Google admits to overlooking user content

In a presentation in Australia, a Google executive says they didn't see YouTube coming. They were focused on selling premium content and didn't realize how much stuff people wanted to see that was created by other users.

I certainly buy that, but are traditional TV and internet video complimentary? Google says they are, and are partnering with content providers. Maybe I'm cynical, but I sense the two worlds will merge quickly.

Google's ability to make money from ads produced worldwide and displayed on content produced worldwide will move from computer screens to internet-enabled TV screens. Traditional TV will eventually use the same systems to create programming that Google is pioneering with users.

That's the big shift.

Embedded HD video from Dovetail.tv

Now this catches my attention: a no-nonsense video site that hopes to attract independent producers who can't get distribution otherwise. It's free, and new, and seems to have done many things right. A production's materials are grouped together, each item is nicely displayed. Each video has a URL, and they make it easy to send emails to friends or embed a video into a website or blog (like this). It DOES require a player download (a fairly smooth process, though I understand a bit ungainly for Mac users right now). This embedded version is in Flash (lower resolution than the .wmv files that are distributed via the P2P network).



Here are some interesting items from the FAQ:

How does Dovetail utilize peer-to-peer (P2P) technology?
Dovetail can afford to distribute high-resolution video, including HD quality, because it uses a peer-to-peer technology. This means that when you download a file from Dovetail you are not downloading the file solely from Dovetail servers: you are also downloading pieces of the file from other users, like you. As a user of Dovetail, this also means that you will take part in the network, so that other users will download pieces of content from your computer as well.

Dovetail software is actively utilizing P2P when the content engine is on, and only accesses files associated with the data that you are downloading. Dovetail will not access or upload any other files, or obtain any personal information about you as a result of this activity.

Is it safe to leave the content engine running when I'm done working with the Dovetail Showcase?

Leaving the content engine running (the Dovetail icon in the system tray) is safe and it is important for Dovetail to function properly. You should always leave the Dovetail content engine running, because that is how we download content to your computer. As long as the engine is running, we will be providing you with new high-quality content.

Note: If you have selected content that you want to download using the Dovetail Showcase, you do not have to leave your browser open. Leaving the content engine running will allow downloads to complete.

Why is Dovetail encrypted?
This means better films and shows for you, the viewer. We believe in supporting the rights of content owners. The filmmakers and producers who use our system have the right to trust that their content will be watched under the terms of their agreement and through Dovetail only. If a filmmaker chooses to remove their content, we want to support their choice by removing it. If we didn't encrypt the content, filmmakers would lose their ability to remove content from our system. Because they can remove it and because they trust us, filmmakers are willing to share better films and shows, and that means better content for you, the viewer.

Media "free -fall" examined at Beyond Broadcast conference

As we grapple with new forms of participatory media, conferences provide an intriguing source of materials, illuminations, and tests. The themes touched on here are being discussed repeatedly and simultaneously all over the globe. It is fascinating to me that whenever something new takes hold, such a huge and vibrant population is already engaged.

"Held at Harvard Law School in May 2006, the event was organized by the Berkman Center for Internet & Society, Center for Social Media, Center for Citizen Media, Public Radio Exchange, The Project for Open Source Media, and New York University.

"The 13-minute video features interviews with several conference speakers including: Peter Armstrong of Oneworld.net, videoblogger Jay Dedman, Jake Shapiro of Public Radio Exchange and others. The video provides some of the flavor of this event, including the ‘shadow conference’ on Second Life, an online, three-dimensional virtual world.

Produced by Martin Lucas for the Center for Social Media"

Click picture to watch video.

DivX now in the game

For years, the DivX codec has rendered high definition movies of pirated films, which were sent through irc sites and bittorrent distribution. Now, DivX itself will handle the upload, storage, distribution, and monetization of materials that are legitimately owned by the uploader. It's called Stage 6.

College sports bypassing TV for web distribution

Smaller Colleges Bypassing TV for Web from PhysOrg.com

More evidence that "if it's not being broadcast, it can't be that important". Web distribution is being provided by athletic conferences and ESPN (see Big Sky TV, WAC TV, and ESPN).

And, the bigger schools are making it into a revenue producing activty.

From a recent notice to UC Berkeley alumni:

The Golden Bear Sports Network will be covering Cal Football from every possible angle this season. Sign up today and catch every Press Conference, Post Game Interview, game recap, highlight, and much much more. Membership is only $9.95 a month or $79.95 for the entire year! The Golden Bear Sports network will have coverage of all the Cal action you can handle! Whether it be Football, Basketball, Volleyball, Baseball, The Golden Bear Sports Network will have you covered.

Google links video service

After releasing their new terms and conditions, Google has put Google Video on the search page. Obviously, page views have gone through the roof, according to Hitwise.

