Louis CK’s direct-video experiment worked →
https://marco.org/2011/12/13/louis-ck-live-at-the-beacon-theater
Louis CK produced a comedy special on his own dime, put it up for sale on his website as a DRM-free video download for just $5, and made enough to cover his costs and consider it a success:
It’s been a really fun and intense few days. This video was paid for by people who bought tickets, and then bought by people who wanted to see that same show. I got to do exactly the show I wanted, and exactly the show you wanted.
Awesome.