CNBC gets serious about web video

Mike Shields of Adweek writes about how CNBC is paying more attention to web video to drive traffic to its site.

Shields writes, “This week marks the debut of the CNBC Digital Workshop, an in-house production studio designed to crank out Web originals for CNBC.com and partners like Yahoo. Among the projects in development are Chew & Brew, a weekly cooking show hosted by CNBC reporter Jane Wells that’s focused on guy-skewing concoctions like bacon tacos and beer milkshakes, and The Puppets Can Hear You, featuring puppets reciting tweets from the popular Wall Street Twitter feed @GSElevator, which mocks the sometimes out-of-touch traders at Goldman Sachs.

“CNBC is clearly going lighter and broader with some of its digital fare, as it attempts to move past simply repurposed TV clips. Meanwhile, it is also ramping up a daily postmarket round-up show, 3 to Watch, hosted by CNBC reporter Josh Lipton, and this Friday marks the debut of Hacking America, an investigative series examining weighty topics like the fight against global cyberterrorism.

“‘We’re building on the success we already have,’ said Kevin Krim, svp, gm of CNBC Digital. ‘We have a fantastic TV brand and a very strong digital team, which has been doing a better and better job of fundamental blocking and tackling. But now we’re interested in going after a broader base, offering viewers a holistic view of their lives, not just [what they’re doing during] trading hours. And we’re also addressing advertiser demand.'”

Read more here.