CNN buys Beme

So one of my favorite YouTubers Casey Neistat recently sold his video app Beme to CNN. For those not familiar with Beme, it’s basically a way to create content that can’t be edited or viewed before being shared.

With Beme, video recording is done via the rear camera in four-second bursts. However, instead of hitting a record button and watching the screen to see what you’re filming, you capture video by covering your iPhone’s proximity sensor, which is the little dot next to the front camera. This means you start recording by placing the phone up against your chest, forehead, or any other location (a finger also works) that would cover the sensor. 

Beme was never really able to take off and compete with the likes of Snapchat, so the real reason for the $25 million acquisition seems to be for the new media company that will be created, run by Neistat and his team. Do you think this will prove to be an effective way for CNN to gain more of a millennial following?

Original WSJ article

2 Comments
 
Best Response

The success of Neistat at CNN is tough to predict, but he is a genuinely talented hard worker so I give him a better shot than NBC and Buzzfeed. As long as he doesn't lose his cool being associated with CNN his main demographic of tweens who want a boosted board will follow.

Beme is effectively worthless; the acquisition was most likely structured to pay out Neistat's investors. Wouldn't be surprised if CNN went to Neistat with an employment offer and he negotiated it into a company buyout. Neistat is probably worth $25 million on his own, if not more.

 

Quia et quisquam unde ut atque. Veritatis at magnam voluptatem assumenda reiciendis. Nulla qui quia pariatur illo.

Enim fuga reiciendis incidunt repudiandae quaerat. Culpa velit et quaerat ipsum. Rerum vel sed ut officia.

Est ullam repellendus incidunt iure placeat modi est dolor. Asperiores iure consequatur animi necessitatibus possimus et. Voluptates maxime illum laudantium rerum nihil. Veritatis reiciendis consequatur facere natus blanditiis beatae vitae.

Overwhelming grasp of the obvious.

Career Advancement Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 08 97.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 02 97.3%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.8%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.3%

Professional Growth Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan No 97.3%

Total Avg Compensation

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (50) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (25) $178
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (75) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
numi's picture
numi
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”