The Web Series Experiment

Offering a comprehensive analysis of web series as an experimental media form, this book traces their emergence in the late 1990s in the United States to their global influence across platforms such as YouTube, Facebook and TikTok.

Produced independently and outside traditional media channels, web series have transformed screen content by enabling creators to explore unconventional ideas, access new audiences directly, and carve pathways into the industry. This book explores how this medium has reshaped screen production practices and empowered diverse voices in the industry. Key features include the utilisation of the “total value” framework in assessing the cultural value of the format and comparative analyses of international policy responses to web series in Australia and Canada. This book investigates the diversity of web series creators and the content produced, as well as the varied ways in which web series engage with audiences, the unique production practices employed by creators, and the role of web festivals in this evolving landscape. Concluding with interviews from Australian web series creators, it suggests a re-evaluation of the web series format, highlighting its significant impact on individual careers and community building in screen industries.

This book is designed for an academic audience, including students, educators, and researchers in media, film, and screen production, as well as screen industry professionals and policy-makers interested in innovative content formats. Those researching online engagement, audience studies, and digital media will find valuable insights, as will educators in media and screen studies. By critically examining the development and contributions of web series, this book provides essential perspectives on their growing significance in the global media landscape.