Episode Length: The Never Ending Story

The thing I still hear almost everyday when it comes to web series production is what should be the proper length for an episode? 

I think that as long as you engage your audience and keep them interested, length shouldn't be an issue. What say you?

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Permalink Reply by Rich Mbariket on June 25, 2012 at 4:45pm

I know success is relative in this business, but 3.5 million views is success to me. Question... is this 3.5 million views on YouTube or across the Internet? If on YouTube, where you able to monetize? Just trying to gauge how many views you'd need on YouTube to make some cash. 

Permalink Reply by Chad Media on June 25, 2012 at 4:49pm

I would LOVE to see some data on that too...

Permalink Reply by Rich Mbariket on June 25, 2012 at 4:46pm

Sorry, 3 million views rather. :) 

Permalink Reply by Robert Kirk on June 25, 2012 at 4:59pm

I am not sure but 3 million viewers (not views but unique hits for over 45 min's) might just qualify as an audience. Rich we served our own from Guitar Planet servers. Seven years ago it was easier to do. Microsoft promoted us to the point of paying for the bandwidth with smallish ads and our "most favored nation" status due to us shooting and live webcasting of the 40 year anniversary of Marlon Brando's film the "Wild Ones" from Hollister CA. We were probably the first, certainly "one of the first" to live cast anything via OC3 and copper. We made no revenue whatever from the self-serve but the eventual option was in the ball park of 6 figures. It was (in 2005) one of the first, free full length to be streamed. The option clause required we stop streaming it until recently.

Permalink Reply by Chad Media on June 25, 2012 at 5:02pm

And how dare you smack on people who shoot shorter content stating it isn't a "real" story. That level of arrogance was not only uncalled for but unprofessional. 

Permalink Reply by Rich Mbariket on June 25, 2012 at 5:07pm

Thanks Robert. I know its not your call, but why stop streaming a successful project? Why not build upon it or expand to other mediums? 

Permalink Reply by Robert Kirk on June 25, 2012 at 5:15pm

I optioned the script, you can't successfully reserve rights to property you are exhibiting in any way. When the option expired it wasn't anything I really saw as useful to anyone or even profitable but the discussion on TRT got me thinking about serializing it for giggle-value. I have done a lot of short content, they're all stories but they started out short. 

Permalink Reply by S on June 28, 2012 at 10:13pm

I think i will have to totally agree with you on this! People do tend to be guided by what the puppet media tell them they should watch. A bunch of hyped gaggle heads lol!  Do your thing! Implement your visions is all that matters.

Permalink Reply by Rich Mbariket on June 30, 2012 at 7:12am

Implementing your vision and finding a strategy that works for you, your content, and your audience is what really matters. Ultimately its not about episode length... its about the audience, but the big idea is to start small, talk to your viewers and get their opinion, observe performance on analytics and add/subtract from there. As an aside: I really wish creators would start taking analytics and optimization more seriously. The Internet is keyword-centric... its not TV. 

Permalink Reply by Bob Rodriguez on July 8, 2012 at 4:00pm

Nice Rule of Thumb, Chadster.....

Permalink Reply by Lost Anglos on June 25, 2012 at 2:38pm

We just premiered our web series today and going into it, we knew we wanted it to be short. Too many web series are five minutes or MORE - and people (like me) don't click because I can't imagine watching for five minutes. So we went with two minutes or less - who doesn't have two minutes? And if there's a 1 in front of the colon on the time, I think people will watch all the way through. But check out our first episode and let me know if you made it to the end!

Permalink Reply by Rich Mbariket on June 25, 2012 at 5:13pm

Not sure I agree with your analogy, Lost. I have a lifetime for entertaining content and don't have  2 minutes or less for a bad show. I value my time. Where's the link to your show? 

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