Web series

A web series is a series of programmes released on the Internet or also by mobile or cellular phone. A single instance of a web series program is called a webisode, a term which was given popularity by the show "Battlestar Galactica" in the delivery of their web series "", set between the events of Season 2 and Season 3 of their TV show.

While the popularity of web serials is continuing to rise, the concept itself isn't entirely new. ' was a pioneering Internet web series that tied into the TV series '. The web series started in 1997 and was ultimately cancelled due to financial constraints and technological restrictions.

The rise in popularity of web series can be seen as a result of the increasing availability of broadband and the improved video streaming technology. This has allowed independent producers to create low budget series distributed on the Internet, but more recently major television production companies are using the Internet as a means of promoting their TV shows as well as developing specific media and shows for the Internet.

History

2006: The birth of the web series

In mid-2006, several independent web series began to achieve popularity, most notably "lonelygirl15" (created by Miles Beckett, Mesh Flinders and Greg Goodfried) and "Sam Has 7 Friends" (created by production company Big Fantastic). Both series were distributed independently using online portals YouTube and Revver. Both series acquired audiences in the millions, with "lonelygirl15" receiving over 100 Million views during its 26-month run. The series was so successful that it secured a sponsorship with Neutrogena,cite news | url = http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117967249.html?categoryid=18&cs=1&nid=2562 | title = 'Lonelygirl15' cozies up to promo deal | date = 2007-06-19 | work = Variety | accessdate = 2007-06-19|] while "Sam Has 7 Friends" was nominated for an Emmy and temporarily removed from the Internet when it was acquired by Michael Eisner.cite news | url = http://www.usatoday.com/tech/webguide/2007-03-11-eisner-vuguru-promqueen_N.htm | title = Eisner to take on the Internet | date = 2007-03-11 | work = USA Today | accessdate = 2007-03-11|]

2007: Expansion, interactivity and social networking

In 2007, Beckett and Goodfried followed up their "lonelygirl15" success with "KateModern", a series which debuted on social networking website Bebo, and took place in the same fictional universe as "lonelygirl15".cite news | url = http://newteevee.com/2007-12-05/katemodern-a-web-video-success-story/ | title = KateModern, a Web Video Success Story? | date = 2007-12-05 | work = NewTeeVee | accessdate = 2007-12-05|] Meanwhile, Big Fantastic created and produced "Prom Queen", which was financed and distributed by Michael Eisner's nascent online studio Vuguru, and debuted on social networking site MySpace.cite news | url = http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/recent_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003579095 | title = Eisner's 'Prom' Seeing Web Success | date = 2007-05-01 | work = MediaWeek | accessdate = 2007-05-01|] Both web serials highlighted interactivity with the audience in addition to the narrative story, and were again produced on relatively low budgets. In contrast, the webseries "Sanctuary", starring actress/producer Amanda Tapping, cost $4.3 Million to produce. Both "Sanctuary" and "Prom Queen" were nominated for an Emmy.cite news | url = http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117966107.html?categoryid=14&cs=1&nid=2562 | title = Acad announces broadband noms | date = 2007-05-31 | work = Variety | accessdate = 2007-05-31|] Award-winning producer/director Marshall Herskovitz created the webseries "Quarterlife", which debuted on MySpace and was later distributed on NBC.cite news | url = http://www.nytimes.com/2007-09-13/business/media/13quarterlife.html | title = Show Series to Originate on MySpace | date = 2007-09-13 | work = New York Times | accessdate = 2007-09-13|] Felicia Day created and stars in the independent comedy webseries "The Guild", which won the 2007 YouTube Video Award for Best Series.

2008: The rise of Hollywood

2008 saw the major networks and studios debut original webseries, and more and more independent series continued to appear. ABC started the year with the comedy webseries "Squeegies," created by Handsome Donkey and produced by digital studio Stage 9. NBC debuted "Gemini Division", a science fiction series starring Rosario Dawson, produced and created by Electric Farm Entertainment (the creators of the cult webseries "Afterworld").cite news | url = http://www.nytimes.com/2008-09-01/business/media/01webisodes.html | title = For Web TV, a Handful of Hits but No Formula for Success | date = 2008-08-31 | work = New York Times | accessdate = 2008-08-31|] Warner Brothers relaunched The WB as an online network with the debut of their first original webseries, "Sorority Forever," created and produced by Big Fantastic and executive produced by McG.cite news | url = http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117990615.html?categoryid=14&cs=1 | title = TheWB.com set for Aug. 27 launch | date = 2008-08-15 | work = Variety | accessdate = 2008-08-15|]

But it wasn't just major studios producing high profile original webseries in 2008. Joss Whedon created, produced and self-financed "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog" starring Neil Patrick Harris and Felicia Day.cite news | url = http://www.nytimes.com/2008-08-24/magazine/24wwln-medium-t.html | title = Web Serial Killers | date = 2008-08-22 | work = New York Times | accessdate = 2008-08-22|] Big Fantastic wrote and produced "Foreign Body", a mystery webseries that served as a prequel to Robin Cook's novel of the same name.cite news | url = http://www.nypost.com/seven/01252008/business/digital_dreamers_411773.htm | title = DIGITAL DREAMERS | date = 2008-01-25 | work = New York Post | accessdate = 2008-01-25|] Miles Beckett and Greg Goodfried founded a new internet studio, EQAL, and produced a spin-off from "lonelygirl15" entitled "".cite news | url = http://blog.wired.com/underwire/2008/08/qa-lonelygirl15.html | title = Lonelygirl15 Team Launches Sci-Fi Resistance | date = 2008-08-27 | work = Wired | accessdate = 2008-08-27|]

Production and distribution

The rise in the popularity of the Internet and improvements in streaming video technology mean that producing and distributing a web series is relatively cheap by traditional standards and allows producers to reach a potentially global audience who can access the shows 24 hours a day.

The webisodes can be distributed directly from the producers' websites or online video sites such as YouTube.

ee also

* List of Internet television series

References

External links

* [http://www.gateworld.net/news/2007/02/new_isanctuaryi_details_revealed.shtml New details revealed from Gateworld]
* [http://www.hollywoodnorthreport.com/article.php?Article=3368 Galactica Webisodes Threatened By Dispute] , (Robert Falconer), "Hollywood North Report", August 18, 2006
* [http://www.scifi.com/pulse/ Sci Fi Pulse] , the Sci Fi Channel's online webcast centre (only available to viewers from the USA)
* [http://www.scifi.com/battlestar/video/index.php?cat=webisodes&vid=29339 "Battlestar Galactica: The Resistance" webisodes] at Sci Fi Pulse (Flash required)
* [http://www.geminidivision.com Gemini Division] Starring Rosario Dawson. (Streaming from NBC)