Tvmama

2 Comments Written by Atila on March 29, 2008 – 1:54 pm

Network2.tv is a new project of VOIP guru Jeff Pulver. Network2 is aggregating, rating and reviewing original web video programming. We spoke with Network2.tv CEO Amit Shafrir about his site, and the future of this emerging art form – whether web-centric, episodic video is in fact a different and new thing. In Part 1 we talk about the site; Part 2 focuses on the special nature of this emerging art and commerce form.

TVMama: Network2.tv: Why?

Amit: As part of his research done last year, Jeff Pulver has identified the new phenomena of individuals creating episodic TV content.

As it is nowadays possible to produce video content with nothing more than a cheap video camera, a broadband connection and talent, it is no longer necessary to procure expensive resources like bandwidth or spectrum or “airwaves” or deploy expensive “pipes” to the home. Therefore, the costs of production are extremely low.

However the ability to reach an audience and monetize still has certain barriers that small independent producers may find difficult. A meta-aggregator such as Network2.tv is in the position to create a large enough aggregate audience that is suitable to targeted advertising and toward harnessing of this long tail video content phenomena into a valid business for itself and for the content producers.

How much time/effort/money has been put into Network2.tv?

We do not get into details as to the cost, but we have been working on the technology and service for over a year.

How much traffic buzz and promotion is the site getting?

We have decided to develop the site in the public eye (as opposed to developing in stealth mode and then launching). We are not yet finished with our product offering and are therefore not promoting it and refraining from creating any buzz.

How much indie, original web-only programming is out there?

A lot !!! The question should be how much QUALITY web-only programming is out there. That, too, is growing, but is more difficult to find and curate. This is what we at Network2.tv want to focus on.

How much of it (what percentage) do you think you have aggregated?

We do not provide such data, but I would say a significant percentage.

Most of it seems to be talk show-type programs. Do you have any soap operas/comedy/dramas with recurring characters and plot lines, like “real” TV? (Like “TheBurg,” “Something to be Desired,” and others).

There are some, but you need to bear in mind that such programs have a higher production cost (even if every one of the actors, script writers, directors, etc., work for free) and there is still a higher level of complexity to producing such shows. This is a developing market and as soon as more $$$ flows into it – more such shows would be developed.