Sony Pictures Television today announced at the 2008 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) that it will debut several ad-supported channels on leading viral video site YouTube. The first offering, The Minisode Network (TMN), launches today and will soon grow with the addition of an animation block.
The Minisode Network currently offers five-minute versions of 18 popular television shows, and will soon add Married, With Children and Newsradio, as well as various animated favorites. Sony has also begun acquiring third-party programs for the network, including Voltron and Saber Rider from World Events Prods.
“Connecting our huge array of high-quality content to the incredible audience of YouTube brings our channels to the largest online video audience in the world and builds their brands online,” comments Sean Carey, senior exec VP of Sony Pictures Television.
“This is a first step in a deeper relationship with Sony Pictures Television to bring our community many of their favorite programs,” adds Jordan Hoffner, head of content partnerships at YouTube. ‘We are excited to offer users on YouTube The Minisode Network, which presents a new format of programming to active fan bases and potentially exposes a new audience to these shows.”
Sony Pictures Television has already made a successful foray into online video on demand as a partner in FEARnet, a leading horror/thriller website and VOD service. The unit oversees all of Sony Pictures Entertainment’s domestic digital distribution efforts across all electronically delivered platforms, including the internet and mobile.
