Means TV

Means TV is an American anti-capitalist, subscription video on-demand streaming service based in Detroit, Michigan.[2] Means was founded in 2019 by filmmakers Naomi Burton and Nick Hayes as the successor to the video production company, Means of Production.[3] The service features films, television series, podcasts, and news reports.[4] Means TV is organized as a worker cooperative.[5]

Means, LLC
Type of businessWorker cooperative
Type of site
OTT platform
FoundedMarch 21, 2019 (2019-03-21)
Products
Services
URLmeans.tv
CommercialNo
RegistrationRequired
Users2,200 (as of March 5, 2020)[1]
LaunchedFebruary 26, 2020 (2020-02-26)

History

Before founding Means TV, Naomi Burton and Nick Hayes both worked in media production for automakers in Detroit and attended Democratic Socialists of America meetings. After finding their work morally objectionable, they left their jobs and founded the video production company Means of Production.[6][7] Means of Production first came to prominence after they produced a viral campaign ad for Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's 2018 election campaign.[8]

While the full streaming service would not launch until February 26, 2020, Means produced content for their YouTube channel throughout 2019 and early 2020. They acquired the channel from comedian Sara June, the original poster of Nyan Cat, and thus had over 125,000 subscribers when they began posting their own content on March 21, 2019.[9][10]

Hayes has cited the anarchist podcast Street Fight as an inspiration for his decision to create Means TV, having worked with Street Fight to record live performances in 2017 and 2019.[11]

On August 8, 2020, Means TV's Detroit home and office was attacked in a drive-by shooting.[12] Nobody was hurt. According to Hayes, they are "not 100% sure it wasn't politically motivated".[12]

References
  1. Keimig, Jasmyne (5 March 2020). "Means TV Is Netflix for the 99%". The Stranger.
  2. Wilson, Christopher (17 May 2019). "The Couple Behind The Viral AOC Ad Plans A Streaming Channel For Socialists". HuffPost.
  3. Caccavaro, Dan (6 March 2020). "The Founders of Means TV on Their Post-Capitalist Streaming Service". Hour Detroit Magazine.
  4. Keimig, Jasmyne (5 March 2020). "Means TV Is Netflix for the 99%". The Stranger.
  5. DeVito, Lee (24 February 2020). "Billed as the first 'post-capitalist streaming service,' Means TV launches this week in Detroit". Detroit Metro Times.
  6. Christian, Daniel. "Means of Production". Filmmaker Magazine. Retrieved 2020-03-22.
  7. Ikonomova, Violet. "Meet the Detroit filmmakers helping promote progressive candidates around the country". Detroit Metro Times. Retrieved 2020-03-22.
  8. Beer, Jeff (26 February 2020). "The revolution will now be televised: How leftist streaming service Means TV timed its launch perfectly". Fast Company.
  9. Grim, Ryan (2019-03-21). "Means TV, With a Boost from the Nyan Cat, Launches a Post-Capitalist Streaming Service". The Intercept. Retrieved 2020-03-22.
  10. DeVito, Lee. "Billed as the first 'post-capitalist streaming service,' Means TV launches this week in Detroit". Detroit Metro Times. Retrieved 2020-03-22.
  11. "Street Fight Radio", Wikipedia, 2020-03-21, retrieved 2020-03-22
  12. Lee DeVito (10 August 2020). "Socialist streaming service Means TV's Detroit home and office attacked in drive-by shooting". Metro Times.
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