While YouTube is hoping to lure content producers (promotional videos from music companies, for example) with some new business model, Google will sell ads on MySpace and will wrap ads around it's own Google Videos, which will play on web pages, blogs and in emails.

Video as marketing tool: Tesla motors

I had no idea there was a Tesla motors, and now everyone does. Why? They posted a nice video announcing their electric sports car to YouTube. Now 128 articles about it come up in a Google News search, including this article from the Los Angeles Times informing readers that the first production run has been sold out. Not a bad way to create news!

BitTorrent has big plans... stay tuned!

Online video archiving will come with Bittorrent's new site this fall. Brian Taptich was interviewed by CNET.

The view from Technorati: video at AO conference

Peter Hirshberg has always found himself in the thick of things. The former Apple exec runs Technorati, and gave this presentation at a recent AlwaysOn conference in Los Angeles. He points out the major trends with humor, albeit with a bite.

An example of Google's reach: Marketwire

Today, media releases went viral. While not a big player, Marketwire distributes press releases and today announced a Google embedded video solution. So, I can put that video on my web site or email newsletter, and Google can figure out how to make money from it.

The example release contains a party video, with links back to its Google Video origins. From there, anyone can choose to embed the same video in emails or web pages. I might as well just embed it here:

Google gets serious... again

Today, Google sent out a notice to everyone who has posted materials to Google Video. Their new "terms and conditions" for participating in their upload program squarely positions the company as a publishing partner for anyone producing moving image materials and seeking to distribute them over the internet.

Basically, you can embed what you upload to your blog or web pages, and give Google the right to similarly distribute your videos through other sites. If your videos generate revenue by either a sale price or ads being displayed alongside them, you get 70% of that revenue (with some possible adjustments).

WOW. Certainly this is a completely different approach from "video sharing". Hosting is free, distribution/bandwidth/streaming is free. Each video can be picked up and placed on other sites, and the same rules apply.

Casualty report: Podguide.tv

One of the early video podcast pioneers has called it quits.

"I still think the video podcast, as an emerging medium is one of the most exciting forms of entertainment currently being created, and I'll remain a viewer, if not a reviewer :)"

I've enjoyed learning about new video services through PodGuide. It will be interesting when and where this idea resurfaces. However, this field is so fertile... the makers of PodGuide have a bright future producing new, high-impact services for clients like Ford.

"For anyone interested, one of the reasons that PodGuide.TV wound down was the long hours I spent working as one of the Creative Directors who created the videoblogging project for Ford - Ford Bold Moves. A lot of the things I learnt while watching all those podcasts and videoblogs already out there informed our thinking when it came to defining the site functionality. Although I've now moved on to other projects (including a very cool video podcast idea for a major newspaper), Ford Bold Moves will continue, at least until he end of 2006, so check it out, and let me know what you think. I believe it's a brave step for Ford, and kudos to the entire team who put it together, including JWT, Radical Media and the guys at GMDStudios."

And now... Google distributes on Fox

On the heels of its deal with MTV, Google will now place ads across all Fox properties, including myspace.com. If traffic stays on target, Variety reports the deal promises at least $900 million to Fox, and possibly over $1 billion.

"As major media congloms move aggressively onto the Web, partnering with them is a key factor in Google's growth. While its Video Store has thus far failed to line up nearly as much TV content as competitor iTunes, deals with Viacom and Fox show that it is moving aggressively to link its ad sales network to the huge amount of content media companies are putting on the Web."

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em!

Google syndicates MTV video through AdSense

Moving in an entirely new direction, Google will enable blogs and websites to carry MTV videos (and collect a portion of the ad revenue generated with each play). A new twist, to be sure, and one which sparks green pastures once again for Google.

The Washinton Post story contains this snippet:

"The revenue-sharing idea, which is set to launch later this month, piggybacks off of Google's already popular AdSense program, which allows Web site owners to cash in on their popularity by running ads on their sites that are placed there by Google. In the case of the MTV deal, every time someone clicks to watch a video off blogger's site, the blogger will get a cut of the advertising revenue made.

"In exchange, MTV expands its online audience and Google increases traffic to its video site, the companies said.

"This gives us access to top video content, plus a new source of revenue for our content partners," said David Eun, vice president of content partnerships for Google."

Forbes-Bono deal points to WebTV2.0

Today's article in the New York Times brings to mind an emerging trend, particularly when forcasting the merging of magazine properties with TV distribution via the internet. Magazines have access, and the internet has distribution. Roger McNamee led a team of investors in acquiring a reported 40% of Forbes for between $250 and $300 million.

