Wonder PL, a new video platform for lifestyle content that launched on March 13, is taking direct aim at YouTube and Vimeo while hoping to capitalize on the soaring popularity of online video.<\/p>\n
Backed by Universal Music Group, Qualcomm Ventures, former Apple executive Pascal Cagni and a personal investment by Vice Media President Andrew Creighton, Wonder features topics from wellness to food to entertainment targeting women.<\/p>\n
Wonder if differentiating itself from YouTube by targeting professional content makers to use its platform for an annual fee. YouTube is free to anyone who wants to upload a video.<\/p>\n
“We want to be the Whole Foods of video,” said Sofia Fenichell, Wonder founder and CEO. “YouTube is Wal-Mart.”<\/p>\n
Wonder is going after brands and content creators such as the National Film Board of China and chef Tom Aikens. Wonder charges an annual fee of $300 for its members to use the platform to upload video.<\/p>\n
“We know everyone is going to produce more video,” Fenichell said.<\/p>\n
While more people are uploading and consuming video, it is a crowded market. Google’s YouTube, which is ad-supported, has more than 1 billion unique users per month who watch more than 6 billion hours of video.<\/p>\n
IAC\/Interactive Corp’s Vimeo provides a platform for professional users too. Anyone can post video to the Vimeo platform for free but it charges up to $199 for more comprehensive features like additional storage, support and the ability to sell video on demand. (Vimeo takes a 10 percent cut.) Vimeo has over 22 million registered members and reaches a global monthly audience of about 150 million.<\/p>\n
Fenichell said Wonder will depend on subscription revenue for now but could eventually start providing opportunities for sponsored content. People view videos on Wonder in an ad-free environment.<\/p>\n
“The industry currently trades a free or nominal membership fee in exchange for taking very high platform commissions,” she said.<\/p>\n
“We believe this is an unsustainable model for creators who need to generate value from their work.”<\/p>\n
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