Smallscreen News

Comedians get HaChaCha channel to share profits in video content

By April MacIntyre Oct 8, 2012, 13:52 GMT

Sarah Silverman - New York City, NY, USA © Janet Mayer / PRPhotos.com

A new podcast network promises to bring the best and brightest comedians to their channel.

At MIPCOM, comedy producer Daniel Kellison announced he partnered with fellow producers Doug DeLuca and Mickey Meyer and Fullscreen Inc., to create two new original YouTube comedy channels, JASH and VIDEO PODCAST NETWORK, under the banner HACHACHA.

From the press release:

The newly formed production company’s two premium YouTube channels promise to present a platform for comedians/artists to control their digital content and fully share in the revenues.

The YouTube channels will also attract top-tier talent by providing them with the financing, production resources, editing facilities, and personnel to create online videos.

JASH and VIDEO PODCAST NETWORK will launch in January 2013 with new content to be announced in the coming months.

In the development of the premium comedy network built on the world’s largest entertainment platform, Kellison and DeLuca have brought on producer Mickey Meyer (formerly of Maker Studios), who will serve as the Executive Vice President of Operations. Also partnering, are Fullscreen Inc.’s George Strompolos and Ezra Cooperstein, who will oversee the distribution and technology of both channels.

JASH is a comedy collective featuring original content by partners Michael Cera, Tim & Eric, Sarah Silverman, Reggie Watts and producer, Daniel Kellison, with additional contributions from their many friends.

“We wanted to create a home where all our favorite comedians could create content without interference,” said Kellison. “So we approached five uniquely brilliant comedians (who were each already known for making great videos)—Sarah Silverman, Michael Cera, Tim & Eric, and Reggie Watts—and asked them to be our partners in creating this new comedy channel where they can both perform and curate, as well as help us gather all the other comedians they admire.”

JASH is a place where all partners collaborating will be given complete autonomy to make short films, sketches, series, one-offs, talk-shows, animation, and music videos—and then share equally in the proceeds of their creations. The ultimate goal is to gather the most distinct and brightest talent to form a comedy artists’ collective.

“On behalf of Michael Cera, Tim & Eric, Reggie Watts and myself, we are all super excited to be able to have this cyber playground where we can make stuff with our friends, and also, I'm pretty," says Silverman.

VIDEO PODCAST NETWORK will feature exclusive and fully produced visual podcasts from all of the most popular comedy podcasters, including Adam Carolla. Additional podcasters will be announced prior to launch in January 2013.

“With the growing popularity of Smart TV’s, it is inevitable that you will soon be watching all your shows as simply as you select apps from your smartphones,” says Kellison. “We are looking to capture the fervent, loyal audiences of all your favorite comedy podcasts—and with “Video Podcast Network” you will now be able to WATCH fully produced versions of them as well.”

“People always ask me, "How do you get the Guinness World Record for the most downloaded podcast?" One word—Nepotism. Podcasts already killed radio, now we've got our sights set on TV. Being able to watch shows like mine on "Video Podcast Network" is the next step in the traditional network model's march to irrelevance,” said Carolla.