Creator of Family Guy Finds a New Outlet

Family Guy creator and RISD grad, Seth MacFarlane, has struck a deal with Google to distribute an original internet-based animation series called “Seth MacFarlane’s Cavalcade of Cartoon Comedy.” The deal is unique in that it will use Google’s AdSense advertising system to deliver video clips of the new series. From the New York Times:

The innovative part involves the distribution plan. Google will syndicate the program using its AdSense advertising system to thousands of Web sites that are predetermined to be gathering spots for Mr. MacFarlane’s target audience, typically young men. Instead of placing a static ad on a Web page, Google will place a “Cavalcade” video clip.

Advertising will be incorporated into the clips in varying ways. In some cases, there will be “preroll” ads, which ask viewers to sit through a TV-style commercial before getting to the video. Some advertisers may opt for a banner to be placed at the bottom of the video clip or a simple “brought to you by” note at the beginning.

For a more substantial fee, Mr. MacFarlane has been working with advertisers to animate original commercials that will run with “Cavalcade.” Google and Mr. MacFarlane would not reveal any of the advertisers, but the two said that several deals are among the largest ever landed by AdSense, which went into business in 2003.

Online advertising has manifested itself in various forms and in various places as advertisers scramble to keep up with trends and technology. Social networking sites, once seen as the next frontier of online advertising, have tarnished recently because of the delicate privacy issues and resistance from network members. The confluence of content and advertising seems to be a successful formula, as evidenced by the deals that were struck by MacFarlane’s new venture. How this affects the perception of the integrity of the new series remains to be seen.

In an interview on WNAC-TV, MacFarlane stated that Quahog, the home of his Family Guy series, is based on Cranston. Come to think of it, I think I’ve seen Peter Griffin at the Wein-o-rama.