RDF comedy site to focus on TV downloads

However, the indie has scrapped earlier plans to invite users to submit their own
videos.

The site, which has the working name roughcuts.co.uk, will play new commissions from RDF, other indies and broadcasters.

RDF is understood to be in advanced talks with third parties about licensing comedy content to sit alongside its comedy unit shows such as Still Game (pictured) and Chewing
the Fat.

RDF Digital head Zad Rogers said there were two core elements to the site: the Comedy Store will contain the long-form content and there will also be a place for short-form clips.

Last year, Broadcast reported that RDF was inviting the public to submit its own comedy to the site, which was set to have a dedicated section. At the time, the indie planned to offer all third parties its production facilities to deliver their content.

However, RDF decided to scrap this element of the site on the advice of partner and multiplatform content specialist dubz.tv.

“Evidence suggests the online mainstream market's appetite is for professionally made
quality comedy,” said dubz.tv group creative director Justin Buckwell. “This new project will take the best of what's available from TV and deliver it in an intelligent manner.”

The site will also include a technical user experience feature called “lean back”, which aims to entertain viewers by scheduling short-form video continuously based on their previous choices, in a similar way to personal recommendations on sites such as Amazon.

The site, which will go live on 1 April, was described by Buckwell as “more of a broadband TV channel”.

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