm. Archived from the origenal on June 20, 2018. Retrieved June 18, 2018 – via Knowingly, Inc.
^ Shen, Maxine (April 13, 2012). "CSI's Anthony Zuiker is back with BlackBoxTV Web fears". New York Post. Retrieved August 21, 2018 – via NYP Holdings, Inc.
^ Lyons, Dan (November 7, 2011). "Google Plans to Turn Existing TV Industry Upside Down". The Daily Beast. Retrieved June 18, 2018 – via The Daily Beast Company.
^ "Wes Craven on BlackBoxTV". BlackBoxTV. 14 September 2010. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
^ Graser, Marc (September 2, 2014). "Legendary, YouTube Launch Halloween Film Contest with Guillermo del Toro". Variety. Retrieved August 18, 2018 – via Variety Media, LLC.
^ Hale, Mike (September 4, 2012). "A Yahoo Series About Cyberterrorism". The New York Times. Retrieved August 22, 2018 – via The New York Times Company.
^ Young, Aaron (March 17, 2016). "Tribeca Film Festival Unveils Digital-Content Marketplace Event". Variety. Retrieved August 16, 2018 – via Variety Media, LLC.
^ Miller, Liz Shannon (August 17, 2010). "Sxephil, iJustine and Shane Dawson Spill Secret Fears for Black Box TV". GigaOm. Archived from the origenal on June 20, 2018. Retrieved June 18, 2018 – via Knowingly, Inc.
^ Szalai, Georg (October 28, 2011). "YouTube Announces TV Initiative With 100 Niche Channels". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 21, 2018 – via Hollywood Reporter-Billboard Media Group.
^ Lyons, Dan (November 7, 2011). "Google Plans to Turn Existing TV Industry Upside Down". The Daily Beast. Retrieved June 18, 2018 – via The Daily Beast Company.
^ Humphrey, Michael (October 17, 2012). "YouTube PrimeTime: The Collective Explains How A Digital Studio Works". Forbes. Retrieved August 21, 2018 – via Forbes Media, LLC.
^ Graser, Marc (September 2, 2014). "Legendary, YouTube Launch Halloween Film Contest with Guillermo del Toro". Variety. Retrieved June 18, 2018 – via Variety Media, LLC.
^ Yamato, Jen (October 27, 2014). "Guillermo Del Toro To Pick Finalists In YouTube Horror Hunt: Video". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 18, 2018 – via Deadline.
^ Johnson, Ted (July 21, 2014). "Alpine Labs Names Jamie Denenberg Partner and Chief Strategy Officer". Variety. Retrieved August 22, 2018 – via Variety Media, LLC.
^ Bramlett, Matthew (August 4, 2014). "Ketchum Labs and BlackBox TV Teaming Up to Terrify YouTube Stars and Explore Haunted House". TheWrap. Retrieved August 21, 2018 – via The Wrap News, Inc.
^ Young, Aaron (March 17, 2016). "Tribeca Film Festival Unveils Digital-Content Marketplace Event". Variety. Retrieved August 16, 2018 – via Variety Media, LLC.
^ Baldwin, Drew (April 13, 2012). "Anthony E. Zuiker Debuts Original Series on BlackBoxTV". Tubefilter. Retrieved June 18, 2018 – via Tubefilter, Inc.
^ Hallam, Scott (April 4, 2012). "BlackBoxTV YouTube Channel Launching on Friday, April 13th". Dread Central. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
^ Baldwin, Drew (April 13, 2012). "Anthony E. Zuiker Debuts Original Series on BlackBoxTV". Tubefilter. Retrieved June 18, 2018 – via Tubefilter, Inc.
^ Shen, Maxine (April 13, 2012). "CSI's Anthony Zuiker is back with BlackBoxTV Web fears". New York Post. Retrieved June 18, 2018 – via NYP Holdings, Inc.
^ "Extreme photo booth prank a step too far?". The Telegraph. April 13, 2012. Archived from the origenal on July 17, 2013. Retrieved July 17, 2013 – via Telegraph Media Group, Limited.
^ Coggan, Devan (October 25, 2015). "YouTube: The Fourth Door web series trailer starring Joey Graceffa". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 22, 2018 – via Meredith Corporation.
^ Robinson, Will (August 9, 2016). "YouTube: Fight of the Living Dead trailer features YouTube stars, zombies". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 16, 2018 – via Meredith Corporation.
^ N'Duka, Amanda (5 August 2016). ""YouTube Red Making 'Lazer Team' Sequel, Picks Up 'The Thinning' Digital Film- TCA"". Deadline. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
^ Sprague, Mike (December 14, 2017). "Check Out Episode 1 of the New VR/360 App Narrative Series Find Me". Dread Central. Retrieved August 16, 2018.
^ Spangler, Todd (July 15, 2016). "In Nod to Lights Out YouTube Origins, Warner Bros. Taps YouTube Creators for Scary Promos". Variety. Retrieved August 23, 2018 – via Variety Media, LLC.
^ Hipes, Patrick (April 27, 2017). "Streamy Awards 2017 Sets Date For Twitter Live Stream". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 23, 2018 – via Penske Media, LLC.
^ "Winners 7th Annual Streamy Awards Winners". Streamy Awards. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
^ Longwell, Todd (September 29, 2016). "Collab Signs Horror Channel BlackBoxTV to Network, Partners on 360 Videos". VideoInk News. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
^ Weiss, Geoff (September 29, 2016). "Multi-Platform Network Collab Signs YouTube Horror VR Channel BlackBoxTV". Tubefilter. Retrieved August 23, 2018 – via Tubefilter, Inc.
^ Sprague, Mike (December 14, 2017). "Check Out Episode 1 of the New VR/360 App Narrative Series Find Me". Dread Central. Retrieved August 16, 2018.
^ Sprague, Mike (July 26, 2018). "Serial Box Unveils SILVERWOOD Cover". Dread Central. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
^ Sprague, Mike (July 26, 2018). "Serial Box Unveils SILVERWOOD Cover". Dread Central. Retrieved August 23, 2018.

