Corporate
A Busy Winter For Crackle
Crackle is a multi-platform video entertainment network and studio, administrated by Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) and formerly known as Grouper. It features dozens of exclusive shows, hundreds of full-length movies, and thousands of video clips from Sony’s catalog. Crackle’s distribution method is similar to television, where they have seasons for their “webisodes,” like sitcom episodes. Crackle’s new season begins on December 1. New content includes sketch comedy by The Groundlings and Anytime with Bob Kushell, a five-minute talk show hosted by a Hollywood writer. The new shows, which use the kinds of production techniques that Sony Pictures puts into movies and TV, resemble other online programing by staying short, often no more than five minutes long.
“Just because it has higher production values doesn’t mean we’re trying to mirror movies and TV,” said Eric Berger, a Sony executive in charge of Crackle.
For instance, on Kushell’s talk show, which starts on December 18, he will do a monologue, a comedy routine and a celebrity interview — and do it all fast, with an in-studio band on hand for extra punch, Berger said.
“You get your whole late-night talk show snack within five minutes,” he said. “They’re very funny.”
Crackle’s new season features six shows in all. The first to hit the Web will be “The Jace Hall Show,” which focuses on video games and begins December 1. “The Groundlings” start their webisodes December 16. “Owen Benjamin Presents,” which revolves around comedic how-to segments, begins December 17. “The Hustler” and “Star-ving” begin January 12 and January 16, respectively. “Star-ving” stars David Faustino of the former TV sitcom “Married … With Children.”
Berger declined to offer details about how much the shows cost to produce or how much money they make, but he said Sony is using the shows to attract advertisers on the site. Crackle had 2.4 million visitors in October, according to research firm The Nielsen Online Co. Sony Insider feels that Crackle would have a much larger audience if they were to incorporate the website’s content in the Bravia Internet Video Link (which is currently offered, but apparently not good enough because few reviews mention it) and the Playstation Video Store.