(Image source: Goldenline)
Introduction
Web television (abbreviated web TV) is the genre of original television content produced for broadcast via the World Wide Web. (The phrase "web television" is also sometimes used to refer to Internet television in general, which includes Internet-transmission of programs produced for both online and traditional terrestrial, cable, or satellite broadcast).
(Definition source: Wikipedia)
History of Web TV
In April 1995, Rox (TV series with original title J&B on the ROX) was the first TV series which was broadcasted through web with an episode "Global Village Idiots" from Bloomington, Indiana.
(Image source: Rox.com)
In the same year later, Scott Zakarin (an american writer) was fascinated by the revolution of the internet and decided to create The Spot, which became the first episodic fiction website, the first web soap opera. This site also earned Webby Awards.
(Video source: Youtube.com)
In January 1999, the animated sci-fi web series WhirlGirl was licensed by Showtime, which made it the first independently produced web series which was licensed by a national television network.
(Image source: Wikimedia.org)
(Video source: Youtube.com)
In 1999, a TV series "Muscle Beach", a eight-minute weekly series was distributed by Santa Monica based Television Internet. It was a situation comedy and fitness program and was available for free. The site is still working, below are the images taken from the website www.musclebeach.net.
(Images source: Musclebeach.net)
In 2000, Daytona Beach Live was started by The Raven. Various videos about life events and attraction were showed in the Daytona Beach area.
(Image source: Daytonabeach-live.com)
In 2004 TVonline (Greek internet television) was introduced by Film Director Angelos Diamantoulakis. It was the first web TV in the world with dedicated program and web productions. Below is the image of Angelos Diamantoulakis.
(Image source: A1-images.myspacecdn.com)
After 2000, Youtube, Dailymotion and Vimeo introduced their services. In 2003, various TV networks were also launched such as Mania TV, iSTATION TV and Ripe Digital Entertainment were launched.
(Image source: s.ytimg.com)
(Image source: Static1.dmcdn.net)
(Image source: Cinema5d.com)
Various TV series were started from 2007 and onwards like Squeegies, Gemini Division, Sorority Forever, lonelygirl15, Prom Queen, Sanctuary, The Malan Show, Childrens Hospital etc. which increased the popularity of Web TV significantly.
Web TVs related to BitLanders
1. Bravame
Website: http://www.bravame.com
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Bravame
As stated on its website, Bravame is a channel showcasing independent films, animation, and web series. It presents the work or independent film directors and animators from around the world.
What is an independent film?
An independent film is a professionally made movie produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system.
Independent movies are sometimes different from major studios films by their content and style as they reflect more of their director’s artistic vision. They are often made with lower budgets and usually have a more limited release. Independent films are often screened at film festivals before distribution.
What is an animated movie?
An animation creates the illusion of motion and shape change by rapidly displaying a series of static images. The earliest cinema animation was composed of frame-by-frame, hand-drawn images. While animated films often appeal mostly to children, they can easily be enjoyed by all.
What is a web series?
A web series is a series of scripted videos, generally of several episodes (or webisodes), released online.
What is a short film?
A short film is any movie not long enough to be considered a feature film. As defined by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science, it has a “running time of 40 minutes or less, including all credits."
Short films generally rely on festival screenings to reach an audience, where “short film/animation” categories are now often part of the program. New independent filmmakers usually start with short films because of their lower cost.
(Above paragraphs are taken from Bravame.com)
2. Classimatic
Website: http://classimatic.com
Facebook page: www.facebook.com/classimatic
As mentioned on Classimatic website, Classimatic is a channel presenting classic films and series, and public domain movies. It showcases the work of legendary directors like Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton and Alfred Hitchcock, and classic cartoons like Popeye, Betty Boop and Tom & Jerry.
Public domain films are films that were released into the public domain by its author or whose copyright is expired. Public domain films are free to use by the public for any purpose without restriction under copyright law.
