Snap Inc. and A&E Networks jointly announced a content production partnership Friday that will include the development of the first original unscripted content on Snapchat.
The companies will partner to produce content based on existing A&E Network franchises, as well as wholly original content from 45th and Dean, A&E’s in-house digital storytelling agency. Terms of the deal between A&E Networks and Snapchat were not disclosed in the announcement.
Snapchat has partnerships with other media companies to produce Snapchat shows, but the upcoming “Second Chance” is the first show to not be based on an existing program. The reality show will bring exes back together for the first time to explore the end of their relationship, according to the joint press release. The series will run for eight weeks and feature a new episode every week.
The partnership with A&E is the latest of several agreements with mainstream media Snapchat has announced in recent months leading up to Snap’s IPO. Snap said in its Securities and Exchange Commission filing this month that it plans to issue $3 billion worth of shares on the New York Stock Exchange, an offering that is expected in March and could value the company at $25 billion.
Snapchat is expected to announce additional partners for content production soon, according to the statement.
Snapchat and BBC announced Monday they signed a deal to produce a six-episode show based on the popular “Planet Earth II” series. The show will begin on Feb. 17 and will feature footage that was cut from television series, airing it exclusively on Snapchat.
Major networks, including NBC and ABC, are producing Snapchat shows based off of their popular television programs. In August, NBCUniversal and Snapchat announced a multi-year deal to create programs based on franchises including “The Voice” and “Saturday Night Live.” NBC’s first show, “The Voice on Snapchat” aired Aug. 22. The video series “SNL Stories” premiered its first installment on Snapchat Friday.
Snapchat and Disney-ABC Television Group announced in December they would begin producing an after show for “The Bachelor” on the app. The show, titled “Watch Party: The Bachelor,” premiered on Jan. 3. Disney-ABC Television plans to produce several additional shows on Snapchat, but has not publicized those plans.
Snapchat is working to develop additional scripted and unscripted series with NBC, Turner and ABC.
Reporter Kat Speed can be reached at [email protected].
