Atom.com (formerly AtomFilms) was a broadband entertainment network offering original short subject movies, animations, and series by independent creators.[1][2][3] The company was founded in 1998 in Seattle by Mika Salmi.[4] Sequoia Capital, led by Michael Moritz, was the lead investor in Atom Films.[5][6]

Atom.com
Company typeHumor, film website
IndustryOnline video entertainment, film
Founded1998
FounderMika Salmi
Defunct2012
SuccessorCC Studios
HeadquartersSan Francisco, California, United States
ParentParamount Media Networks (Paramount Global)
Websiteatom.com

Overview

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Atom Films was the first online video platform for Oscar winners Jason Reitman,[7][8] Aardman Animations,[9][10] and David Lynch.[11] It was the first site to work with a major intellectual property rights owner to allow derivative works by the general public when it created a partnership with George Lucas and LucasFilm for The Official Star Wars Fan Film Awards in November 2000.[12][13]

Buyout

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On August 10, 2006, Atom Entertainment was bought by MTV Networks (now called Paramount Media Networks) with all its properties, including AtomFilms, Addicting Games, Addicting Clips (renamed AtomUploads) and Shockwave.com.[14] The buyout occurred shortly after negotiations against and subsequently with Google to purchase YouTube. In 2012, Atom.com was absorbed into Comedy Central, and was renamed CC Studios.

References

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  1. ^ Marriott, Michel (April 29, 2004). "NEWS WATCH: ENTERTAINMENT; Hurtling Onto Your Hard Drive, Short Films on Demand". The New York Times.
  2. ^ Lyman, Rick (March 27, 2000). "MEDIA; Hollywood Greets Online Entrepreneurs". The New York Times.
  3. ^ Harmon, Amy (December 16, 2000). "COMPANY NEWS; SHOCKWAVE.COM SETS ATOMFILMS TAKEOVER". The New York Times.
  4. ^ Houston, Frank (June 15, 2000). "Hollywood Flirts With Short Films on the Web". The New York Times.
  5. ^ "Viacom's MTV Unit Buys Atom Entertainment for Its Film, Gaming Web Sites - The Washington Post". The Washington Post.
  6. ^ "A VC With A Silicon Touch: Michael L. Moritz, WG' 78". Wharton Magazine. 2007-07-01. Retrieved 2021-06-29.
  7. ^ Nichols, Peter M. (2000-12-30). "Now Playing, Short Stories At a Web Theater Near You". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-06-29.
  8. ^ "AtomFilms trusts in Sundance short".
  9. ^ "Mika Salmi : AtomShockwave va diffuser les prochains épisodes d'Aardman Animations". 4 February 2002.
  10. ^ "Aardman's 'Angry' at AtomFilms site". 12 April 2000.
  11. ^ "David Lynch to produce "crude and bad quality" cartoons for web". TheGuardian.com. 23 March 2000.
  12. ^ "AtomFilms.com is the official site for Star Wars spoofs | EW.com". Entertainment Weekly.
  13. ^ "Lights, sabers, action! / 'Star Wars' fan films out of this world thanks to cheaper, powerful technology". 9 May 2005.
  14. ^ Ahrens, Frank (August 10, 2006). "Viacom's MTV unit buys Atom Entertainment for its film, gaming web sites". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 16, 2006.
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