Although the market for internet shows declined during the recession, it is now attracting increasing amounts of sponsorship and advertising.

• Interest in Web-based shows has waxed and waned in recent years, but it’s now on the rise again. As people continue to spend more time online, traffic for these types of shows is expected to increase.
• The new faith in these programs comes from the realization that online shows won’t replace TV shows anytime in the near future, but they can provide an alternative viewing experience with different standards.
• Many funding deals for these shows come from increasingly popular branded entertainment deals, where a company sponsors a show in return for having its brand somehow incorporated into the show itself.

Facts & Figures

• An estimated 86% of users in the United States watch at least one online video per month.
• Last month, YouTube put up $5 million in grants for online producers.
• Commercials for professionally-produced internet shows cost $15-$35 per thousand views; banner ads cost $5-$15 per thousand views.

Best Quote

“I often think of my daily business life as a guy running a cable network in the early 1980s. There is, no matter how you slice it, a timeline for any new industry to grow.” –Rob Barnett, Chief Executive, My Damn Channel

Tags: internet, television, YouTube