Now live streaming 15 original shows; adds entertainment block.

Just six weeks after its official launch, live Web television network, This Week In has doubled its show lineup to 15 and delivered on its promise to expand beyond technology programming.

This Week In now offers a full entertainment block on Sundays, anchored by Kevin Pollak’s Chat Show. This Week in Comedy and This Week in Movies follow, hosted by personalities Ed Crasnick, Farrell Roth and Roger Erik Tinch. Additional new shows include This Week in Poker, Social Media, iPad, Video Games, and Music. To view the complete network schedule, visit http://thisweekin.com/schedule/

“With all the new shows, our focus is on providing valuable, real-world information that’s both well-produced and entertaining,” said Lon Harris, creative director of This Week In. “The biggest challenge is finding hosts with on-screen presence and charisma who also bring with them a wealth of knowledge and passion for their subjects.”

Technology

In partnership with UStream, the This Week In website now features an embedded live chat and video stream, allowing viewers to engage around shows in real-time for both live and previously recorded content.

Distribution

All episodes are currently distributed through the network website along with a branded YouTube channel, iTunes and iPad storefronts, Boxee application, and Ustream. This Week In is in active discussions for additional syndication deals, and will be announcing new partnerships in the coming weeks.

This Week in YouTube has proven to be a breakout show, consistently placing fourth on iTunes’ top video podcasts, and 11th in top podcasts overall.

Sponsors

This Week In generates revenue through targeted sponsor plugs integrated with the show commentary. To date, 11 sponsors have signed to the network, many from the premiere of a new show.

About This Week In

Founded by Jason Calacanis, Kevin Pollak and Mark Jeffrey, This Week In, Inc. offers a network of live-streamed Web TV shows covering a wide variety of topics from technology to entertainment. Produced out of its Santa Monica, CA studio, This Week In shows feature guest experts, founders, movie stars, comedians, technologists and CEOs — all keeping you up to speed on what’s happening this week with a fast and funny style. Informative and entertaining, This Week In is the place for whatever your interests may be. To learn more, please visit www.thisweekin.com or follow @twinetwork on Twitter.

New network closes $300k angel round, taps Mark Jeffrey as co-founder and CEO

Technology and entertainment personalities Jason Calacanis and Kevin Pollak today announced they have joined forces on a new Internet-based television network, This Week In, Inc. The startup has closed a modest angel round ($300,000) from a group of investors including Calacanis; Sky Dayton, founder of Earthlink and Boingo; and Matt Coffin, founder of LowerMyBills.com. Podcast pioneer and former Mahalo.com CTO, Mark Jeffrey is heading up the network as co-founder and CEO.

Calacanis explained, “The production of high-quality, live-streaming, video content has finally arrived. In the same way blogs grew from passion projects in 2005 to thriving businesses in 2009, streaming shows are poised to breakout.” Previously Calacanis launched 100 blogs with Weblogs Inc. including Engadget, Joystiq and Autoblog. Weblogs was purchased by AOL.

“I’m thrilled to be working with two visionaries like Jason and Kevin, and look forward to building a great company with them in the years to come,” said Jeffrey.

Jeffrey previously co-founded social network ZeroDegrees and sold it to IAC/InterActiveCorp in 2004. He also co-founded ThePalace, Inc. in 1995 which sold to Communities.com, Inc. in 1998. His first podcast novel got 2.4 million downloads, leading to a publishing deal with Harper Collins.

Building on the success of their popular, award-winning programs, This Week in Startups and Kevin Pollak’s Chat Show, This Week In debuts with a promising lineup of eight shows, all professionally produced from the network’s studio in Santa Monica, Calif. and staffed by passionate hosts. The network intends to create 30 shows over the next two years. This Week In will be holding an Open Casting Call for new show hosts on Saturday, May 22, 2010 beginning at 11 am at the This Week In office located at 902 Colorado Ave., Santa Monica, CA.

According to recent statistics from The Nielsen Company, online video usage has increased more than ten percent year-over-year. eMarketer estimates that 66.7% of US Internet users – 147.5 million people – are watching video online each month.

“The timing for a network like This Week In is finally right,” said Mark Jeffrey, co-founder and CEO of This Week In. “With the popularity of podcast-playing devices like the iPad and offerings like Boxee bringing Web video to living room television screens, high-quality programming can now be delivered via IP with the same potential for viewership as a cable channel.”

This Week In generates revenue through targeted sponsor plugs integrated with the show commentary. Some notable sponsors to date have included Bing, Sonos, WebSpy, UStream, Storm on Demand and Virtacore. All episodes are distributed through the network Web site along with YouTube, iTunes, Boxee, Justin.tv, Ustream and the iPad AppStore, among others.

About This Week In

Based in Santa Monica, CA and founded by Jason Calacanis, Kevin Pollak and Mark Jeffrey, This Week In, Inc. offers a network of shows covering a wide variety of topics from technology to entertainment. Produced out of its Santa Monica studio, This Week In shows feature guest experts, founders, movie stars, comedians, technologists and CEOs — all keeping you up to speed on what’s happening this week with a fast and funny style. Informative and entertaining, ThisWeekIn is the place for whatever your interests may be. To learn more, please visit www.thisweekin.com.