Considering how large a role comedy has played at My Damn Channel (MDC) and the career of its co-founder and CEO Rob Barnett, it shouldn’t be surprising that the YouTube power will launch today the My Damn Channel Comedy Network. The initiative will provide “hundreds of new comedy series premiering in 2013 on MyDamnChannel.com and on the company’s network of channels on YouTube,” it says. Eric Mortensen, who was senior director of content and network programming at Blip.tv, will be director of programming and acquisitions. MDC says that it will partner with content creators: They’ll be asked to sign a non-exclusive, one-year licensing and distribution agreement enabling MDC to showcase their work. They’ll share share revenues while MDC provides distribution, promotion, marketing and social media support. “We’re investing in the team and the infrastructure to make the My Damn Channel Comedy Network the first choice for fans and the right choice for talent.” says Barnett, a former TV producer and programming exec who helped to turn around VH1 by introducing hit shows including Behind The Music. MDC says that last year its revenues increased 300% as its YouTube views grew 550% and total views from all its sites was up 91%. In addition to Barnett and Mortensen, the new comedy initiative will be overseen by MDC Co-Founder and COO Warren Chao; Editor-In-Chief Maria Diokno; Director of Talent & Audience Development Molly Templeton; Director of ProductionMelissa Schneider; and Director of Sales David Kaplan. MDC’s comedy productions include Wainy Days and You Suck At Photoshop.


Rob and company are the classiest group of people with whom you’d ever want to work… What awesome news! Go My Damn Channel!
Agree with you amazing group of people. Love Maria Diokno. That is a funny sharp lady. Have read her quite a few of her blogs. Sharp intelligent wit! Some great programs will definitely come from this group.
Wishing nothing but success for these guys. Rob is a great leader and a stand-up guy.
U get what U pay for.. “Rev Share” This is the bane of On-line/Mobile/Video and Video Production. This is why YouTube is really filled with nothing more than cat videos and international revolutions. It cost money real money to produce content. Besides the fact that people have to eat, they also like to get paid for their work, and writers, shooters, editors, really like to get paid when they finish their gig, not when the Producer gets their ‘Rev Share” which amounts to a couple of pennies a view some three months down the road… Well… This is why as long as the ‘pay rate’ is “Rev Share” the internet/mobile online videos market will be a business model. A lot of producers especially start ups cant maintain the cost to produce and after a dozen or so episodes drop out. You’ll never make money on the web with a Rev Share Deal. But their is no doubt that having a successful web show might bring U the attention U need to jump to Television or Films.
It’s good to see they provide a great opportunity for comedy and I’m sure they are great people…but I went to their website and tried to find something funny…whoa…hopefully they will drop most of these current channels. They highlight “You Suck at Photoshop”…watched it and I think they need to change the title to “You Suck at Comedy” Is this all it takes to be on their website? I need to get back into comedy. Wow!
that business model keeps the ceiling on quality so low it’s not worth it. c’mon guys, validate the web with something real already.