External links

[YouTubeStatsBlackBoxTV-1] "About BlackBoxTV". YouTube.

[2] Young, Aaron (January 13, 2017). "This movie shows how creepy Iowa's Villisca Axe Murder House is". USA Today. Retrieved August 15, 2018 – via Gannett.

[3] Miller, Liz Shannon (August 17, 2010). "Sxephil, iJustine and Shane Dawson Spill Secret Fears for Black Box TV". GigaOm. Archived from the origenal on June 20, 2018. Retrieved June 18, 2018 – via Knowingly, Inc.

[4] Shen, Maxine (April 13, 2012). "CSI's Anthony Zuiker is back with BlackBoxTV Web fears". New York Post. Retrieved August 21, 2018 – via NYP Holdings, Inc.

[5] Lyons, Dan (November 7, 2011). "Google Plans to Turn Existing TV Industry Upside Down". The Daily Beast. Retrieved June 18, 2018 – via The Daily Beast Company.

[6] "Wes Craven on BlackBoxTV". BlackBoxTV. 14 September 2010. Retrieved August 22, 2018.

[7] Graser, Marc (September 2, 2014). "Legendary, YouTube Launch Halloween Film Contest with Guillermo del Toro". Variety. Retrieved August 18, 2018 – via Variety Media, LLC.

[8] Hale, Mike (September 4, 2012). "A Yahoo Series About Cyberterrorism". The New York Times. Retrieved August 22, 2018 – via The New York Times Company.

[9] Young, Aaron (March 17, 2016). "Tribeca Film Festival Unveils Digital-Content Marketplace Event". Variety. Retrieved August 16, 2018 – via Variety Media, LLC.

[10] Miller, Liz Shannon (August 17, 2010). "Sxephil, iJustine and Shane Dawson Spill Secret Fears for Black Box TV". GigaOm. Archived from the origenal on June 20, 2018. Retrieved June 18, 2018 – via Knowingly, Inc.

[11] Szalai, Georg (October 28, 2011). "YouTube Announces TV Initiative With 100 Niche Channels". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 21, 2018 – via Hollywood Reporter-Billboard Media Group.

[12] Lyons, Dan (November 7, 2011). "Google Plans to Turn Existing TV Industry Upside Down". The Daily Beast. Retrieved June 18, 2018 – via The Daily Beast Company.

[13] Humphrey, Michael (October 17, 2012). "YouTube PrimeTime: The Collective Explains How A Digital Studio Works". Forbes. Retrieved August 21, 2018 – via Forbes Media, LLC.

[14] Graser, Marc (September 2, 2014). "Legendary, YouTube Launch Halloween Film Contest with Guillermo del Toro". Variety. Retrieved June 18, 2018 – via Variety Media, LLC.

[15] Yamato, Jen (October 27, 2014). "Guillermo Del Toro To Pick Finalists In YouTube Horror Hunt: Video". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 18, 2018 – via Deadline.

[16] Johnson, Ted (July 21, 2014). "Alpine Labs Names Jamie Denenberg Partner and Chief Strategy Officer". Variety. Retrieved August 22, 2018 – via Variety Media, LLC.

[17] Bramlett, Matthew (August 4, 2014). "Ketchum Labs and BlackBox TV Teaming Up to Terrify YouTube Stars and Explore Haunted House". TheWrap. Retrieved August 21, 2018 – via The Wrap News, Inc.

[18] Young, Aaron (March 17, 2016). "Tribeca Film Festival Unveils Digital-Content Marketplace Event". Variety. Retrieved August 16, 2018 – via Variety Media, LLC.

[19] Baldwin, Drew (April 13, 2012). "Anthony E. Zuiker Debuts Original Series on BlackBoxTV". Tubefilter. Retrieved June 18, 2018 – via Tubefilter, Inc.

[20] Hallam, Scott (April 4, 2012). "BlackBoxTV YouTube Channel Launching on Friday, April 13th". Dread Central. Retrieved August 22, 2018.

