TV's Migration To Internet

Family Guy Creator Leads TV's Migration To Internet
By Richard Koman
June 30, 2008 1:54PM

Seth MacFarlane, creator of TV's Family Guy, will create an animation show for Google that will bring in ad revenue by distribution across the Internet. Called Set MacFarlane's Cavalcade of Cartoon Comedy, the MacFarlane-Google deal portends a new model for entertainment that cuts out Hollywood and the TV networks.


In a move that should send "cold chills down the necks of broadcast network executives," Google will unveil this fall an Internet-only animation show from Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane.

The new program, to be released in September, is called Seth MacFarlane's Cavalcade of Cartoon Comedy, and it will appear exclusively on the Internet. But it won't be exclusive to Google. Rather, the search giant will exploit its AdSense advertising network to distribute MacFarlane's work across thousands of Web sites that attract the kinds of audiences likely to be interested in the show -- in a word, young audiences.

"The Internet is on track to become the dominant way video will eventually be distributed, and with it will come the ability for content Relevant Products/Services creators like Mr. MacFarlane to take his shows directly to the customer and reap the benefits directly, without sharing any of his profits with traditional broadcasters," said Tim Bajarin, principal analyst with Creative Strategies, in an e-mail.

Cutting Hollywood Out

Unlike previous Internet efforts to enter the entertainment business -- notably former Yahoo CEO Terry Semel's many agreements with Hollywood studios -- Google's deal cuts out the movie studios and television networks that have to date controlled top-quality content.

By going directly to a creative leader with an established reputation and a built-in audience comfortable with computers, Google is defining a future of entertainment that doesn't include the age-old "suits," producers and moneymen. Entertainment Hollywood-style could be replaced by Silicon Valley project managers.

The New York Times reports that the MacFarlane program will run as 50 two-minute episodes (possibly the optimum viewing time for the Internet), supported by a range of advertising formats, including "preroll" ads that run before the program, banner ads and text messages. MacFarlane describes the episodes as "animated versions of the one-frame cartoons you might see in The New Yorker, only edgier."

Revenue 'Formidable'

MacFarlane will get a cut of the advertising revenue, as well as the ability to animate online commercials for substantial fees. The show is unique in Internet circles because it will be produced with a million-dollar budget -- not the typical six-figure budgets for Internet programming. That's possible because of the involvement of Media Rights Capital, a production company with the ability to invest $400 million a year in content production.

"We believe the revenue could be formidable," Karl Austen, a lawyer who worked on the deal, told the Times. "What is exciting is that this is a way to monetize the Internet immediately. Instead of creating a Web site and hoping Seth's fans find it, we are going to push the content to where people are already at."

Another benefit for MacFarlane: Internet programming is not governed by the Federal Communications Commission, which has strictly penalized broadcasters in recent years. MacFarlane told the Times that the public wants more raunchy humor and television networks are being stymied by the "taste police."

"I just felt I could be a lot more honest on the Internet," he said.

Given that younger users are increasingly online, that the Net is free from FCC oversight, and that Google's model charges advertisers only when their messages are viewed, "PCs and digital set-top boxes will become the front end for delivering interactive media of all types to the living room," Bajarin said. "Companies like Google are bound to become the major networks of this new century."

TICK TOCK

It's 2am and for the xth straight night I'm planning my next day. I figger, if I work for another 4 hours, I can finish the 8th cut scene and perhaps key out the final scene as well. If I'm lucky and concentrate, meaning stop gliding off onto the net, making blogposts and seeing what's up on Facebook. Then I might be able to go back to the second cut scene and fix up those keys I don't like.

When the clock strikes 6, I'll try catch my forty. If my son doesn't wake me, I'll sleep a good 5 or 6 hours, waking at noon. Take an hour to give the boys a scrub, grab some lunch, play with Gavin, give the wife a kiss, go to town, get a hair cut and then meet the suits at the studio for 2pm.


and uhm, why am I telling you this? Well, it's so you know of course.

Indeed.

MR.BANKS INTRO

For the last week or so I've been at home working on an animated intro for our Mr.Banks show. Really tough, but alot of fun and very rewarding. Upon first past of the animatic, I sent it into the studio for some crew feedback, lots of fantastic suggestions! - Many I've implemented and you'll see when all is done.

For now, I'll keep going, I only have a few days left before I'm off traveling again, so I'll be looking for a few Fatkats to help me animate this thing. Hit me up on messenger if you're willing, I can pay $23/second. I'll post more stills soon.

doggie walks,

gene

IS IT JUST ME?

OR does my son look like Benny Hill. What a card!

RATINGS ARE IN FROM NICKELODEON!

BOO! We didn't get to witness the premier of "Three Delivery" last week on Nick', but thanks to Producer extraordinaire Amy Feldman at AC, we have some pics!


YAY US!!!

From Nicktoons…

The premiere of Three Delivery on Friday at 730p “was one of the highest rated” original series premiere “ever” .

The show rated very well with Kids 6-11, and also with Girls 6-11. It beat the average time slot for that period from the past month, and it rated higher than its lead in show.

