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Video - Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Independent Comedy Network Launches

When we look at launches of new online video sites, we have to bear in mind the launch of ESPN back in 1979 as a 24-hour each day sports network. For its first few years, the channel was painful to watch but it persevered and won its audience with clear advantages over its competition - viewers demanded more than 20 minutes of sports recap and break-down each day.

When we met with the founder and CEO of Independent Comedy Network, Marc Campbell, at the recent Mashable awards event it was clear that he sees advantages held by online comedy networks. Moreover the timing couldn't be better. The Hollywood writer's strike has opened up plenty of free time by comedic creatives who view online as their only option. Given that they are fighting over digital right with their studio over-lords, it might feel particularly good for them to make some coin online while they are on-strike.

Icn.tv launches today with several original series. The site is aiming to develop consistent audiences to episodic series, in contrast to what it views as spikes in traffic to one-off skits found on Will Ferrel's Funny or Die and elsewhere.

Founded in February 2006, ICN sources content through relationships with comedy venues in LA, New York and Chicago. ICN content is then monetized through online distribution online and offline. ICN pursues development deals for the comedy properties it represents and also works directly with advertisers to produce original episodic comedy.

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