NextUp launches with dozens of stand-up specials

Dozens of stand-up specials from comedians have been made available on a new Netflix-style video-on-demand service dedicated to British comedy, Chortle can reveal.

Miles Jupp, Brendon Burns and Luisa Omielan are among the comedians on offer via the new NextUp platform, which launches today.

The service also offers full shows from Edinburgh favourites and up-and-coming acts including Alfie Brown, Colin Hoult, Tim Renkow and Lou Sanders.

NextUp says they aim to provide a broader range of stand-up beyond the sort of acts that traditionally land DVD deals TV appearances.

Co-founder Sarah Henley said: 'We 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.

'We personally know hundreds of people who would have loved to have seen those shows but couldn't make it up to the Fringe or don't live in the towns the tours visit, and our research tells us there are many thousands more who feel the same.'

Subscription costs £3.50 a month, with free 30-day trials on offer. Comedians with specials on the service will receive a cut of the income, based on how many views their videos get.

Comics have welcomed the launch. Sanders, whose show What's That Lady Doing, is part of the catalogue, said: 'This means my Mum can see it and yours too. Also great for agoraphobics.'

And Burns says that his NextUp special, Selfies In The Grand Canyon, is his favourite, adding: 'I was involved in every aspect of production on this one, from how it looked right down to the final edit, and I loved every second of it. So I'm properly thrilled that NextUp comedy have selected this, my first real foray into production and direction, as one of the frontrunners on their new streaming service.'

Other comedians available at launch include Richard Herring, Sean Hughes, Simon Munnery, Marcel Lucont, Tony Law, Fern Brady and the finalists of this year's Chortle Student Comedy Award.

Videos are curated into categories and will be available to download and view offline.

'NextUp will support comic talent and share comedians' extraordinary work with a worldwide audience of stand-up comedy fans,' added Henley .'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. Audiences may be brought in by their favourite one or two big names but we hope they will quickly be encouraged to discover the breadth of great comedy the industry has to offer.'

NextUp was founded by the team behind the YouTube channel and live comedy night, ComComedy, working with Stuart Snaith, formerly of DVD labels BBC Worldwide and 2Entertain. Independent producers Turtle Canyon have shot much of the footage.

The launch of NextUp follows a couple of similar services. Last year, NBC launched Seeso, and on-demand comedy service in the US only, which focussed more on TV-style series than stand-up. And earlier this year laugh.ly launched worldwide, offering audio stand-up on demand. Both are priced at $3.99 a month.

Here's a launch video for NextUp – which is available here:

Published: 15 Nov 2016