• by Mark Walsh  @markfwal, August 31, 2007

Gemstar-TV guide International in June announced it would hold the TV Guide Online Video Awards later this year to recognize "the best and most innovative professional video programming, created specifically for the Web."

But if the video awards reflect the content on TV Guide's Online Video Guide, don't expect many nominations for original Web shows from independent producers. The Online Video Guide on TVGuide.com so far includes Web-specific video created only by the broadcast or cable networks. That includes material like NBC's Webisodes of "The Office" or ABC's Web-only "Voicemail" series, but leaves out original indie Web efforts like Michael Eisner's "Prom Queen," the satirical business news show "WallStrip" or the hours of original programming on Internet TV sites such as blip.tv. The Video Guide currently indexes about 60 sites that focus mainly on network TV programming.

"We're really taking the time while the product is in beta to learn from the usage we're getting right now," says Christy Tanner, vice president of online marketing for TV Guide Online. She adds that when the site comes out of beta this fall, it might index sites that offer independent Web video like blip.tv.

Tanner adds that the Video Guide will also feature more Web-centric content leading up to the Online Video Awards in December. "When the fall schedule is launched, you're going to see the networks putting out a lot more Web-only content," says Tanner.