Viewers in the mood for unconventional comedy may want to take in the offerings of this unconventional comedy channel.
Offered over streaming video, the Independent Comedy Network is a combination of original and pre-existing programming, and is the creation of entrepreneur Marc Campbell, a former private equity banker with J.P. Morgan, and an alumni of Upright Citizens Brigade Theater. Mr. Campbell based his idea for ICN on a previous project of his, The Westside Eclectic, a comedy school and theater that is based in Santa Monica, California.
Mr. Campbell's investors for his network are an eclectic group as well. They represent an entertainment conglomerate, a law firm, and CEOs from both pay cable and network television. ICN's stated mission is to work with comedians to develop original programming than can be viewed both online and elsewhere. The mission further states that their approach is rather like improvisational comedy, in that one performer will pick up another's work and expand upon it. To that end, ICN has partnered with a number of improv groups and comedy theaters, meaning that viewers will be seeing live and stand up performances in addition to scripted series. Another mission of ICN is to assist others in the production and distribution of online programming, and to offer educational training in creating, producing, and distributing online programming.
While similar ventures have relied heavily on social media to get their programming to their core 18-34 year old audience, ICN is using both that and pure content channels to increase their viewership.