Codeblack launches online channel

“Not all content is suitable for distribution on DVD,” says Quincy Newell, president of Codeblack Interactive, the new digital division of African-American entertainment company Codeblack Enterprises.

He’s referring mainly to short-form programs. “Short films have not found a market in physical DVD, but short-form does have life” online, he notes.

Codeblack Interactive recently made a deal with YouTube and Google for CodeblackTV, a new channel for urban programming.

CodeblackTV programming will be available for streaming on both a paid and ad-supported basis. The channel is available at CodeblackTV.com and through YouTube, and the programming will be syndicated through Google to other online destinations that target the African-American audience.

Codeblack Interactive also is lining up digital programming for iTunes, Xbox Live, Cinema Now and mobile platforms, among others.

Plans call for Codeblack to distribute its own programming as well as that of others, Newell says.

One of the primary genres for digital distribution will be comedy. Newell mentions Codeblack’s Platinum Comedy Series and particularly comedians Steve Harvey and Eddie Griffin.

But Newell sees opportunity in digital distribution far beyond that, particularly for African-American filmmakers who might not have an outlet through DVD.

“It’s an opportunity to engage independent filmmakers from the black film community,” he says.