Web series market worth an estimated $150m by 2013

The latest insight report from Content Economics Research ‘The made-for-broadband video industry’, estimates that approximately $50m was spent producing original web-series video content in Europe and America in 2009.

The report finds the BBC to be a key investor in this nascent market, and estimates that the public broadcaster has spent more money producing content for this market than any other TV broadcaster, in Europe or America. The web portals, such as Sony’s Crackle and News Corp’s MySpace, are the key players.

It is expected that the market will grow to be worth approximately $150m by 2013. The growth will largely be driven by the arrival of the European public broadcasters in this market and also the continued investment in MFB content by web portals. The US is the largest investor in MFB productions, with the UK a distant second and Germany third.

The Streamy Awards, popularly known as the Streamys, are presented annually by the International Academy of Web Television (IAWTV) to recognize excellence in the arts and science of web television production, including directing, acting, producing, and writing. The formal ceremony at which the awards are presented takes place in Los Angeles, California. YouTube CEO and co-founder Chad Hurley is the 2010 Streamy recipient of The Visionary Award for his contributions to the online entertainment industry. The Streamy Awards ceremony takes place in Los Angeles on Sunday 10 April, 2010.

James Grant Hay is a leading figure in the branded video entertainment space. He has worked in Dallas, New Orleans and New York and recently worked as Integrations Producer on OzGirl, the 2010 Streamy Craft Award winner for Best Foreign Web series.