First mentioned a few months ago as a way for Google to increase its video revenue and start its push for more professional content, Seth MacFarlane’s Cavalcade of Cartoon Comedy promised 50 mini-webisodes specifically designed for Google’s Content Network and AdSense distribution. And now, the video series has launched on its own site, sethcomedy.com.
The premise is simple: MacFarlane will create 50 shows for Google and illustrate pre-roll ads in his signature style. So far, there are two videos available on the site, which are also available on the “BK Channel” page on YouTube. The advertisements included in the shows are exclusively from Burger King (thus the BK Channel syndication) and there’s no word if that will change in subsequent episodes.
The Cavalcade videos can be embedded anywhere on the Web and when a user clicks on the video, the advertiser will pay a fee that’s shared by MacFarlane, Google, the production company, and the site or blog hosting the video. In essence, Google is trying to encourage the proliferation of the videos by bringing all parties in on the advertising revenue.
And perhaps that’s the most interesting part of the deal. Will this work? The only way for Google to see MacFarlane’s Cavalcade return a positive ROI is if enough people watch the videos and advertisers are willing to promote their products within the shows. So far, it has the advertiser in place, but whether or not anyone wants to watch these videos is still in doubt. Creating an incentive for publishers to embed the video is a smart move, but we can’t forget that this is a calculated risk that could force Google back to the drawing board.
Subsequent episodes should be made available over the next few weeks.
“but whether or not anyone wants to watch these videos is still in doubt.”
Not much doubt. They’re essentially Family Guy clips – why don’t you ask Hulu how immensely popular Family Guy clips are?
I wonder why they don’t provide a “view in full screen” button on http://youtube.com/sethcomedy
I hope they will release more then 2 small 2 minute episodes per week.
Just after seeing the first too videos I can’t wait to see more.
Sigh…have yet to laugh at any Family Guy joke. I’ve either heard similar jokes or the joke is obvious way ahead of time or it just doesn’t jibe with my sense of humor. I’m not going to be going to BK’s site or Seth’s site…someone show me a funny clip of FG, please?
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If the videos were funnier then maybe people would embed them more.
I have watched a few of thse and all I see is leftover family guy stuff that doesn’t make the cut, and is not even really funny. For ‘viral’ qualities, this doesnt really have much besides “the creator of family guy” making them.
These appear to be just extra clips from Family Guy that they don’t use. Maybe the next ones will have more to them.
Feels like the ad is just as long as the content. I guess that’s kind of the point, but I’m not really inclined to watch more episodes.
Probably would have been more entertaining in a Family Guy episode…
eh all recycled simpsons jokes
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yaaawwwwnnn… another day, another failed app. from google.
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