Web Series Distribution Methods

C

cyclonebill

Active member
So I've recently started working on this web series that's nearing release called Guidestones.

The production value and quality of the series really seems out of this world, but I think I was most intrigued by their distribution strategy. Instead of the on-demand method that seems to be en vogue right now, this series dictates when users can watch the episodes and has mandatory intervals between episodes no matter when you start watching. So if person X starts watching today, they will have links to the episodes emailed to them every couple days. If person Y starts watching a month from now, they will follow the same viewing schedule, there's no way for them to catch up.

From a business standpoint, it's pretty genius, because it keeps the content ever-green for every viewer. The series is never just released and done.

Has anyone heard of any series releasing in a similar way? Or have any thoughts? Would you watch a series where the episodes are emailed to you on a pre-determined schedule? Or considering releasing your own series this way?

I'm prepping my own web series for next year and am curious how people respond to this method.

BTW, if you're interested in reading more about the series:

Website (you can sign up to watch it here): http://www.guidestones.org
Trailer:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4N-6LDewSY
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/guidestonestv/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/guidestonestv
 
It seems on the internet, if you make things less convenient or put barriers to entry, you get less people trying to enter.
 
Plotless said:
It seems on the internet, if you make things less convenient or put barriers to entry, you get less people trying to enter.
Click to expand...

Yep.
I have a web series in pre-production right now and this doesn't seem like a very good model to me. Not unless you had already developed a really strong following willing to put up with these kind of barriers being put in the way of watching when/how they wanted.
 
Releasing in increments = GOod idea.

Trying to control how the viewer digests it (outside of what portal you put it on) = bad idea

Especially if your content's not Television Budget material.
 
Yeah I definitely see where you guys are coming from and would generally agree, but I think they're trying to appeal to the alternate reality gaming crowd in a way, and really selling that immersion into the mystery aspect of the series. So the episodes don't just release in fixed intervals, but are also in real-time. For example, you'll get an email to an episode where the characters decide to drive two hours out into the wilderness, then 2 hours later you will get another episode where they have just arrived etc.

Probably not a great strategy generally speaking, but for this material I think it could work. Should be interesting to see how it goes over. The episodes will eventually be available to stream normally some time after it launches.
 
Pretty similar to early days of auto-responder emails. You subscribe and every x-interval you get the next email. Karl Taylor still does this in his email series. For me, it's annoying. I don't eagerly anticipate the next release of something. I want it when I want it because I'm slotting it in-between other things I'm doing. I do know people who talk about the latest episode on TV as a water-cooler discussion but on the Internet? Nah. Just release the hounds. Cheers
 
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