The WB Network brand was once synonymous with a number of big TV shows, but after being abandoned two years ago, it disappeared overnight. Where to next? The Web of course, which offers a lifeline for networks not deemed fit for traditional television.
Warner Brothers announced in April that it would be bringing back formerly dead The WB Network TV brand. The ad supported video on demand venture would include two sites, TheWB.com and KidsWB.com.
From Beta To Public
TheWB.com then launched in private beta at the beginning of June. At the time, the site was said to be half-finished and containing only a few episodes of a few shows.
Now, two months later and a date has been set for a full public launch. Warner Bros. has until August 27th to iron out all of the original problems as that’s when we’ll all be able to visit the site and make our own minds up.
Old And New TV
The online TV portal is playing host to a number of shows, with a mixture of old classics and new shows from the likes of McG (Sorority Fever) and Gossip Girl producer Josh Schwartz.
Classic shows to be given the repeat treatment include All Of Us, Blue Water High, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dangerous, Gilmore Girls, One Tree Hill, Smallville, and The OC.
Not Televised?
The site is being billed as “the next great network that won’t be televised.” This is despite the fact that Comcast will be making 1,000 episodes from the Warner Bros. TV library available through its cable video-on-demand service. So it kind of will be televised.
Other deals will see content from TheWB.com appearing on Facebook, Filmcast.com, and AOL. WBTVG issued a statement regarding the launch, which read:
“TheWB.com affirms our new media business strategy to build new brands and programming destinations, create compelling original online content and to distribute that content on all platforms in ways that best serve consumers and advertisers.”
Conclusions
AdWeek reports that Warner Bros. may be using the site as a trial to see if TheWB brand can draw enough of the 18-34 female audience in to warrant a WB cable TV network.
I hope it is a success as it will be another feather in the cap for the worth of networks putting their content on the Web. Unfortunately, as I’m resident in the UK, I won’t be able to enjoy the site – damn those territory licensing agreements.
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