Slebisodes Web Series Guide has implemented the first system to alert email subscribers when new web series episodes are released. This free online service, titled What’s On-line Today?, provides scripted web series fans a daily email informing them of new episodes for that day.
Currently, fans have to either access the web series’ website, Twitter and Facebook pages, or search one of the many distribution portals (e.g. YouTube) the episodes are uploaded to. “This seemed like too much effort,” said Patrick Bardwell, Founder of Slebisodes. “I was frustrated not knowing when all my favorite web series had new episodes available,” Bardwell said when discussing his inspiration behind launching Slebisodes in late 2009. “I realized the whole web series industry needed a ‘TV Guide’ type of central resource for a schedule, news, and listings.”
The new email subscription feature is just the latest Slebisodes has added since launching. The online resource catalogs over 250 scripted web series where visitors can view past and current episodes. The viewer can search by genre and alphabetically, plus new and ongoing web series are featured on the home page. Slebisodes also aggregates industry related news and events, has a blog, reviews recent releases, and even has a dedicated thematic page covering the upcoming 2nd Annual Streamy Awards.
Most web series around the world are developed by independent producers, but in recent years, major sponsors and TV studios are allocating budgets, albeit small, to web series production. According to Content Economics Research ‘The made-for-broadband video industry,’ estimates that approximately $50m was spent producing original web-series video content in Europe and America in 2009. It is expected the market will grow to $150m by 2013.*
“Web series are scattered all over the Internet,” Bardwell says. “We wanted to provide web series creators and fans a convenient location to watch, learn, and enjoy this pioneering industry.”
To sign up to receive daily email updates of when new web series’ episodes are released, go to https://slebisodesschedule.wordpress.com or http://slebisodes.com.
* Content Economics Research “The made-for-broadband video industry,” Feb. 11, 2010
