The Birth of Online TV

Online TV Shows The birth of a new medium Colin Donald Director www.futurescape.tv

Colin Donald

Director

The Birth of Online TV New Web series - scripted comedy and drama Britain and America

New Web series - scripted comedy and drama

Britain and America

Overview Why is online TV booming? Who is making the shows? Creative opportunities

Why is online TV booming?

Who is making the shows?

Creative opportunities

Why is online TV booming? Ubiquitous broadband Audience aggregators New online TV studios New funding opportunities Hollywood writers’ strike as catalyst Falling production costs

Ubiquitous broadband

Audience aggregators

New online TV studios

New funding opportunities

Hollywood writers’ strike as catalyst

Falling production costs

Widespread broadband Nearly 6 in 10 homes (57%) in UK have broadband (Ofcom, May 2008) 8% narrowband dial-up (65% total) BT to invest £1.5bn for super-fast broadband to 10m homes by 2012 HD movies, gaming, graphics, music

Nearly 6 in 10 homes (57%) in UK have broadband (Ofcom, May 2008)

8% narrowband dial-up (65% total)

BT to invest £1.5bn for super-fast broadband to 10m homes by 2012

HD movies, gaming, graphics, music

Online video viewing soaring 12 billion video views per month in the USA (comScore) Rising by 1 billion per month 3.5 billion per month in the UK 30% of UK adults have used Internet to watch video content (Ofcom)

12 billion video views per month in the USA (comScore)

Rising by 1 billion per month

3.5 billion per month in the UK

30% of UK adults have used Internet to watch video content (Ofcom)

Issue – falling TV viewing? Yes – 30% of UK adults with Internet say they watch less TV (Ofcom) Yes, but – small fall? 1%? From 219 mins / day in 2005 To 216 mins / day in 2006 (Ofcom)

Yes – 30% of UK adults with Internet say they watch less TV (Ofcom)

Yes, but – small fall? 1%?

From 219 mins / day in 2005

To 216 mins / day in 2006 (Ofcom)

Audience aggregators – Bebo

Online TV studios launching About 30 in Hollywood 8 have raised $50m in funding Major studios – digital units Hundreds of shows in production UK indies involved New: Shimmer Productions Talkback Thames - Toyboize

About 30 in Hollywood

8 have raised $50m in funding

Major studios – digital units

Hundreds of shows in production

UK indies involved

New: Shimmer Productions

Talkback Thames - Toyboize

New funding sources 14 ways to fund a show Broadcasters, new studios, sponsors Download sales via iTunes Joss Whedon (Buffy) – self-funded Dr Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog Hollywood writers’ strike as catalyst

14 ways to fund a show

Broadcasters, new studios, sponsors

Download sales via iTunes

Joss Whedon (Buffy) – self-funded

Dr Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog

Hollywood writers’ strike as catalyst

New funding sources Particularly important Branded entertainment Product placement Product integration Controversial – “hidden” advertising?

Particularly important

Branded entertainment

Product placement

Product integration

Controversial – “hidden” advertising?

Issue – product placement Acceptable? EU says Yes UK culture secretary not keen Holding consultations FCC – American TV regulator Also consulting Would and should TV regulations apply to online shows?

Acceptable?

EU says Yes

UK culture secretary not keen

Holding consultations

FCC – American TV regulator

Also consulting

Would and should TV regulations apply to online shows?

Falling production costs The Gap Year (Endemol / Bebo) One-person “team” following their subject Camera, laptop, liaising with production company Higher tech quality Sofia’s Diary made in HD

The Gap Year (Endemol / Bebo)

One-person “team” following their subject

Camera, laptop, liaising with production company

Higher tech quality

Sofia’s Diary made in HD

Who’s making the shows? New studios Broadcasters and established indies New commissioners Social networking sites Ad agencies

New studios

Broadcasters and established indies

New commissioners

Social networking sites

Ad agencies

New commissioners Social networking sites Bebo The Gap Year KateModern (two seasons) Sofia’s Diary (two seasons) Next: The Secret World of Sam King MySpace I Love Chieftown

Social networking sites

Bebo

The Gap Year

KateModern (two seasons)

Sofia’s Diary (two seasons)

Next: The Secret World of Sam King

MySpace

I Love Chieftown

New commissioners Ad agencies and sponsors are commissioning In The Motherhood US Web comedy about parenting MindShare agency for Sprint and Suave

Ad agencies and sponsors are commissioning

In The Motherhood

US Web comedy about parenting

MindShare agency for Sprint and Suave

Creative opportunities “ Nobody knows anything” It’s a new medium Previous attempts at online shows The Spot (1990s) Online Caroline BAFTA winner (2000) The Strand (2004) Wannabes (2007)

“ Nobody knows anything”

It’s a new medium

Previous attempts at online shows

The Spot (1990s)

Online Caroline BAFTA winner (2000)

The Strand (2004)

Wannabes (2007)

Creative opportunities Online TV doesn’t mean cheap TV Short or long episodes? How many episodes comprise a season? Interactivity – support or straitjacket? Opportunities across all genres Online shows integrated into TV industry

Online TV doesn’t mean cheap TV

Short or long episodes?

How many episodes comprise a season?

Interactivity – support or straitjacket?

Opportunities across all genres

Online shows integrated into TV industry

Online TV doesn’t mean cheap TV

Short or long episodes?

How many episodes in a season?

Interactivity: support or straitjacket?

Opportunities across all genres

Online integrated into TV industry

The future: audience co-creation

Online TV Shows The birth of a new medium Colin Donald Director www.futurescape.tv

Colin Donald

Director