Fierce 15 Online Video Movers and Shakers: Funny or Die

Pete Wylie — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 16:55:38 -0400

Funny or Die Productions
Founded: April 2007
Location: Hollywood & Palo Alto, Calif.
Investors: Sequoia Cap, HBO

Founded by comedian Will Ferrell and director Adam McCay with less than $20,000 from Sequoia, Funny or Die exploded in popularity after a video portraying McCay's young daughter as a drunk, profane landlord attempting to shake Ferrell down for back rent. "The Landlord" is the second most popular online video ever and has been viewed over 60 million times, according to Nielsen Online research. Funny or Die's initial success translated into a $15 million infusion from Sequoia that has allowed the site to expand and hire new talent.

Other comedy sites, such as "This Just In" or DotComedy, fail to attract a regular audience that could lure advertisers to buy over the online videos. Now that ad dollars are migrating there, Funny or Die is getting increased support from mainstream content provider; the site boasts partnerships with CW, Sony Entertainment and ABC. HBO has signed a deal with Funny or Die that will see the company produce 10 hours of original programming that will likely be shown on HBO and streamed.

Back to Fierce 15

HBO Breaks iTunes Pricing

Doug Mohney — Tue, 13 May 2008 09:33:03 -0400

Once upon a time, Apple made iTunes and insisted all TV shows available for download would be priced at the same $1.99 per episode. Until HBO came along and said otherwise, kapish?

Consumers will be charged $2.99 per episode to download acclaimed HBO hits “The Sopranos,” “Deadwood,” and “Rome.” Standard-issue fare such as “Sex and the City” and “The Wire” will be priced at the same old $1.99 per month, a fact that will no doubt annoy David Simon and Baltimore crime drama fans; “Sex and the City” fans should be consoled since they’re getting a big screen movie on May 30.

Apple says HBO programming is some of the “most requested” by their customers, no doubt another reason to charge an extra dollar per episode. The price hike is likely to get other media companies to lean on Apple to be more flexible in pricing, but will the discussions be as awkward as the way Paulie Walnuts wanted Christopher to cover the tab for dinner? After all, NBC Universal left iTunes over pricing issues. Showtime has offered most of its popular shows on iTunes for two years and music companies have been lobbying long and hard for flexible pricing beyond the 99 cents a song.

For more:
- Apple’s announcement of bowing to HBO
- New York Times coverage of the HBO/iTunes deal

Related articles:
NBC exits iTunes, enters Hulu
iTunes Wins Equality with DVD Releases

Hbo

Fierce 15 Online Video Movers and Shakers: Funny or Die

HBO Breaks iTunes Pricing