In The Spotlight! Arkansas Business Takes a Closer Look at Authority Client Station X

Wednesday, Sep 17, 2008

Web Video Startup Station X Attracts Capital, Page Views
By Amy Riggin
arkansasbusiness.com

About four years ago Brant Collins' brainchild was born: Station X, an Internet TV network that provides original broadcasting through a string of niche shows.

"Some of the independent producers were starting to be able to use the Internet to make their own content," Collins said. "We want to do niche programs - focus on one small segment and go after it."

The first such undertaking for the Little Rock-based Internet video startup is Beer Utopia, a show about the culture of beer. Visitors can "video-snack" on local segments about the frothy treat and blog about any- and everything beer-related.

A recent video was filmed on Aug. 20 at Creegan's Irish Pub in North Little Rock, which featured a tasting of Belgian beers.

BeerUtopia.com launched on March 17 and has already had more than 30,000 views from 84 countries around the world, Collins said.

His vision was embraced by BeerUtopia.com co-host Eric Britt, who admits to being "obsessed" with sites like YouTube and says he was hooked by the idea.

Collins and Britt decided to go forward with developing a business plan in December. After talking with members of the local business community, they learned about a new state program called Innovate Arkansas, a program of the Arkansas Economic Development Corporation and Winrock International. They contacted Innovate Arkansas in January and soon began to take advantage of free services that included an in-depth analysis of the plan, market research and access to a network of local investors.

Britt said developing the plan was an intense process.

"The hardest part was actually getting the thing on paper," he said. "They helped us put it into a language that investors can understand."

And working with IA turned out to be a good decision, he said.

"Most companies wait years to get where we're at, and we've done it in three or four months," Collins said.

Collins and Britt see themselves as being at the forefront of what is soon to become a media trend that is already taking hold in areas like Silicon Valley.

"We really feel like we're on the leading edge; it's like the Wild West and we're staking our claim right now," Collins said. "We grow a lot of good things around here, why don't we grow pixels?"

Station X's initial plan is to develop four shows in the first year, eight by year three. Two of the shows - "Beer Utopia" and "That Web Show" - will be geared to a national audience. "Open House," a real estate show, and "Test Drive," an automotive show, will be local. The site will be supported by advertising.

"There is no [content] barrier for us," Collins said.

In June, Station X received $20,000 in seed capital from the Arkansas Science & Technology Authority to prove the concept. Station X was the first client of Innovate Arkansas, which was instrumental in helping the company obtain the funding.

Station X has also been successful in finding sponsors for Beer Utopia, the largest of which is Maryland-based Flying Dog Brewery. The brewery is sponsoring a trip in October to the Great American Beer Festival in Denver, Colo.

Britt says they continue to "actively propose" to venture capital sources.

Collins is chief executive officer of Station X and currently runs his own advertising agency, Collins Media.

With a background in investment banking, Britt also has some experience in the media industry, formerly providing financial and business reports for news programs at Equity Broadcasting.