- Mike Shields, Mediaweek

NEW YORK Young-male-centric original content hub maniaTV has signed four deals to develop new series that will potentially populate the Web site's growing Comedy on Demand channel.

The Los Angeles-based Web video upstart, which currently boasts a sketch comedy series produced by National Lampoon as well as the upcoming Knight Rider spoof Midnight Rida, inked a slew of pacts at the recently concluded Just for Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal.

Among the planned series is a project featuring comedian Michael Palascak, which is being shepherded by 3 Arts Entertainment (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia). Also in the works is a show being crafted by the Web video comedy team Paul Telner and Jason Fisher of the production company Let It Out Entertainment. That pair has created popular recurring characters on YouTube and MySpace, including Dave: The Friendly Goth.

ManiaTV also has commitments with MacDonald Murray Management and one undisclosed firm to create new Web series. The plan, according to company executives, is to build a slate of comedic shows of various lengths for the site and eventual distribution via mobile devices.