Considering all the attention that cable TV shows are getting from being available on Hulu and YouTube, HBO programs are sometimes forgotten about. But now HBO has lauched a new website called ComedyFetish.com which features video clips from all of the seasons of HBO’s TV shows such as Entourage and Curb Your Enthusiasm.
The clips are short enough in length so that it does not take away from the show and psychologically makes the consumer want to buy the DVD to relive those moments in the show. Around the clips are links to BarnesAndNoble and iTunes for those specific episodes.
“We’ve assembled an impressive group of comedy clips and a variety of fun ways for consumers to sample and enjoy these terrific HBO shows before committing to a purchase,” stated HBO VP of Marketing Meredith Ketchum.
One of the mistakes that ComedyFetish makes right off the bat is the ability to embed these videos on to other websites. How else will the content spread and traffic grow on their website?
About a year ago, AOL and HBO attempted to create a comedy site called This Just In, but it didn’t quite work out for them. Now Home Box Office, Inc. is investing in Will Ferrell’s FunnyOrDie.com.
Although the investment amount is unknown, HBO will get less than 10% in equity. Through the deal, Time Warner Inc. (NYSE:TWX), parent company of HBO will have the rights to 10 half hour programs on the site and both companies will work on partnerships. FunnyOrDie will be doing live comedy tours and there will possibly be a FunnyOrDie programming slot on of HBO’s subsidiary channels.
This deal comes about a month after HBO announced that their programs will be available on iTunes. About�6 months ago, Funny or Die hired�former NASCAR VP and founder of ESPN.com, Dick Glover. Sequoia Capital and several other VCs invested $15 million in FunnyOrDie.com last year. FunnyOrDie’s�valuation is now $100 million according to Variety.
Information Source:
[1]paidContent: HBO Buying Small Stake in FunnyOrDie; Less Than 10 Percent by Rafat Ali
Apple Inc. is currently the fastest-growing market for purchasing music and now the digital music stores will now be selling HBO programs. Some of the shows that are appearing on iTunes already are The Wire, Sex and the City, The Wire, and Flight of the Conchords. Each episode can be downloaded for $1.99-$2.99.
Eddy Cue, VP of Apple iTunes said that HBO programs are some of the most requested series by customers. Personally I found myself addicted to the HBO shows, Entourage, Flight of the Conchords, and Curb Your Enthusiasm.
This is the first time Apple has agreed to sell TV shows at different prices within the U.S. Apple iTunes was one of the first digital marketplaces to sell TV shows and then Google Video followed that idea. To see Steve Jobs’ reaction to Google’s idea copying, watch the ending portion of the video below (G4’s Attack of the Show): Bill Gates Runs Like A Girl.
