Smosh Hires First Chief Content Officer to Lead Multi-Platform Growth
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Smosh has hired former MTV Entertainment Studios executive Cory Midgarden as its first-ever chief content officer. He will oversee content strategy, talent, and marketing as the company expands its production facility and invests in new talent-driven series. This move signals a strategic push to grow Smosh's long-running digital comedy brand into broader franchises.
Facts First
- Cory Midgarden hired as Smosh's first chief content officer, reporting to CEO Alessandra Catanese.
- Midgarden will oversee all content strategy, including YouTube channels, series, live shows, and partnerships.
- The strategy focuses on developing new talent-driven formats designed to become long-running, multi-platform franchises.
- Smosh is expanding its operational infrastructure with a new, larger production facility.
- The company has a massive existing audience with over 20 billion lifetime video views and 45.4 million YouTube subscribers.
What Happened
Smosh, the digital comedy brand co-founded over 20 years ago by Ian Hecox and Anthony Padilla, has appointed Cory Midgarden as its first chief content officer. Midgarden, who previously served as vice president of digital, social and streaming content at Paramount's MTV Entertainment Studios, will oversee Smosh's content strategy and development, talent and casting, brand and marketing, and partnerships. His responsibilities include Smosh's YouTube channels and broader content ecosystem, such as series, tentpole events, and live shows. The hire coincides with Smosh's expansion of its operational infrastructure, including a new, larger production facility.
Why this Matters to You
If you're a fan of Smosh's comedy sketches, series like 'Bit City' or 'Smosh Mouth,' or live shows like 'We're All Gonna Die,' this move may lead to more polished and ambitious content. The focus on 'talent-driven concepts' and 'continued investment in casting' suggests you could see both familiar faces and new comedic voices in upcoming projects. For creators and the digital entertainment industry, Smosh's significant investment in infrastructure and executive talent signals a maturation of the digital-first studio model, which could influence how other online brands operate.
What's Next
Midgarden will lead the development of originals and new formats at Smosh, with a focus on creating concepts designed to grow into long-running franchises across multiple platforms. His experience at Paramount, where he expanded MTV's digital footprint for major events and developed creator-led programming with talent like Liza Koshy and Bretman Rock, will likely inform this strategy. The company's expansion into a larger production facility may enable more complex live shows and series, potentially broadening Smosh's reach beyond its core YouTube audience.