It was the highest rated Nicktoons original premiere with Girls. It also did very well with Tweens9-14.

Allan likes what he hears! YUM!

And Now for some Guitar Hero!

FROM THE OFFICE OF MR.BANKS

HOW TO GET SOMETHING FOR NOTHING

1. Search the internet for "free stuff." You'll find Web sites that index online freebies from manufacturers and retailers.
   Arrive at rummage sales, garage sales, flea markets, farmers markets and library book sales an hour before closing to find drastically reduced prices or freebies.
2. Shop the nurseries at jumbo retailers in the autumn. Some stores give away dormant perennials (if they don't know better) that will re-bloom in the spring.
3. Become a mystery shopper or participate in survey groups to get free meals, products or services and, possibly, even a paycheck. Search online to find opportunities in your area.
4. Attend the grand opening of new stores for free samples and giveaways. Many stores take a loss in freebies on their first day to attract customers.
5. Go on factory tours. You'll often get free samples of whatever the factory makes, be it ice cream, tortillas or peanut butter.
6. Call customer service if you have a legitimate complaint on an item. You may get a replacement product, plus freebies to keep you happy.
7. When making a large purchase, such as a computer, sofa or big-screen TV, ask the salesperson, "What else will I get if I buy this here?" You may discover rebates, offers and giveaways.
8. Volunteer for concerts, athletic events and other fundraisers for charities and nonprofits. You'll find plenty of free food, T-shirts and products donated by corporate sponsors.
9. Get free diapers, formula mix and baby food by disclosing your address to third parties when you register for baby gifts or sign up for new parent services.
10. Listen to radio stations that give away tickets and other prizes to listeners. Use speed-dial and multiple lines to better your chances when you call in.

Where MR.B stole this post from.

MR.BANKS - COSTUMES

Some fun thinking about possibilities with Mr.Banks. Seeking Fame, Fortune and the quickest buck possible.

Impersonating Mr.T in the park for some quick coin, Conning his way into the Olympics for hard earned gold, grabbing a Santa clause job, daydreaming of days as a pirate or a knight, even Zorro.

Got some ideas?

THREE DELIVERY - NY TIMES REVIEW

With 3 You Get Egg Roll and a Side of Adventure

By MIKE HALE

Published: June 27, 2008

“Three Delivery” is a great-looking new prime-time cartoon on the Nicktoons network. Set in Chinatown in San Francisco, it features three young orphans who save the world nightly while delivering food for their adoptive Nana’s restaurant, Wu’s Garden. The action takes place after dark, and the animation is a riot of reds, greens and yellows: neon signs, rampaging dragons, rivers of hot-and-sour soup.

The show’s premise may prove limiting — the heroes must scurry around Chinatown gathering dangerous recipes once bound in a magical cookbook but set free years ago by the evil apprentice chef Kong Li — and the first two episodes already show some strain when it comes to keeping the narrative fresh. But the children the show is aimed at may not mind as long as the bicycle crashes and kung fu battles are sufficiently spectacular.

What struck this adult fan of Asian pop culture the most about “Three Delivery,” however, wasn’t the show’s quality. It was how little its Asian-ness, or Asian-American-ness, mattered. The loving, retro Chinatown backgrounds; the in-jokes (Shun Lee Park, playing off the New York restaurant; the villain’s name, pronounced Gong Li like the Chinese actress); the visual puns (during an earthquake, a restaurant worker juggles stacks of plates and bamboo steamers like a Peking acrobat) — they all say Asia, but nothing in the show feels like Asia. The overall effect is somewhere between “Flower Drum Song” and “Scooby-Doo.”

That’s an observation, not a criticism. (Another observation: The show’s nearly 30 producers, directors, writers and editors don’t include a single recognizably Asian name.) At the same time, though, there are any number of American cartoons, from “The Powerpuff Girls” to “SpongeBob SquarePants” to the one true American anime, “The Boondocks,” that show a love for the style and rhythms of Asian animation without being fanboy simulacrums of Asian culture.

THREE DELIVERY

Nicktoons, Friday nights at 7:30, Eastern time; 6:30, Central time; 4:30, Pacific time.

Produced by Animation Collective and Fatkat Animation for Nicktoons Network in the United States and for YTV in Canada. Created by Larry Schwarz; written by Adeline Colangelo and Kim Holmes; ; Alan Foreman, art director; Sean Lahey, story editor. For Fatkat Animation: Gene Fowler, Nikki Hilton, Andrew Dunnand François Trudel, executive producers; directed by Andy Coyle (episodes 1 & 2) and Tavis Silbernagle (episodes 3 through 26), Robbie Anderson and Doug Little, producers. For Animation Collective: Mr. Schwarz, Chris Fauci and Doug MacLennan, executive producers; Amy Feldman, producer.

WITH: Stephanie Sheh (Sue), Robby Duncan Sharpe (Tobey), Johnny Yong Bosch (Sid), Nan Wu (Nana), Michael Alston Baley (Mr. Wu), David Chen (Barney) and Lex Woutas (Kong Li).