HOLLYWOOD, Calif -- With many more entertainment choices for consumers, television producers have to work harder to keep up, the noted TV showrunner Greg Berlanti told Beet.TV at the NATPE LA TV Fest. He's the creative force behind "Everwood," which ran on The WB earlier this decade, and he's been the executive producer for "Dirty Sexy Money" and "Brothers and Sisters."  [...]

EQAL, the creators of "LonelyGirl15," is expanding further into the technology business with the launch of a social platform for Web video creators, the company announced today. The new site is called Umbrella and has not yet rolled out in a private beta, though creators can sign up at the company's site. In a release, EQAL said the new platform is designed [...]

R&B artist Chris Brown is making money from a YouTube viral video featuring one of his songs that's generated 12 million views so far, YouTube reported today in its corporate blog.  That's because the viral video of a bride, groom and their wedding party entering the church to the dance tune "Forever" took off in popularity in the last 11 days. [...]

FreeWheel, a software service provider which allows online video publishers to manage their own ads, has made big news this week. On Monday, YouTube announced that some content partners will be be able manage their own ad management with the company's tools. Yesterday at the Blip.tv event, the company announced an expanded integration with Blip.tv.  At the event, I Interviewed co-Founder and [...]

NBCLocal, a network of 10 regional websites created with content from local NBC television stations, other local sources and a dedicated staff, has launched today For an overview on the new venture, we spoke with Brian Buchwald, who heads up the venture and Gregory Gittrich who is editor-in-chief.  We have republished this clip today. Andy Plesser, Managing Editor Here is the press release: [...]

HOLLYWOOD, Calif -- In an effort to expand its online reach with teens, Alloy's Teen.com portal teamed up with Fox Searchlight to run a series of Webisodes to support the upcoming flick "Post Grad," Alloy's Jamie Elden told Beet.TV at the LA TV Fest in earlier this month. In the last two years, Alloy Media & Marketing has been expanding into [...]

NEW YORK, NY -- Blip.tv, the fast-growing video sharing site which leads the industry in hosting and distributing episodic Web video programs, now allows its show producers to upload directly to YouTube, the company announced earlier today. At the Blip.tv event, I spoke with George Strompolos who heads manages content partner alliances for YouTube about new agreement.  Over at Blip, some 150 [...]

Venture capitalists are still opening their wallets for Web video start-ups, as evidenced by the $7.5 million 5min.com landed last week and by the $64 million-plus that went to mobile and broadband companies in the second quarter. Content investments are becoming less attractive as the companies that make the picks and the shovels are winning investor's money. Daisy Whitney, Senior Producer Editor's Note:  [...]

We are here at the Blip.tv news event and demo of the new web site, Mike Hudack, CEO and co-founder, said that producers on Blip.tv can syndicate videos directly to YouTube with Blip.tv managing advertising sales of these syndicated shows. While Blip.tv has offered content creators the opportunity to syndicate to number of sites, this is the first time it is [...]

Some automakers still have money to spend on ads. Kia Motors teamed up with ABC.com to produce a five-episode Web series for the network's Web site, ABC.com announced today. The show is called "Mysteries of the Universe" and is billed as a fictional "documentary" that digs into unsolved mysteries. Presumably while driving cars. The series will likely have a "Lost" sensibility. ABC's [...]

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- NPR has revised its Web site, according to a story by Elizabeth Jensen in today's New York Times. Earlier this year, we spoke with NPR CEO Vivian Schiller about the opportunities for NPR on the Web.We have republished it today.Below is video tour of the redesign by NPR's Scott Simon:Andy Plesser, Managing Editor

HOLLYWOOD, Calif -- While the convenience factor of watch-when-you-want has made Web video popular, live events are also luring big audiences on the Web, Stickam's Program Director Andy Wombwell told Beet.TV at the NATPE LA TV Fest earlier this month. To be sure, the live streaming of Michael Jackson's funeral in early July and President Barack Obama's swearing-in in January demonstrated [...]

"Heroes" star Milo Ventimiglia's production company DiVide Pictures and multimedia production shop Generate inked a partnership to produce content for digital mediums, they announced late yesterday. Under the agreement, Generate will co-produce the sponsored digital programs developed by DiVide.DiVide Pictures has previously produced digital series for brands including American Eagle, Cadillac, and GQ.I  spoke with Generate CEO Jordan Levin at the Digitas [...]

HOLLYWOOD, Calif -- Whoever said digital media wasn't profitable wasn't talking to Lionsgate's Curt Marvis. The president of digital media told Beet.TV that the company's digital business is realizing 95% profit margins across new media venues like iTunes, Amazon, CinemaNow, Hulu and YouTube.The caveat is overall dollars are still tiny compared to the mothership of traditional media, he said during [...]

Online video site how-to programmer and syndication service 5min.com scored $7.5 million in venture capital in its second round, the company is expected to announce today. The round was led by Globespan Capital Partners and included additional investment from existing venture partner Spark Capital. Though the company has grown its presence with a vast library of how-to videos, CEO Ran Harnevo said [...]

HOLLYWOOD -- In a bold assertion, NATPE's CEO Rick Feldman told Beet.TV that he expects Hulu to fail within three years unless the site changes its business model. "Some organizations think putting your content for free on the Web is a good idea. I think it's a bad idea," he told us in this video interview at the NATPE LA TV [...]

Another edgy hire for NBCLocal, with Steve Bryant, who is editor of New York's Thrillist.  He is heading to Chicago as managing editor of the Windy City's NBCLocal. NBC has been creating super regional portals in 10 markets.  Earlier this year, NBC hired Owen Thomas of Valleywag fame as editor of the Bay Area NBC Local.We have known Steve for a [...]

Ning, the social network software company, has raised a venture round of $15 million, putting the company's private valuation at $750 million, Kara Swisher reports tonight. Last September at MIT's EmTech conference, I asked my old pal Jason Pontin, editor of Technology Review, to interview Ning CEO and co-founder Gina Bianchini. We have republished the interview tonight.Yesterday, Fortune.com published Gina's history [...]

As the world's second biggest search engine and the most popular video sharing site, YouTube has become a home for brands including "H&R Block," "Billy Elliot: The Musical," and "Wal-Mart." In this week's New Media Minute, I report on why it's important for these and other brands to be on the video site. Video can help drive intent to purchase [...]

Powerhouse venture capitalist Vinod Kholsa is about to close on $1 billion in new capital for his green-oriented venture capital firm, Becky Buckman at Forbes reports. I interviewed Vinod last fall on the campus of MIT at the EmergingTech conference where he was a speaker.  He speaks about the importance of "clean tech" and the scope of investment opportunities.I have [...]