Gamified video entertainment platform for the Fortnite generation

Where Hollywood Isn’t Going, But Should Be

The threat of cord-cutting and the competition from streaming-first technology companies such as Netflix, Amazon (including Twitch), Google (YouTube) have forced the existing players in the entertainment ecosystem into two distinct lanes:

1. subscription based services (SVOD) which are dominated at present by technology stalwarts like Netflix and Amazon, with significantly increased competition coming soon from the likes of Disney, AT&T/Time Warner, Comcast and many others.
2. advertising based services (AVOD) which were all but on life-support a few short years ago (as the industry prematurely declared SVOD the be-all and end-all of video streaming), but which have significantly stepped up their presence thanks not only to Viacom-owned Pluto TV, but also companies such as Roku, Tubi TV, Xumo and others.

Neither of these two lanes, however, provide users or content creators with the level of interactivity, engagement, transparency and monetization choices that we believe Millennials and younger audiences will demand from video streaming services going forward. Therefore, we believe a 3rd lane will emerge in video streaming — Freemium and Gamified Video Streaming. This will be a massive opportunity — perhaps even larger than SVOD and AVOD combined when all is said and done — to introduce proven, highly-profitable gamification techniques of the kind perfected by Epic Games in Fortnite into video streaming.

Introducing BitMovio

BitMovio (www.bitmov.io) was founded to solve the problems that these centralized gatekeeper platforms have created for content creators and users. BitMovio is introducing to the video streaming market interactivity, engagement and gamification elements that have made freemium games such as Fortnite a worldwide sensation, all powered by blockchain to be as transparent as possible and not fall into the same traps that other streaming companies have found themselves in.

We have assembled an outstanding team with decades of experience in software, blockchain, video technology, gaming, eSports, content production and licensing, as well as traditional and new media with multiple successful exits in M&A and IPOs in North America and Asia. This includes alumni and professors of Stanford and MIT, Oscar winning film-makers, and alumni from companies such as Netflix, Amazon, Endemol, NBCU, THX, CBS, Fox, The Walt Disney Company, Facebook, CoinBase, Qualcomm etc.

BitMovio is a blockchain-enabled, next-generation gamified video entertainment platform for the Fortnite generation with a freemium business model. BitMovio fundamentally transforms how content is monetized, how content creators are paid, how content creators and fans interact and engage, and how value and attention are compensated and rewarded. It provides unprecedented flexibility, interactivity and transparency for content creators to monetize their content and build their fan base in the web 3.0 era.

New Tools for Content Creators and Consumers

Through the BitMovio platform, content creators can self-publish pre-recorded video-on-demand content, arrange live screening of video-on-demand content, and live stream important moments to share instantly with their fans, in each case on a global basis. They can earn revenue through a variety of monetization models and gamified incentives, and interact with their global fans through interactive experience such as

• real-time chat
• on-screen bullet chat
• one-on-one messaging
• tipping/gifting using virtual currency
• buying content via micro-transactions
• earning virtual currency through engagement such as watching a sponsored ads

This allows content creators to create an engaging and emotionally connected community on a global scale. Content creators can also pre-sell their upcoming content to their fans as an additional source of funding for their anticipated creative projects, creating a new way to crowdfund content in their communities of interest. Moreover, all of the transactions and payments are immediately visible and auditable on the blockchain. Content creators can also immediately cash out their earnings.

Consumers can enjoy free content and preview a portion of paid content without creating an account; however, they need to login in order to interact and engage with content creators and the BitMovio community. Consumers can interact with content creators and other viewers in real-time chat, on-screen bullet chat, and one-on-one messaging. Consumers can support content creators through tipping/gifting, microtransactions, recurring subscriptions/patronizing, and can also pre-pay a future creative project as support for the content production process. Consumers can share their favorite content to external social networks (Facebook, Twitter etc.) to help promote the content, and can also help safe-guard the community through content flagging and moderation. Through the BitMovio platform, consumers can contribute to the overall content viewing experience while earning rewards commensurate with their contributions.

Advertisers and brands can directly engage with their targeted audience on the BitMovio platform through pre-roll or mid-roll video ads, or by incentivizing viewership engagement through rewarded video ads and also by sponsoring certain videos or content creators on the platform.

We have launched our open beta product in web, iOS app and Android app supporting Ethereum and in-platform virtual currency MoviBits, and have acquired over 3,000 hours of content from premium studios, YouTube networks, independent film producers and individual streamers in the category of gaming/Esports, sports, sci-fi/fantasy, horror/thriller, paranormal/conspiracy, and other thought-provoking content verticals.

• Web: https://v.bitmov.io/
• Android Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bitmovio
• iOS App Store: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/bitmovio/id1436731109?ls=1&mt=8

What’s next?

BitMovio is introducing the MoviBits Token (MVBIT) to power the next generation of entertainment, including live streaming, short-form videos, and long-form scripted television and film projects. This token is a utility token that will replace the existing virtual currency on the BitMovio platform, which is available on the web and via our mobile apps.

The MoviBits Token will allow token holders to unlock content and perform various functions on the BitMovio platform. The MoviBits Token will use the Ethereum blockchain to track all transactions made between end users and content owners, between advertisers and end users, between BitMovio and content owners, and among users itself. The MoviBits ERC20 tokens will be used for all of the use cases that are currently represented on BitMovio’s existing website and mobile applications, and many additional use cases that can only be made possible with cryptocurrency. Some of the main use cases include:

1. Unlocking paid content for both purchase and rental of content (transactional VOD)
2. Providing tips and gifts to content creators and commentators
3. Subscribing to content creator channels
4. Encouraging engagement on the BitMovio platform
5. Providing an incentive for users to increase session times, watch specific content and positively engage with the community
6. Advertisers providing users with incentives
7. Funding of new content via the BitMovio platform
8. Incentivizing content owners to contribute new content to the BitMovio platform
9. Buying virtual goods for other users, or other forms of social interaction on the BitMovio platform

We plan to launch a sale for the token in the summer to raise the funds required to scale the platform, increase the adoption of our platform from content creators and fans, and acquire/fund exclusive content from a long roster of creative film-makers and streamers that we have lined up. The future of video streaming and content consumption is BitMovio, a freemium gamified streaming service for the Fortnite generation, all powered by blockchain.

Please join BitMovio (www.bitmov.io) and help us build a community that are fair, transparent, engaging and supportive of creativity. Take your passion to the next level with BitMovio!

Cheers,

The BitMovio Team

Gamified video entertainment platform for the Fortnite generation was originally published in Hacker Noon on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.