One of my favorite videobloggers/podcasters is Ze Frank, whose unique (some may say strange) daily shows have drawn a huge fan base. As Ze promised, he’s keeping the show to a one-year run, which expires on the 17th. To finish it out, Ze has done a deal with video site Blip.TV and advertiser Dewars to monetize his archive. Smart. But don’t fear, Ze is working on new video projects which he expects to launch later this year. Press release…

NEW YORK, March 12 /PRNewswire/ — Blip.tv, the video sharing site
focused on independently produced shows, today announced that popular
videoblogger and Internet personality Ze Frank will air the final episodes
of The Show with Ze Frank using blip.tv’s services. Frank’s final episode
will air on March 17, 2007.

On March 17th an archive of The Show with Ze Frank will launch on
zefrank.blip.tv and zefrank.com/theshow. Dewar’s will sponsor the final
week of The Show and the show’s archives for an additional two months.

Launched in March 2006 as a one-year project, The Show with Ze Frank
takes the form of a conversation between the host, Ze Frank, and the show’s
audience of “sports racers.” Together they discuss news, politics and
technology while collaborating on massive group projects.

Later in 2007, Ze intends to produce and star in other Web and video
projects, all of which will have a home on blip.tv.

In addition, blip.tv will incorporate Frank’s unique “Gimme some Candy”
program as part of blip.tv’s services to videobloggers. A unique and highly
successful sponsorship concept, Gimme Some Candy allows any viewer of a
show to purchase space alongside upcoming videos to run personal messages.

The Show with Ze Frank joins an impressive roster of popular online
video shows and videoblogs hosted on blip.tv including Starring Amanda
Congdon, Wallstrip, Goodnight Burbank, Alive in Baghdad and others.

“We’ve been fans of Ze Frank for as long as The Show has existed, and
we’re absolutely thrilled to be supporting one of the most exciting and
innovative Web video projects out there,” said Mike Hudack, CEO of blip.tv.
“It’s a tremendous validation of what we do, and we’re very proud that
blip.tv is the platform of choice for the most creative and talented people
in online video. Ze’s move to blip.tv shows that our simple formula of
providing the best services to independent content creators works and is
continuing to work.”

Dewar’s will sponsor The Show with Ze Frank on blip.tv and will run
post- video and banner advertising around both the final episodes and all
of Frank’s archived shows. With this sponsorship Dewar’s joins a list of
notable brand advertisers who have sponsored blip.tv’s most popular shows,
including Unilever’s Dove brand and the Web chat community Paltalk.

“The relationship I have with my audience is extremely important to me
and a big part of maintaining that bond is ensuring the best viewing
experience each and every time they watch an episode,” said Ze Frank.
“Blip.tv has everything that I was looking for in a service — quality
content, a great user experience and unparalleled support for its show
creators. I am 100% confident that all of my fans will enjoy and continue
watching The Show with Ze Frank on the blip.tv platform and I’m very
excited that we’re continuing to prove that independent content creators
can survive and thrive with brand advertising.”

Dewar’s has recently partnered with interactive agency Deep Focus in
order to identify and broker such new media opportunities.

“We’re extremely excited to be supporting the next generation of
Internet content creators like Ze Frank,” said Ned Duggan, Assistant
Marketing Manager at Dewar’s. “Ze’s show is fantastic and his audience is a
perfect fit for us. We’re proud to be associated with the brand Ze has
built, and we’re very excited to be at the leading edge of an important
trend in advertising — the sponsorship of independently produced video
shows.”

“Ze is one of the most beloved and influential videobloggers,” said Ian
Schafer, CEO of Deep Focus. “Ze’s audience is all about engagement,
interaction, and wit. This co-branded integration opportunity between
Dewar’s, blip.tv and Ze Frank intrinsically aligns a brand that is all
about wit and wisdom with a personality that is all about the same things.”

The Show with Ze Frank can be seen at http://www.zefrank.com/theshow,
blip.tv’s destination site, http://www.blip.tv and is syndicated throughout
the Web to platforms such as Apple iTunes.

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