GSTV Unveils New Content Slate and Original Content Featuring Creators, Comedians and Celebrity Talent
National Video Network Announces Partnerships With Matador Network,
Name That Tune, Benzinga and Tank’s Good News Ahead of 2023 NewFronts
DETROIT, MI – May 3, 2023 – At its NewFront presentation this Wednesday, GSTV, the national video network engaging and entertaining targeted audiences at scale across tens of thousands of fuel retailers, will unveil a slate of new partners, as well as original content coming to its network this year. The upcoming content slate will further cement GSTV as a video entertainment platform inspiring and engaging GSTV’s 116 million unique monthly viewers across the U.S. ahead of key shoppable moments.
New partners include Matador Network, Prestige Entertainment, and Benzinga, and a refreshed series with Live Nation. Matador Network, the number one travel destination on TikTok, engages millions of viewers with its all-new travel-inspired programming series, Must-See America. Developed in partnership with GSTV, it will highlight travel trends, tips, inspiration, seasonal travel guides, holiday-themed destinations, and more. Benzinga educates and entertains GSTV viewers with snackable financial journalism as it relates to blockchain, cryptocurrency, trading, NFTs and more. In addition, Prestige Entertainment will bring beloved game show Name That Tune to GSTV screens nationwide. Promoted by music icon Randy Jackson, the series will allow viewers to test their music knowledge, unveiling key clues as they fuel up. In keeping with this music focus, GSTV Sounds Bites powered by Live Nation brings musical artists ranging from Macklemore to Nickelback and more to GSTV screens as they share interviews from touring on the road and what drives them every day.
“By doubling down on new content partners and unveiling new original programming, we want to further distinguish GSTV as a video platform where advertisers can organically integrate with or place advertising content adjacent to our entertaining, informative, and family-friendly content,” said Sean McCaffrey, President and CEO of GSTV. “Our personality-driven content features familiar faces for viewers across America. Our goal is to continue evolving the GSTV experience, providing an entertaining, engaging respite for consumers as they fuel up.”
GSTV also unveiled pilots for four new original content series produced by its in-house content studio, Ignite. These personality-driven series allow for flexible custom integrations for advertisers and include:
Tank’s Good News: Featuring digital creator Tank Sinatra, this series will feature a positive feel-good news story in 20 seconds each week.
TL;DR (Too Long; Didn’t Read): Comedian, actor, and podcast host Chuck Nice will rush viewers through a quick recap of the hottest novels or timeless classics, offering up the intel needed to help them sound smarter than the rest of the room without turning a page.
On This Day: Voiced by celebrity guests, this feature will take a look at the happenings that transpired on that particular day in history, drawing parallels to help viewers better understand their own circumstances.
Laughing Gas: Shot onstage at Gotham Comedy Club and produced by Harlan Halper of Downstage Entertainment, and Gotham’s Chris Mazzilli, this segment features some of New York’s best comedians, such as Dominican American stand-up star Julio Diaz, in 20-second quips about friends, family, and fueling up.
The new programming will appear in GSTV’s line-up of best in class short-form content providers including Cheddar News, Heal Squad with Maria Menounos, What’s Trending, So Yummy, kiwilimón, LaLiga and more. Maria Menounos is also host of the 2023 IAB NewFronts.
To learn more, tune into GSTV’s NewFront presentation, “Attention & Action: Reaching Consumers During The Moments That Matter” on Wednesday, May 3rd from 4:50 PM-5:10 PM ET in-person or virtually. Advertisers can register for the presentation on the IAB website with code GSTV23NF.
GSTV Taps Starcom and iHeartMedia Vet Kristina Lutz as its New EVP, Marketing
Jennifer Cesa and Geoff Maresca Join to Accelerate Regional Growth and Holding Company Relationships
DETROIT, MI – March 1, 2023 – GSTV, the national video network engaging and entertaining targeted audiences at scale across tens of thousands of fuel retailers, announces today the appointment of Kristina Lutz as Executive Vice President , Marketing. In her new role, she will lead integrated marketing, ad sales solutions, public relations, and brand activations, among other areas. Based in Chicago, Lutz will report to GSTV President and CEO Sean McCaffrey.
Lutz has over two decades of marketing experience, joining GSTV from CarSaver where she was VP, Strategic Partnership Marketing. While with the auto ecommerce platform, she helped develop and execute strategic partnerships to expand offerings, build brand awareness, and drive sales as a key member of the leadership team. Previously, Lutz held various leadership roles at Starcom and iHeartMedia.
“When searching for our next marketing head, we wanted to find someone with deep, diverse knowledge who could help us continue sharing what GSTV’s video platform offers advertisers and consumers. With her varied experience across agency, brand, and publisher perspectives, Kristina emerged as the perfect candidate,” said McCaffrey. “As we head into another NewFronts season, I’m excited to partner with her to continue spreading awareness of GSTV’s full offering, especially knowing her track record when it comes to brand building and client solutions.”
Prior to the brand side, Kristina served as President for Starcom USA, with a staff of 600+ across Chicago, New York, Detroit and Los Angeles. She led the agency’s investment, content, and multi-cultural practices, focusing on innovative, client-specific activation across all channels and all clients. She was a key member of the Publicis Media Exchange (PMX), the largest U.S. media buying entity, fueling cross-channel marketplace innovation and transformation. She had rejoined Starcom USA from iHeartMedia, where as EVP she led business development and client partnerships through creative media and product solutions across Fortune 100 partners and agency holding companies. She pioneered the company’s vertical strategy, focused on auto, and built the central region team from zero to 100+ clients.
“I’m thrilled to join GSTV, especially at this particular moment in time,” said Lutz. “As the company continues to cement itself as a major video player, I will partner with Sean and the team to develop a communications and marketing strategy that clarifies our offering, breaking through to new audiences by emphasizing results.”
This announcement comes in tandem with two other key new hires at GSTV. Jennifer Cesa, joins as Regional Vice President, Client Partnerships. Cesa joins GSTV from Shutterstock, and prior to that had sales leadership positions at Tastemade and across the Scripps/Discovery lifestyle portfolio of networks. Geoff Maresca steps into the position of Vice President, Agency Development, after holding sales leadership roles at leading media and martech companies including Ryff, Amobee, FreeWheel, Quantcast, AOL and Microsoft. Cesa will oversee GSTV’s client partnerships on the East Coast, while Maresca focuses on further honing agency holding company relationships. Both hires are key elements of GSTV’s continued focus on best-in-class national advertising solutions for agency and brand partners. Based in New York, both will report to Chief Revenue Officer, Scott Pawloski.