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TheWB.com set for Aug. 27 launch

Online net to mix old TV shows, Web originals

By DIANE GARRETT

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TheWB.com will officially launch Aug. 27 with a mix of old broadcast series and Web originals such as �Whatever Hollywood,� a skein revolving around the antics of three pals called Suri, Apple and Shiloh.

The ad-supported site, which has been online in beta form, will stream youth-oriented skeins such as �Buffy the Vampire Slayer,� �Friends� and �The OC� at launch, with more smallscreen skeins and originals rolling out in coming months. The site is targeting the same 16- to 34-year-old aud that tuned into the WB when it was on the air; part of its business model hinges on Warner Bros. Television Group syndicating its offerings across digital platforms such as Dailymotion, Joost, Sling Media, TiVo and Veoh.

Two other Web skeins will debut at launch: �Blue Water High,� revolving around six Australian teenagers at an ultra-competitive surf academy and �A Boy Wearing Makeup,� a video diary about Mathieu Francis, who dispenses makeup advice and fashion tips. �Sorority Forever,� a mystery from McG�s Wonderland Sound and Vision banner and Big Fantastic, bows on Sept. 8; it stars Jessica Rose of �lonelygirl15.�

Among the other skeins debuting later through the first quarter of next year: Josh Schwartz�s untitled music project, a look behind the scenes at a fictional Hollywood rock club; �Rich Girl, Poor Girl,� a reality skein from �Laguna Beach� creator Gary Auerbach; �Exposed,� a thriller about a college student haunted by his past that Wonderland is exec producing with Blake Calhoun and Mike Maden for Alternative Fuel. �High Drama: Against All Oz,� an unscripted series about a big-budget high school musical; �Chadam,� an action-horror-adventure toon; �Downers Grove,� about pals who stayed in the suburbs while the rest of their classmates went away to college; �Joni & Susanna,� revolving around two best friends/frenemies in their 20s.

Other smallscreen skeins to stream on the site include �Everwood,� �Gilmore Girls,� �One Tree Hill,� �Roswell,� �Smallville� and �Veronica Mars,� along with �Angel,� �Babylon 5,� �Firefly,� �In Living Color,� �The Loop� and �MADtv.�

The site will also attempt to further engage its target aud with social networking and tools that enable visitors to create mashups of the shows.