"...it was clear from talking with Mr. McNamee that his group was buying into a Web site with a magazine attached, as opposed to the other way around. Forbes.com had 10 million unique visitors worldwide, a very robust number, in June, according to comScore Media Metrix."

Bono is one of six partners in Elevation, which raised $1.9 billion within the last 2 years. This is their first media investment.

"Mr. McNamee said that Forbes’s edge over its competition in the digital realm was very real, in part because the family came to understand the nature of opportunity on the Web more quickly than its competitors."

Propoganda now

It's official! In an investigative piece, the Wall Street Journal looked behind the 73,000 downloads of this YouTube short, and found a public relations firm with links to Exxon.

Here are a snippet of comments posted by viewers today:

fortyfourprimer (47 minutes ago)

Hard to imagine being either young naive or maybe just plain dumb to actually think Exxon or some conspiracy would bother with Owlgore bunk. But then desperation does odd things

(reply to this)

chesterdog5 (46 minutes ago)

Busted!! Turns out, the creators of this video, while posing as amateur spoofers, actually work for a Washington lobbying firm whose clients include Exxon. (see Wall Street Journal, 8/3)

(reply to this)

KevinDeanNicewanger (45 minutes ago)

Was this a satire of Al Gore or of climate change deniers? The quality is so poor, the jokes so lazy, it's like they're spoofing themselves. That picture of David Spade and Heather Locklear was funny though.

(reply to this)

casunray (44 minutes ago)

Is the Wall Street Journal article correct? Is an ExxonMobil pr firm behind this?

(reply to this)

KevinDeanNicewanger (44 minutes ago)

But criticism should be contructive, right? So how about a heat wave caused by the hot air eminating from Gore's speeches, a tidal wave caused by his beastly sweat (remember that post-election dance?). Gross, but funnier than telling someone to take a cold shower or "walk everywhere (no matter the distance)."

(reply to this)

casunray (43 minutes ago)

I knew it...HUMMER HUGGERS!! LOL

(reply to this)

chesterdog5 (42 minutes ago)

Actually, more people voted for Gore than Bush.

(reply to this)

chesterdog5 (33 minutes ago)

Read the article in the Journal. Sneaky, how they tried to hide their involvement Or, call the DCI Group in Washington, (202) 546-4242. Ask them if they produced this video, or paid for it.

(reply to this)

EarthEngineDOTnet (24 minutes ago)

To all those reading this blog, conservative or liberal. Please do not form your opinions from reading one conservative/liberal article. A true opinion takes time and research to form. Jumping the gun on your opinion proliferates propaganda and ultimately hurts us all. In the case of Global Warming, the evidence overwhelmingly points to the negative impact our lives have had on this planet and how it will effect future generations. cont...

(reply to this)

EarthEngineDOTnet (19 minutes ago)

The blood of our future generations are on hands of those who fight to keep our population ignorant to the facts. I ask you all if you have any love, gratitude, just plain descency, please do all you can to enlighten those around you with the truth you have found through proper research. Thank you.

Movie distribution now

Moving online, studios are lining up distribution like any good packaged goods manufacturer. Today's Wall Street Journal story calls it a time for fact finding and model building.

Dateline Beirut... video sharing comes of age?

A SF Chronicle article shows where professional "news coverage" ends and amateur videos begin. With a billion cell phones in distribution, most capabable of video capture, what will TV networks do to "cover the story" with the immediacy of what amateurs can produce? And, will newspapers become the new editing desk, pointing users to newsworthy videos posted by amateurs? Indications will come from where advertising dolloars go. Maybe the predictions concerning the death of newspapers have been premature, again?

The Wall Street Journal points out that major search platforms like MSN, Yahoo and Google might be the default hubs for video stories. In it's series on Internet video it mentions that expectations are running high:

"Demand is so strong for video ads -- typically 15- or 30-second spots that run before or during an online video -- that prices are now on a par with TV. The average cost of reaching 1,000 Web viewers, the standard TV-ad-pricing measure, is about $25 to $30, about the same as a 30-second ad on ABC's hit show "Desperate Housewives" for the fall season, according to a media buyer.

"Advertisers say there aren't enough ad spots to go around."

Video ads lagging online spending for now

With all of the excitement of the internet becoming a true multimedia resource, advertisers are finding ways to get in front of highly fragmented market segments. Jupiter Research has some figures distributed through this article. It recognizes that "much of the video inventory (currently) online is haphazardly placed and users have not developed predictable viewing habits".

And, the Wall Street Journal is starting a series to chronicle the health of this trend as it matures. The first installment focuses on how the major TV producers are honing in on internet audiences. They have also provided a very well done overview, called Moguls of New Media, which examines several popular new productions, suggesting raw internet-delivered materials might become vehicles for the stars of the future.