Tubefilter News

If there was any ever doubt that a web series—without any moonlighting Hollywood celebrities or TV network backing—could galvanize throngs of faithful fans into a live rock concert adoration, well, it ended last night at SXSW. Before a sold out crowd of over 2,200 at Stubbs BBQ one of Austin’s legendary outdoor concert stages, Kevin Rose and Alex Albrecht took a page out of the rock star playbook at the live Diggnation taping Saturday night.

The spiked hair and fire breathing magic skills of Scam School’s Brian Brushwood primed the crowd, in an opening act that probably could have its own Vegas offshoot some day. Then there was the #OMGConan hoax, an organized prank led by Rev3 co-founder David Prager that generated 426 tweets from the audience blasting out that Conan O’Brien is joining Revision3. This was of course full-circle to the web network’s credulous offer back in January for Conan to have his own Rev3 show.

Oh, and the crowdsurfing. Alex and Kevin floated over the sea of outstretched arms. Even live streaming TWIT.tv’s Leo Laporte joined in on the fun to cheers of “Leo! Leo! Leo!” as he was whisked up while carrying his lighted unipod to stream his ride. Was this the first live streamed crowd surfing shot first person?

In the parlor game of us spectators, one of the questions batted around was just how much PC-maker Alienware paid for the ultimate product integration—swapping out Kevin and Alex’s usual laptops for two of theirs. Best bets from those in the know seemed to say it was at least $50k for the privilege of that placement. Some speculated it was a six figure deal. Either way, not cheap to free known Apple-lover Kevin Rose from his MacBook Pro.

Spotted up in the VIP section were a number of web series vets like Taryn Southern, Tim Street, Brett Register, iJustine, Phil DeFranco, Tony Valenzuela and others—all there to witness first-hand just how big this video space has actually become. It left us all thinking, who needs Conan when you have have these guys?

There’s a little bit of name collision here—which wouldn’t be a first for web series (see: Roommates and Roommates)—but take note that Revision3’s new live streaming show CO-OP Live is in fact different than theStream.tv’s COIN-OP TV Live. The news here is pretty significant for growing online network Revision3, as it is adding their first ever live streaming web series to its lineup.

The hosted gaming culture show, from the creators of the 10-season stalwart The 1Up Show, kicked off as a standard weekly series back in early March of last year on the network, before Revision3 decided it would be a good test show for the live format. The first live episode of CO-OP Live will premiere today at 4:00 PM (PT), with taped version of the weekly show appearing online the following morning.

“Video games are the ultimate live experience,” said Revision3’s CEO Jim Louderback. “We’re excited to bring the best video game show on the planet, CO-OP, to the world live. I can’t think of a better way to discover the best new games, and to hang out with the coolest gamers on the planet each week!”

The six-man hosting team of Jason Bertrand, Rob Bowen, Matt Chandronait, Ryan O’Donnell, Jay Frechette and Cesar Quintero and have a full explanation of what to expect on their production company blog at Area5.tv:

French web series The Coat, a post-apocalyptic drama, will make its head to the international content market MIPTV as part of the Content 360 cross-platfrom competition. The 12-episode series, all in French, is created by Mathieu Cailliere, Benoit Lamouche and Sebastien Petitjean. Seven episodes have been shot and are available for viewing on the show’s site, with five more slated for production. [WorldScreen.com]

The AP (Associated Press) is launching its own web series—Beyond the Medal—starting February 12 at the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games. It will push out the daily series, hosted by Jesse Csincsak to some 900 of its paying partner sites as well as its own ad-supported hub for the Games: wintergames.ap.org. [Mediaweek]

Atom.com is hiring a full-time Marketing Manager to work out of its Santa Monica, CA headquarters and help build brand awareness and social media strategy. A “deep familiarity with the web video industry” is required, and if you’re reading this here, it’s a good sign you stand a chance. Apply here: [Tubefilter New Media Job Board]

Revision3 put out its latest numbers this week, announcning it had served up over 1.5 Billion minutes of video in 2009, a stat they look at closer than the 70 million views that came with those minutes served. In terms of revenue, the internet TV network said it grew revenue 30% over the year, with the average ad deal for its shows up 50% from advertisers including new sponsors Klondike, Ford, Adidas, Coors, Patron, Nokia and Panasonic. [Revision3 press release]

Break.com officially outdid themselves from last year, completing a massively larger “Big Game Snack Food Stadium,” which is made up of a whoopping 110,428 calories of football game junk food. The making-of video (below) shows the caloric monstrosity coming together piece by piece. Who got to uh, dismantle, it? [Break.com]

It’s the New Year and a good time to reassess your digital entertainment viewing options—especially if you’ve recently disconnected your cable box or satellite dish. If you can wait a few months, check out the new Boxee Box by D-Link. At CES this month, we spoke with Avner Ronen, Boxee’s CEO, and Andrew Kippen, VP of Marketing, about the new product, tips for choosing an Internet video streaming box that’s right for you, and other random topics, like the fact that an Australian company refuses to give up the boxee.com domain name!

