Tagging video steps forward

Sure, video is a great entertainment medium. But when we start extracting value for future uses, then tagging video elements becomes paramount. One interesting startup is Veotag, which allows you to browse through longer segments by way of an outline of tags. They have a marvelous example online, Wynton Marsalis talking to the National Press Club about the state of cultural education and it's meaning in the US.

I wish I could direct URLs to specific segments! How many times have we seen video programs that create a huge impact, yet we are unable to link to specific points within them and share just those easily? Maybe Veotag's system will enable this at some point.

Google's new video advertising network

Now Google is offering "Click to play" video ads via it's AdSense network.

Don't you just love how Google makes everything seem easy? Video is a very powerful medium, but has been incredibly expensive to distribute. Google senses that their advertising distribution mechanism might encourage more advertisers to embrace video:

"But, you may say, video is only for big branding oriented advertisers. We beg to differ. This feature makes video ads much more accessible to all advertisers. Now, an owner of a small bed & breakfast in Lake Tahoe can put a video tour of his beautiful chalet right next to an article that talks about skiing the epic slopes of Squaw Valley".

Fortune predicts growth

The big picture Forget the dire predictions: The U.S. entertainment and media market is still strong. 2005 (billion) 2009 projected (billion) TV distribution: Subscriber fees paid to cable and satellite networks $90.3 $109.0 TV networks: Advertising revenues of broadcast and cable networks $57.3 $73.2 Filmed entertainment: Box office, DVDs $37.2 $48.1 Total $184.8 $230.3

The transformation is underway, although it will take years to unfold. We are a media society. Our kids wear what they see on TV, we build workplaces and retail environments that look like movie sets.

This article, part of a multi-part feature in this month's Fortune magazine, looks at how Hollywood movies and TV content is changing. It pays no attention to media ditributions into retail, workplace, and educational environments.

The numbers are still huge: and you can double the figures to come up with a world wide market size.

So, the question becomes: where do "the studios" end and "user generated content" begin?

This blog has highlighted changes in technologies and process that enable media production and distribution outside the studio process. These trends will only continue. Ultimately, users will find the content that interests them, and they will deliver it to their viewing environment of choice. The financial ramifications of this are huge.

So, if you own a chain of movie theatres, your business will become more efficient, displays in retail stores will become more flexible, and students will learn from the best teachers in their chosen discipline.

Will we still watch TV and movies? Looks like we will.

Myspace.com to sell videos

More user-generated video is uploaded to Myspace.com than to any other video sharing service. With this in mind, Fox Corporation, which bought Myspace for $580 million last year, will soon distribute episodes of the hit show "24" for $1.99 each.

Burger King will sponsor a "Have it your way" page where Myspace.com users can download two episodes for free during a limited time promotion, to kick off on May 22.

Online video primed for explosive growth

IDC forecasts explosive growth in online video services. The current $200 million market with grow to $1.7 billion by 2010, says IDC analyst Josh Martin, as reported on Indiantelevision.com.

From the report:

"In order to sustain the momentum gathered in 2005 and maximise opportunities for success, content owners and service providers will need to overcome several important problems, including licensing issues, inadequate video search, competitive challenges, and the issue of how to move content beyond the PC. IDC believes that companies involved from the creation to distribution of content will have to partner with others across the value chain to create appealing, flexible services that will evolve into viable businesses."

Wired Magazine Exposes Vodcasts as a Big Deal

The May issue of Wired Magazine features a full section described by A Guide to the Online Video Explosion. They do an excellent job bringing forward many elements we have been tracking here.

Going Mainstream... fast.