NextUp, a brand new stand up comedy focussed online video on demand platform is officially launched today (15th November).
The new platform will host a wealth of recorded live stand-up content for those who love comedy. Comedians whose shows will appear on Nextup include Tony Law, Lou Sanders, Richard Herring, Alfie Brown, Luisa Omielan, Simon Munnery, Fern Brady, Lloyd Langford, Brendon Burns, Tim Renkow, Pat Cahill, Ben Target, John Hastings, Miles Jupp, Ian D Montfort, Sean Hughes and Marcel Lucont. The comedians will receive a percentage of the platform’s income for each view their content generates.
NextUp will mix of new and established comedy names with stand up performances past and present giving audiences access to recorded shows that are no longer on tour as well as new shows recorded by the NextUp team. The UK’s live comedy circuit comprises a far broader spectrum of comedy than is regularly seen on broadcast TV, and NextUp is designed to complement and encourage rather than replace the live comedy world.
Plans are to operate as a membership service that goes beyond a simple subscription, NextUp will offer members access not only to all the performances on the platform for a monthly subscription, but also curated playlists with categories including Rising Stars, Most Watched, Household Heroes and Contemporary Greats to help members navigate to new acts they may not have discovered before. All the videos on NextUp will also be available to download and view offline.
Alongside the online content, members will be able to link though to ticketing info for acts’ current live performances, thereby helping to drive audiences not only to discover acts they may not have come across before, but also out into the live shows too. Members will also receive other membership benefits and offers that extend beyond the online platform itself, including voting options on future site content, competitions, access to live shoots for the channel, exclusive editorial by Ben Williams (former Time Out comedy Editor and Edinburgh Comedy Award Judge) and much more – ultimately NextUp aims to create a comedy community connected via the internet but existing out in the real world too.
“This means my Mum can see it and yours too. Also great for agoraphobics.” Lou Sanders
NextUp has been founded by the stand-up loving team behind the YouTube Channel and live comedy night, ComComedy, working with Stuart Snaith of BBC Worldwide and 2Entertain. Co-founder Sarah Henley says “The idea for NextUp arose because we as a team found it exceptionally sad that we would come to the Edinburgh Fringe every year and see incredible, lovingly crafted shows, which would maybe tour, but then disappear completely, with only a small handful of comics getting DVD deals. With our production arm they'll be able to resurrect their favourite retired shows, or record their new ones as well as gain new fans from existing recordings.”
NextUp have also partnered with independent comedy producers Turtle Canyon Comedy who have curated and filmed a special ‘Best of the Fringe’ playlist on the NextUp platform.
NextUp’s monthly subscription will cost £3.50 and comes with a 30-day free trial.
Find out more here.
