Web TV's New Lineup

Hollywood veteran Brian Robbins is part of a teeming new ecosystem, as some of Hollywood's biggest names—with support from Silicon Valley's deepest pockets—are racing to create new shows, and in some cases, dozens of them, for the Web. A former NBC programming chief is launching three YouTube channels in the coming months. The creator of the CBS juggernaut "CSI" is filming a series of YouTube thrillers. Stars like Tom Hanks and Kevin Spacey are at work on new shows for Yahoo and Netflix. For veterans of movie studios and TV networks, the Web beckons as a creative playground, unhindered by studio control and the threat of swift cancellation. Show creators often own the content they create for the Web, which means they're free to spin off their concepts later for movies or traditional TV shows—and could stand to gain a bigger share of the profits if a project takes off. Perhaps most importantly, no one wants to be left behind in a shift that could represent the future of television.