Classimatic is part of MTI USA Inc., a holding company started in 1995 by Francesco and Tommaso Rulli who immigrated to the United States in the early 1990's. Based in New York City, MTI USA Inc. has become a major actor in the online film and video distribution industry since 2005, providing a platform for more than 40,000 independent filmmakers.
(Above paragraphs are taken from Classimatic.com)
3. Sportivy
Website: http://sportivy.com
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/sportivychannel
Sportivy is a channel showcasing sports videos from competition matches and car races to interview with athletes and extreme sports videos.
Sportivy is part of MTI USA Inc., a holding company established in 1995. Based in New York City, MTI USA Inc. has become a major actor in the online film and video distribution industry since 2005, providing a platform for more than 40,000 independent filmmakers.
(Above paragraphs are taken from Sportivy.com)
4. Conversaty
Website: http://www.conversaty.com
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Conversaty-1662829800619609
Conversaty is a channel presenting interview videos with renown actors, film directors, animators, scientists, athletes, and business men and women.
Conversaty is part of MTI USA Inc., a holding company established in 1995. Based in New York City, MTI USA Inc. has become a major actor in the online film and video distribution industry since 2005, providing a platform for more than 40,000 independent filmmakers.
(Above paragraphs are taken from Conversaty.com)
5. Comediaty
Website: http://www.comediaty.com
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/comediaty
Comediaty is a channel showcasing short comedy films and animations by independent filmmakers and renown directors.
Comediaty is part of MTI USA Inc., a holding company established in 1995. Based in New York City, MTI USA Inc. has become a major actor in the online film and video distribution industry since 2005, providing a platform for more than 40,000 independent filmmakers.
(Above paragraphs are taken from Comediaty.com)
6. Silentyarn
Website: http://silentyarn.com
Facebook page: www.facebook.com/silentyarn/
Silentyarn is a channel presenting silent classic films by renown directors.
Silentyarn is part of MTI USA Inc., a holding company established in 1995. Based in New York City, MTI USA Inc. has become a major actor in the online film and video distribution industry since 2005, providing a platform for more than 40,000 independent filmmakers.
(Above paragraphs are taken from Silentyarn.com)
7. Suspensaty
Website: http://suspensaty.com
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/suspensaty
Suspensaty is a channel showcasing suspense and thriller movies and animations by independent filmmakers and renown directors.
Suspensaty is part of MTI USA Inc., a holding company established in 1995. Based in New York City, MTI USA Inc. has become a major actor in the online film and video distribution industry since 2005, providing a platform for more than 40,000 independent filmmakers.
(Above paragraphs are taken from Suspensaty.com)
8. Stories on the Web
Website: http://storiesontheweb.com
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/WebSeriesOnline/
Stories on the Web is a channel showcasing web series from independent filmmakers and animators.
Stories on the Web is part of MTI USA Inc., a holding company established in 1995. Based in New York City, MTI USA Inc. has become a major actor in the online film and video distribution industry since 2005, providing a platform for more than 40,000 independent filmmakers
(Above paragraphs are taken from Animaty.com)
9. Animaty
Website: http://animaty.com
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/animatychannel
Animaty is a channel showcasing animated films and series including classic cartoons and independent animations presented at international film festivals.
Animaty is part of MTI USA Inc., a holding company established in 1995. Based in New York City, MTI USA Inc. has become a major actor in the online film and video distribution industry since 2005, providing a platform for more than 40,000 independent filmmakers.
(Above paragraphs are taken from Animaty.com)
10. Documentaty
Website: http://www.documentaty.com
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/documentaty
Documentaty is a channel featuring documentaries about various topics like education, sports, environment, politics, news, and world issues.
Documentaty is part of MTI USA Inc., a holding company established in 1995. Based in New York City, MTI USA Inc. has become a major actor in the online film and video distribution industry since 2005, providing a platform for more than 40,000 independent filmmakers.
(Above paragraphs are taken from Ddocumentaty.com)