Rarely does a product that isn’t available win so many awards at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). But this year Boxee managed to pull this off for its highly anticipated Boxee Box, which lets users watch Internet videos (and more) on their TV, is set to debut this Spring for $199 (US). With a sleek design created by Astro Studios, it picked up the Last Gadget Standing Award, as well as recognition from CNET, G4 and LAPTOP magazine, among others. For the past year-and-a-half, the Boxee team has been optimizing their technology for the popular Boxee platform that’s viewed on a computer desktop, as well as for the upcoming Boxee Box to view on a TV, with Blu-ray and other devices on the horizon.

For those of you not familiar with Boxee, it’s a visually attractive (and free) desktop application that you download to your computer. It helps you find and stay up-to-date with many of your favorite Internet-based videos, from Web TV shows to broadcast and cable shows available on the Web, as well as movies and music. (In techie lingo, it searches the Web and aggregates Web video content in one place to make it easier for you to find entertainment content.) Plus, it can add your personal collection of videos and music on your computer to the Boxee menu so you can find all of your digital entertainment – in one location.

With over 300 applications available to access videos, social media, music—and content partners such as TV.com, blip.tv, Revision3, Wired, IGN (for you gamers out there), and others—you’re bound to find something you like. Not all content is not free of charge (for example, you need a Netflix account in order to use the Netflix app), but the convenience of having one place from which to access and manage your ever-expanding universe of online entertainment favorites makes Boxee appealing.
Rarely does a product that isn’t available win so many awards at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). But this year Boxee managed to pull this off for its highly anticipated Boxee Box, which lets users watch Internet videos (and more) on their TV, is set to debut this Spring for $199 (US). With a sleek design created by Astro Studios, it picked up the Last Gadget Standing Award, as well as recognition from CNET, G4 and LAPTOP magazine, among others. For the past year-and-a-half, the Boxee team has been optimizing their technology for the popular Boxee platform that’s viewed on a computer desktop, as well as for the upcoming Boxee Box to view on a TV, with Blu-ray and other devices on the horizon.

For those of you not familiar with Boxee, it’s a visually attractive (and free) desktop application that you download to your computer. It helps you find and stay up-to-date with many of your favorite Internet-based videos, from Web TV shows to broadcast and cable shows available on the Web, as well as movies and music. (In techie lingo, it searches the Web and aggregates Web video content in one place to make it easier for you to find entertainment content.) Plus, it can add your personal collection of videos and music on your computer to the Boxee menu so you can find all of your digital entertainment – in one location.

With over 300 applications available to access videos, social media, music—and content partners such as TV.com, blip.tv, Revision3, Wired, IGN (for you gamers out there), and others—you’re bound to find something you like. Not all content is not free of charge (for example, you need a Netflix account in order to use the Netflix app), but the convenience of having one place from which to access and manage your ever-expanding universe of online entertainment favorites makes Boxee appealing.

Web TV network Revision3 issued an open offer letter to NBC’s The Tonight Show host Conan O’Brien to take his show online. After the embattled late night star rejected a proposal from NBC to move the show to another time slot, there are talks of a separation agreement, in the $30-40 million range, letting O’Brien leave the peacock network as Jay Leno prepares to take back over the 11:30 PM time slot. So flush with cash from the settlement, and perhaps in a coup de grâce to NBC, O’Brien could take his popular show to the internet.

Revision3’s VP of Programming and Production Ryan Vance made the open offer, which they say is a serious one, to Conan “Coco” O’Brien today on the company’s blog. The growing online network essentially built itself on high-profile hosts—like Diggnation’s Kevin Rose and Alex Albrecht—though O’Brien would clearly be the biggest personality they’ve had yet, and that includes a stint with Gary Vaynerchuk and his Wine Library TV! Vance said they are offering up the “keys to the kingdom” to O’Brien, and also noted that co-host Andy Richter is also invited.

I’m taking this opportunity to officially offer you a brand-new show of your choosing here at Revision3. Rest assured, you’ll be able to bring your set, band and even Andy (especially Andy) with you as you transition to our cutting-edge online TV network. We have room for the Masturbating Bear, FedEx Pope and even Mini Jay Leno here on the internet.

…

I know you’re also weighing countless job offers from extended cable networks and hardcore porn channels. Just know we serve more videos than your average porn site (not true) and have more viewers than your average extended cable network (true).

