Web TV shows are becoming more mainstream and financially sound as major stars and producers go online, according to digital entertainment research company Futurescape, which just released the second edition of its Birth of Online TV report.

“Web shows have progressed from experimental projects to become creatively and commercially successful productions in their own right,” Futurescape co-founder Özlem Tunçil said about the report, which examines the evolving online original video series business.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon led the Internet charge last year with Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog, a series he created with $200,000 of his own money and debuted on Hulu. He then sold it as a download through iTunes, turning a profit and eventually released it in two separate DVD releases.

Since then, dozens of others have followed. Lisa Kudrow launched Web Therapy, a series backed by Lexus; Hilary Duff’s The Chase is now on YouTube; Miley Cyrus is starring in the Miley and Mandy Show online; and next week, Sex and the City creator Candace Bushnell’s first Web series, The Broadroom, will launch on makeup company Maybelline’s Web site.

Even bigger names are developing their own Web properties. X-Men director Bryan Singer is reportedly working on a sci-fi Web show, and Ridley Scott is backing sci-fi production Purefold.

http://www.videobusiness.com/article/CA6687361.html

http://www.videobusiness.com/article/CA6687361.html
I looked in the original story for major stars like Brad Pitt or Rachel McAdams or Eric Bana but alas, all I found were Miley Cyrus and Hilary McGruff.
What a let down...

I looked in the original story for major stars like Brad Pitt or Rachel McAdams or Eric Bana but alas, all I found were Miley Cyrus and Hilary McGruff.
What a let down...

Funny since Hannah Montana (Miley Cyrus) is the number 1 video seller for the second consecutive week.

And I don't think many need introductions to works by Bryan Singer or Ridley Scott.

Ok, how about this title:

Web TV show attracts major star.

No, I guess it doesn't have quite the pull.

Ok, how about this title:

Web TV show attracts major star.

No, I guess it doesn't have quite the pull.

Except that title would be as baseless as your post.

In this very short story alone they mention Joss Whedon, Miley Cyrus (Hannah Montana), Candace Bushnell (Sex and the City), Bryan Singer and Ridley Scott all involved in projects.

If you are going to troll, at least try and do it with some semblance of facts to support it.

You have managed to hurt my feelings but... Whedon, Scott and Bushnell are still not major stars.
Your post title is misleading. That is a fact.

Knock it off guys...

You have managed to hurt my feelings but... Whedon, Scott and Bushnell are still not major stars.
Your post title is misleading. That is a fact.

I would suggest writing the editors at Video Business since it is the title of their article. I am sure they will value your insights into their core business.

Thank you for the suggestion, I will.

Stars such as Keanu Reeves and Hilary Duff increasingly support online TV, producing and starring in their own series, according to a report from digital entertainment research firm Futurescape.

The second edition of its report “The Birth of Online TV” identifies three trends in Web TV: more stars are launching series, often times with a sponsorship; business models are emerging, such as digital download sales, brand sponsorship, commissions from Web sites and partnering with games consoles; and Web shows will increasingly make an impact in the entertainment industry as a whole.

“In the 15 months since the first edition of our report ‘The Birth of Online TV,’ Web shows have progressed from experimental projects to become creatively and commercially successful productions in their own right,” said Futurescape co-founder Özlem Tunçil. “Web TV offers a new, more-interactive medium for stars to reach fans.”

Notable Web TV productions include Keanu Reeves’ “Spärhusen,” a musical comedy about an ABBA-style band; Candace Bushnell’s (creator of “Sex and the City”) business comedy “The Broadroom,” sponsored by Maybelline; Hilary Duff’s YouTube series “The Chase”; Lisa Kudrow’s “Therapy,” sponsored by Toyota’s Lexus; and Joss Whedon’s (creator “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” creator) comedy musical “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog,” downloadable through iTunes.

http://www.homemediamagazine.com/electronic-delivery/research-says-stars-embrace-web-tv-17038