New Damn Channel cursed with video content

By Carly Mayberry

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - A former CBS Radio programming executive has lined up the likes of Harry Shearer, Andy Milonakis and Paul Reiser for a new Web site set to launch Tuesday featuring original video content.

Dubbed My Damn Channel, the site is intended as a Web destination and a production hub where comedians, musicians and filmmakers can create, produce and distribute their original shortform series.

Through signed development deals, their episodic video will be available on MyDamnChannel.com and across major Web portals and digital devices. YouTube is the first online community to feature the site's branded programming.

"We're giving artists total freedom, and we're paying for everything -- technology, bandwidth, PR, production and promotion to put up a fully functioning Web site," said the venture's creator, Rob Barnett, a veteran of CBS Radio and MTV Networks.

At launch, current channels include the "Harry Shearer Project," featuring the political and pop culture satire of the actor-writer best known for his work on "The Simpsons"; "Links," which is created by musician/record producer Don Was and connects musicians and fans through a weekly radio show/podcasts and live events and also features a music interview series co-produced by Reiser; and "Wainy Days," from David Wains that features 10 short-film comedies created by the actor-writer-comedian, premiering weekly.

No details were available on the project with Milonakis, who stars in his own MTV2 program, but his channel is expected to launch sometime in August.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter