DIE ACTOR DIE

Turner’s folding it into AdultSwim.com.

I have to say, I am saddened by this one. For my tastes, SuperDeluxe had the best content. All of the videos were high-quality, short and funny enough to keep your attention and featured some of the best comedians on the scene today.

Turner’s decision, sadly, makes some sense from a business vantage. Unfortunately, that good sense means a loss of jobs. 

Still, combining the number of SuperDeluxe shows with the volume of AdultSwim content could potentially be a little overwhelming to the viewer and actually have even more of a negative affect. I hope that they are able to keep the overall model of SuperDeluxe intact: a series of shorts created by professional comedians. I’d hate to lose ["(Layers)"], All My Exes, Derek and Simon, Space Talk From Dimension Eugene, I Love Movies, Olde English and the fantastic Country Public Broadcasting System (CPBS).

This all begs the question: is SuperDeluxe’s model part of it’s problem? Take FunnyorDie. The site is 99% user created content; there is little overhead from a content POV. Whereas SuperDeluxe (and MyDamnChannel) pay their performers to produce content, and pay them well from what I hear. Ad revenue on these sights is usually based on click-through rate and page views. Can SuperDeluxe get enough of either to charge the advertising rates needed to continue paying their talent AND make a profit? If SuperDeluxe was profitable Turner wouldn’t have touched it.

No one’s really figured this whole thing out yet. Still, SuperDeluxe is/was a wonderful place to get away for some really great comedy on the internet. I just hope the vacation’s not over yet.

Tip: The Apiary

Photo credit: d r a k e

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