The Harper’s Island Experiment

There’s no question that the internet, VOD, TiVo and their brethren are changing how we consume our “TV” entertainment.  While some in the industry struggle vainly to bolster the existing ways of doing business, there are some signs of experimentation.

One such example of minor experimenting is ABC’s upcoming show “Harper’s Island.”  In addition to being made in conjunction with Eqal, the team behind LonelyGirl15, meaning significant additional online content, there is another twist ABC hopes will draw in viewers.

Here’s how TVSquad puts it:

I’ve been a little antsy about getting involved in yet another continuing drama (and one that could be canceled at anytime), but this was filmed and is being marketed as a limited-run series. Somewhere between a mini-series and a regular season, and that makes me feel a little better about taking the time to watch it.

The old business model for TV said that real money doesn’t arrive until you complete 100+ episodes and can go into syndication.  While this might still be true for the moment, I think that model is being significantly disrupted.  It seems that fewer and fewer series have the legs or the faith of an audience to last those four seasons and unless the episodes can stand alone (CSI, et. al.) then syndication can prove difficult.

By making a one-season-and-done series there is not only more possibility of an audience sticking around until the definitive end (assuming the show is any good) but there are lots of ways to gain new viewers online over time.

I’ll certainly be watching the numbers on “Harper’s Ferry” but I’m still not sure I can commit to watching the actual show…

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• Will Harper’s Island usher in a new way of programming television shows? (tvsquad.com)
• Eqal Collaborates with CBS for New Interactive Show, Harper’s Island (beet.tv)
• Miles Beckett From Eqal: Harper’s Globe Premiere (dailymarauder.com)
• Multimedia “Digi Novel” Arrives This Fall (mediabistro.com)

KateModern Goes All Out for Finale

The surprisingly successful UK webseries KateModern has a cool idea for their finale.  They are releasing one new episode every hour, on the hour, for twelve consequtive hours.

From Mashable:

“The program’s following has been an extensive one. Its production company, EQAL, claims for KateModern an average weekly viewership of about 1m, surpassing the popularity of virtually all other original Web-based programs, including LonelyGirl15, a show also produced by EQAL.”

It’s nice to see a show actually making a bit of an impact, even if it is in the UK.  I also like seeing new approaches to releases schedules and how to build excitement online.

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