Infinity and Beyond

Sony and NBC Universal have announced plans to take their presence on the web even further. Taking direct cues from youtube.com they will be bringing comedy and home made videos to specialized websites that each company will be introducing in the coming months.

Last August, before Google purchased youtube and full-length episodes of ABC shows streamed onto the web, Sony purchased an online video site called Grouper for $65 million. Sony has changed the name to ‘Crackle’ (Beta version online now) and plans to re-launch the site as a space for up-and-coming actors, directors and producers to post their own videos that Sony says could be turned into future films or TV shows (no wonder writers want to strike). Sony is hoping advertisers will be more willing to buy space next to potential movie stars as opposed to dogs on skateboards. Naturally the videos posted via ‘Crackle’ will be available on social networking sites such as facebook and in a nod to synergy the videos will also play on Sony’s PSP.

Speaking of social networking. NBC is following the trend of Disney.com by adding networking tools to its site. They will be online by early Fall. NBC will also be following the grain of the most popular youtube videos and using humor to attract visitors by adding full-length episodes of “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” to their arsenal of shows on NBC.com. “The Office”, “Heroes”, and “The Biggest Loser” will all be getting new looks and web-specific material before Labor Day.

NBC won’t be stopping there. They announced this past May that they will debuting a web-only show called “Coastal Dreams”, sounds like the return of the O.C. but only available on NBC.com.

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