Social video?

Are the big video sites becoming too big, overrun with predators, etc? Smaller video sharing sites are taking a different tactic: provide social networking platforms for others to brand and use to bring their audiences together around their theme.

This piece in AlwaysOn identifies a couple of entrants, Dave.tv and vSocial. Dave Networks powers the fan site, Stargate.tv, and vSocial is the platform behind a Chevrolet-sponsored site called Reduce Your Use.

From the article:

"These campaigns are akin to Google's self-service offerings, such as AdSense and AdWords. These self-service offerings are a great way to tap the long tail of publishers, which is the target.

Now, there is no doubt in my mind that these companies will have their hands full with business. More and more movie studios and television, down to free-agent artists and musicians will want to create social communities around specific shows or a specific brand to create buzz. Manufacturers, retailers and service providers will also find such services useful. Wal-Mart (WMT) is already using video to impart messages. I hear Monster (MNST), the recruitment firm, wants to start a video show with a social networking feature."