Crackle launches new web-only shows

Sony's online video network Crackle, originally branded as Grouper before being acquired in 2007, announced its new lineup of web-first, original, professionally produced content Monday. Crackle adds comedy series "The Groundlings," from an L.A.-based comedy group and a short talk show "Anytime with Bob Kushell."

Sony is taking an innovative approach in conceiving and producing these series specifically for the web. The company is keeping with a short-form model and playing up interactivity. If Sony uploades its extensive catalog of video content to the web and combines it with the to the content designed exclusively for Crackle, the company could ultimately move the site into direct competition with Veoh and Hulu.

Crackle's season officially begins Dec. 1, according to TechCrunch.

Will more TV and film actors begin to get behind internet video series?  Most of the major studios now have a horse in the online vidoe race. Fox, NBC, Disney, Sony and even Michael Eisner have a stake or partnership deals to distribute their traditional content online, so it can't be long until they start throwing dollars behind professionally produced shows crafted just for the internet.

One hurdle could remain for widespread movement -  will the Screen Actor's Guild goes the way of the Writer's Guild and strikes for compensation for online video proceeds?

For more:
- see the TechCrunch post here 

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