The New York Television Festival (NYTVF) recently announced a partnership with Samsung that will provide indie producers an opportunity to develop an original short series and an accompanying second screen experience, while landing a budget and distribution in one fell swoop.

 

Winners of the “Second Screen Storytellers” challenge, which is underway through Sept. 24, will enjoy a $300,000 budget—3 times higher than any previous one offered at the fest—and will be exclusively distributed via Samsung Smart TVs and Galaxy devices. The winner will be announced at the 8^th annual NYTVF in late October and the series will premiere at CES in 2013.

 

The collaboration marks the first time the fest has sought the creation of content to be viewed across multiple screens. Guaranteeing distribution for a winning series is also a first.

 

According to NYTVF executive director Terrance Gray, “NYTVF’s new partnership with Samsung allows both of us to explore how their unique second screen technology will provide new storytelling opportunities and techniques for the production community to engage viewers in a completely new dimension.” He added that as technology advances and the choices for entertainment consumption expand, “we see NYTVF as a destination for a wide variety of partners looking to partner with quality storytellers.”

 

 “This is a great opportunity to introduce and help creators understand the possibilities of developing programs that take advantage of the way people are interacting with multiple screens in a relevant and compelling way,” said Eric Anderson, Vice President of Content and Product Solutions for Samsung Electronics America, Inc. in a release.

 

While no other development partner has agreed to produce a NYTVF winner, many pilots have gone on to become series, including IFC’s currently-airing series “Bunk,” which was developed out of a pilot featured at the 2010 festival. NYTVF said they’re more than willing to pursue this distribution-guaranteed formula with other partners seeking to tap in to the indie talent pool.