CBC Wants Your Web Show – No Contest Necessary

This past summer, the CBC – our neighbor to the north’s oldest broadcasting service – launched an online video contest dubbed Exposure,  hosted by the illustrious Lara Doucette of Tiki Bar TV (Tilzy.TV page) and the new media Renaissance man with an affinity for Jeff Goldblum, Billy Reid.

Out of hundreds of entries vying the grand prize of a $25,000 online entertainment development deal, the sometimes lewd, all times amusing Kirby Ferguson won it all with his depiction of a hardcore yogi who twists himself up in “Yo! Gah!”

While the CBC and Ferguson’s project is still in the works, the network wants your ideas to make more entrees into the world of online video. This time, no contest is necessary. ###

Straight from the InsideTheCBC employee blog, the solicitation is an “open call” for proposals of “original online content.” Submitters are politely asked to take into account a number of factors (new media business models, audience appeal, etc.), and their submissions will be evaluated on a variety of criteria (cost, innovation, revenue potential, etc.).

The call also reveals a different approach to web video than what we’ve normally seen in the space:

“There is much competition for limited resources and success in the new media area is uncertain; it’s important, therefore, that we concentrate our efforts on fewer projects that have larger potential impact, while offering public value.”

Methods like this one are in stark contrast to the more-lines-you-cast-more-fish-you’re-gonna-catch, throw-spaghetti-against-the-wall approach endorsed by many independent content producers and, in a slightly more calculated way, from new media studios like Next New Networks and For Your Imagination.

Maybe this is the rigid mentality of a behind-the-times, old media company, or maybe it does make sense to offer more vetting and show development for creators. Or, maybe this is simply the necessity of a small budget. Either way, it’s interesting that they’re foregoing the contest this time and instead using their resources to sift through an influx of ideas. It’s probably a smart move, and I’m surprised other studios and broadcasters haven’t done the same.

Perhaps major US studios are already inundated with pitches from people they already know, but shelling out the cash to have a few low-level employees or interns filter the slushpile seems much more cost effective than covering the infrastructure and marketing costs for a contest that isn’t necessarily likely to receive many submissions.

On the surface, it also appears to embrace the democratization of media. Anyone with a good idea who can send an e-mail is eligible. That’s the lowest barrier of entry I’ve seen yet.  Just be wary about your rights.

[via Podcasting News]