Snapchat's VP of Content Nick Bell says the company expects to debut scripted shows by year's end, aiming to complement TV
Georg Szalai / Hollywood Reporter :
Context & Ripple Effects
Scripted content on Snapchat has been building for years: the sponsored SnapperHero series made by YouTube and Vine stars proved the format back in 2015, and NBCUniversal's multi-year deal brought SNL, The Voice, and Fallon-branded shows to the app in 2016. By May 2017 Snap had signed original-show deals with NBCUniversal and Turner and was in talks with CBS and Fox, so Nick Bell's year-end target formalizes a pipeline that was already being negotiated.
First-order effects
- The TV networks already signed or in talks — NBCUniversal, Turner, CBS, Fox — gain a committed mobile distribution window where their shows run alongside Discover content rather than against broadcast schedules.
Second-order effects
- Once the slate exists, episode economics get standardized: Snap later set rates of $40K–$50K per episode for original series running up to seven minutes, giving producers a priced market for short-form commissions.
Third-order effects
- The pattern points to short-form scripted originals becoming a standing product category on social platforms — distinct from both user-generated video and TV — with networks licensing brands into apps instead of treating them purely as promotion channels.
The trend: Social platforms are shifting from licensed clips and influencer stunts toward commissioned short-form scripted originals that position themselves as complements to television.