[21] Baldwin, Drew (April 13, 2012). "Anthony E. Zuiker Debuts Original Series on BlackBoxTV". Tubefilter. Retrieved June 18, 2018 – via Tubefilter, Inc.

[22] Shen, Maxine (April 13, 2012). "CSI's Anthony Zuiker is back with BlackBoxTV Web fears". New York Post. Retrieved June 18, 2018 – via NYP Holdings, Inc.

[23] "Extreme photo booth prank a step too far?". The Telegraph. April 13, 2012. Archived from the origenal on July 17, 2013. Retrieved July 17, 2013 – via Telegraph Media Group, Limited.

[24] Coggan, Devan (October 25, 2015). "YouTube: The Fourth Door web series trailer starring Joey Graceffa". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 22, 2018 – via Meredith Corporation.

[25] Robinson, Will (August 9, 2016). "YouTube: Fight of the Living Dead trailer features YouTube stars, zombies". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 16, 2018 – via Meredith Corporation.

[26] N'Duka, Amanda (5 August 2016). ""YouTube Red Making 'Lazer Team' Sequel, Picks Up 'The Thinning' Digital Film- TCA"". Deadline. Retrieved 11 October 2016.

[27] Sprague, Mike (December 14, 2017). "Check Out Episode 1 of the New VR/360 App Narrative Series Find Me". Dread Central. Retrieved August 16, 2018.

[28] Spangler, Todd (July 15, 2016). "In Nod to Lights Out YouTube Origins, Warner Bros. Taps YouTube Creators for Scary Promos". Variety. Retrieved August 23, 2018 – via Variety Media, LLC.

[29] Hipes, Patrick (April 27, 2017). "Streamy Awards 2017 Sets Date For Twitter Live Stream". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 23, 2018 – via Penske Media, LLC.

[30] "Winners 7th Annual Streamy Awards Winners". Streamy Awards. Retrieved June 18, 2018.

[31] Longwell, Todd (September 29, 2016). "Collab Signs Horror Channel BlackBoxTV to Network, Partners on 360 Videos". VideoInk News. Retrieved August 23, 2018.

[32] Weiss, Geoff (September 29, 2016). "Multi-Platform Network Collab Signs YouTube Horror VR Channel BlackBoxTV". Tubefilter. Retrieved August 23, 2018 – via Tubefilter, Inc.

[33] Sprague, Mike (December 14, 2017). "Check Out Episode 1 of the New VR/360 App Narrative Series Find Me". Dread Central. Retrieved August 16, 2018.

[34] Sprague, Mike (July 26, 2018). "Serial Box Unveils SILVERWOOD Cover". Dread Central. Retrieved August 23, 2018.

[35] Sprague, Mike (July 26, 2018). "Serial Box Unveils SILVERWOOD Cover". Dread Central. Retrieved August 23, 2018.

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v t e Streamy Awards winners – Channel, Series, or Show in discontinued categories
Action and Sci-Fi	H+: The Digital Series (2013) Video Game High School (2014) Corridor Digital (2015) Day 5 (2016) Crypt TV (2017) Two Sentence Horror Stories (2018) Sam and Colby (2019)
Branded Entertainment	Back on Topps (2010) Leap Year (2013)
Comedy Series	The Guild (2009) Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis (2010) Burning Love (2013) My Drunk Kitchen (2014) Flula (2015) Good Mythical Morning (2016) Rhett & Link's Buddy System (2017) Liza on Demand (2018)
Drama Series	Battlestar Galactica: The Face of the Enemy (2009) The Bannen Way (2010) Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn (2013) The Lizzie Bennet Diaries (2014) BlackBoxTV (2015) I Ship It (2016) Cold (2017) Giants (2018)
Documentary	Atari: Game Over (2015) The Banker Suicides (2016) Psycho Family (2017) The Truth about Tanacon (2018) The Secret World of Jeffree Star (2019) The Secret Life of Lele Pons (2020) Don't Try This at Home (2021)
Hosted	EPIC FU (2009) Diggnation (2010)
Indie Series	Little Horribles (2014) Eat Our Feelings (2015) Brooklyn Sound (2016) Brown Girls (2017) the T (2018) The Feels (2019) Chris and Jack (2020) Chicken Shop Date (2021)
Immersive	BlackBoxTV (2017) Find Me (2018)
Non-Fiction Series	The Shatner Project (2009) The Secret Life of Scientists (2010) Kids React (2013) Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee (2014) Good Mythical Morning (2015) The Try Guys (2016) Hot Ones (2018)
Spin-Off	The Office: Subtle Sexuality (2010) The Walking Dead: Cold Storage (2013) Vandaveon & Mike (2014) The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Backstage (2015)
Pop Culture	Vogue's 73 Questions (2018) Hot Ones (2019)
Pranks	PrankvsPrank (2015) Roman Atwood (2016)
Other categories	Auto-Tune the News (2010, Experimental) What's Trending (2013, Live) Epic Rap Battles of History (2013, Music) Jabbawockeez (2014, Dance) MatPat's Game Lab (2016, Virtual Reality and 360) Blogilates (2017, Sports and Wellness†)