To sum up, Conan, you have the keys to the kingdom here at Revision3. You want to change our studio around? Done. Want to move any of our existing shows to 10pm Please do. Want to give Andy his own show so he can finally truly control the universe? Done. You name the game, we’ll make it happen.

Other benefits:
- A fantastic creative and supportive working environment
- No network censors
- Top notch adsales team monetizing your show
- Complimentary broadband
- “Competitive” salary (you’re going to have more money than Oprah from NBC, so what do you care?!)
- Managed social media strategy, building a dedicated audience around your show
- Decent benefits

The web has yet to have a ‘late night’ talk show with the caliber of someone like Conan. Several celebs have spun up web chat shows, some of which are holding their own like Kevin Pollak’s Chat Show, but others seem to have faded away like Crackle’s Anytime with Bob Kushell.

Revision3 is trying to branch out from its tech-heavy roots. The self-proclaimed “leading television network for the internet generation” was built on a solid foundation of techno-geekery, architected by Digg co-founder, Kevin Rose and TechTV and PC Magazine alum, Jim Louderback. Shows like Tekzilla and Diggnation speak to the online network’s core of savvy, connected fanboys and have built up a sizable following, but Revision3 is always looking to expand into other verticals comprised of niche, impassioned communities.

Enter the latest web series on Revision3’s programming slate, AnimeTV. Hosted by former Black Power Ranger, Johnny Young Bosch and Cristina Vee (both of whom are established anime voice actors) the show covers the world of “anime, manga, and Japanese pop culture.” In each episode, a handful of well-manicured, twentysomething Nipponophiles explain and debate the merits and demerits of recent anime and magna offerings, as well as interview movers and shakers within the industry.

I’m a big fan of cosplay, but knowing that term is about the extent of my anime-related knowledge. AnimeTV could be a great starting point for people like me looking to get more involved in the genre. But it’s essentially geared towards Otaku and those that don’t need Wikipedia to figure out what Otaku means.

Ok just in time for the holidays, we have a special gift for you guys. It’s no secret that we’re fans of Roku set-top boxes, which bring many of the web series we love and write about every day to our living rooms and onto the big screens in beautiful HD action. Thousands of web series from networks like Revision3 and blip.tv are available on Roku with more channels coming in the new year.
So, just for you fine friends of Tubefilter, we’re giving away a top-of-the-line Roku HD-XR (retail: $129.99) compliments of Roku. (They didn’t pay us for this, we just convinced them that you guys are awesome and really deserved one!)

Want to win? Here’s what you need to do:

1. Become a fan of Tubefilter on Facebook

2. Leave a comment on this article on our Facebook fan page – before 12 AM ET on Dec. 29, 2009.

That’s it. We’ll then put all valid entries into a random drawing hosted by Random.org on December 29th and announce the winner here and on Twitter. One entry per person.

For more last minute gift ideas check out our Web Series Junkie’s Holiday Gift Guide.

Web series and web video bits from around the internets worth clicking today:

Shorewood vs. Shorecrest High School (WA)A Glee-inspired but YouTube-perfect lip-synced battle unfolding on YouTube. It stated with Shorecrest HS’s Trent Mitchell’s video production class doing a spot-on rendition of Outkast’s ‘Hey Ya!” (above) that has already hit 100k views. This week rival high school Shorewood one upped their neighbors with a reverse lip sync (also above). [Seattle PI]

Virgin America just added an original “Best of the Web” section to it RED in-flight systems, featuring popular web series shown on those glamorous seat-back touchscreens on all its domestic flights. Also known as: Revision3 and TED Talks join the mile-high club! [Virgin]

The U.S. Coast Guard needs a little help picking the winner of their “Best Coast Guard Video of 2009,” and put out a call for action to pick one of the 11 finalists. The final 11 are a tribute to the Coast Guard’s 11 statutory missions, and worth a look on their YouTube channel. [US Coast Guard]

Drama Queenz returned for its second season today. The popular New York-set LGBT comedy web series stars Broadway regulars Dane Joseph (Aida), Kristen-Alexzander Griffith (Rent), and Troy Valjean Rucker (Jesus Christ Superstar) as three actors on the less than perfect path to Broadway stardom. [Dramaqueenz.com]

The DiGiTS Show has been on a tear on YouTube this past month, cranking out over 4.6 million views, which is more than even Fred racked up this month. The sleazy euro-gigolo has taken a brief hiatus until January promising “a crap ton more episodes.” In the meantime, they put out their “Holiday Card” today (below). [YouTube]

The Crew is on hiatus too, but that didn’t stop creator Brett Register from putting out a special “musical montage” Christmas episode of their own today (below). [Babelgum]