New York - Next New Networks, a distributor of Web video "micro-networks," announced on Thursday that it has raised $8 million in seed financing, led by Spark Capital.

Saban Capital Group, Benchmark Capital Europe, the Pilot Group and former AOL chairman and CEO Jonathan F. Miller also participated in the investment round.

Miller will also join the company's board of directors.

New York-based Next New Networks debuted six micro-networks on Thursday, and plans to launch another 100 over the next five years, on topics ranging from cars to fashion to ideas and viewpoints.

The company's first micro-networks include "Threadbanger," a weekly DIY fashion show, and "PulpSecret," devoted to comic book news and culture.

Each network will feature three- to eight-minute episodes, which will be archived on both YouTube and iTunes.

"If television reaches broad audiences, and cable reaches niche audiences, our micro-networks are the next step, reaching precisely targeted communities," said Herb Scannell, co-founder and CEO of Next New Networks, and a former top executive at Nickelodeon.

The company's other co-founder, Fred Seibert, was the first creative director at MTV.

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