http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19791039/
"Sony Pictures will on Monday launch an online video network that seeks out and rewards new talent and enables videos to be uploaded in high definition.Crackle represents a relaunch for the video-sharing site Grouper, bought by Sony for $65m last August in one of the biggest Web 2.0 acquisitions of a San Francisco Bay Area company.
Crackle becomes part of an increasingly crowded video sector, where high-quality content can be a differentiator. The Sausalito-based company also sees itself seizing on a trend of content creators becoming more professional and seeking mainstream acceptance.
"You may feel the new breed of creators doesn't care about film and TV, but they do and they are signing up with agents," says Josh Felser, founder and co-president of Crackle.
The website will offer a slate of themed channels for users to upload material. They include Wet Paint, an edgy animation channel, Shorts, highlighting short films, and High Wire, a stand-up comedy channel.
The best High Wire submissions can win a chance to perform at the well-known Improv comedy clubs, while Shorts uploaders could win a studio development deal and get the chance to pitch feature film ideas to Columbia Pictures executives.
Animation winners could see their work being theatrically released, making them eligible for Oscars.
Videos will be encoded and shown in higher than normal quality in widescreen format, with high-definition uploads also enabled.
"The evolution of online video will bring viewers more professionally produced material," says Sean Carey, senior executive vice-president, Sony Pictures.
"Crackle will provide this next wave of creative talent a forum that will give them the exposure and recognition they seek and deserve."
Crackle will compete for talent with sites such as Metacafe and Time Warner-backed Veoh. News Corp and NBC Universal have also formed a joint venture to launch a video site later this year, featuring content from existing TV channels.
Crackle will use a 60-strong sales team at Sony Pictures to sell advertising and sponsorship.
Sony is also adapting Crackle for its products, making it a featured service on internet-enabled Bravia TVs, building it into the PlayStation Portable and linking it with high-definition camcorders."
This should do PS3/PSEye integration as well. That'd be cool. I hope they keep the youtube elements because allowing HD resolution is a welcome change from youtube. They seem to be adding a lot of features to the concept, though.
