When you think of popular animated TV shows that appeal to the hip crowd, such as the Simpsons, Futurama, Family Guy or American Dad, you think Sky One, Fox entertainment and DVD box-sets. Not Google surely?
Yes, Google! The online advertising juggernaut has just struck a deal with Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane to run a web-only animated series titled Seth MacFarlane’s Cavalcade of Cartoon Comedy.
This series will not make its way onto television stations anywhere but instead will exist purely on the web and will be syndicated to all the websites using the AdSense advertising platform, reports the New York Times.
Why is Google doing this? Well, the hot demographic, trendy young males, all love Family Guy but spend most of their time on the web so a combination of the two should hit the jackpot. Instead of seeing ads on some targeted sites the viewer will see a clip for the MacFarlane show.
This collection of 50 two-minute episodes will have advertising integrated in some way, perhaps pre-roll or post-roll, or even a banner along the bottom of the show. MacFarlane will do well, reports the New York Times, receiving a percentage of the ad revenue.
This new project has been described as the new funnies column for an online age. Of course, we Irish have our own online animation in the form of www.langerland.com where we can laugh at great episodes like The Risingor Top 10 What Have The Brits Ever Done For Us and be smug in the knowledge that Americans won’t really get it.
By Marie Boran
Pictured:A scene with central character Peter Griffin from Seth MacFarlane’s popular Family Guy series