TV networks ponder YouTube rival

Fox, Viacom Inc., CBS Corp. and NBC Universal are reportedly in talks about creating a video service that would in some ways, rival YouTube's dominating position. The Wall Street Journal cites information from individuals close to the situation that suggests the four might launch a service that would offer content from their television networks. The networks seek to cut into the fast-growing market for video-based advertising online.

YouTube, which was acquired by Google in November for $1.65 billion boasts over 100 million daily views. It has become a resource for digital video enthusiasts to upload and share their homemade content with the world. Of course, as can be expected, the most popular content on the service is often pirated content from TV.

CBS and NBC have struck deals with YouTube while other companies have threatened legal action. Experts warn that services like YouTube will inevitably face numerous copyright infringement lawsuits if users continue to disregard the rules and copyright laws while uploading content.

Source:
Reuters

Written by: James Delahunty @ 10 Dec 2006 15:10

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12 comments

limelight

YouTube is the Ipod of internet video.

Anything else will just be a Zune.

10.12.2006 18:30 #1

FlakMNKEY

They just don't get it do they. No matter what these companies do to promote their shows and try to get more people to watch their shows. Nothing will promote their shows more than youtube, because it's peers who are posting clips they like. their friends usually have similar tastes and watch it. and pass it along to their friends. We don't need network executives to tell us what is funny, what is the best show, etc, etc, etc.

Youtube is the best free promotional tool that a company could ask for, but they want to ban it. Hey come this superbowl instead of spending 10million on a commerical, just make a low budget commercial that's funny and post it on youtube. It may or may not succeed but at least you will have saved 10 mil and have a chance at a world wide audience.

10.12.2006 18:44 #2

duckNrun

qte: the four might launch a service that would offer content from their television network

So whats this.. the network pundits will post content and say "hey users you may choose from these, and only these, clips to do whatever (as long as it's within the bounds of our end user license agreement you clicked through when you registered on site) it is you guys go to UTube to do." Don't they see this as exactly contrary to the whole concept they are trying to emulate???

qte: the most popular content on the service is often pirated content from TV.

And so does this not show that there needs to be a MAJOR REVISION of what is considered fair use and piracy?? If 100 MILLION unique users per day are doing something then obviously that needs to be taken into account when the laws are written.

This is like a no brainer!

And I agree total free adverts for these guys!
This is what Nielsen has been doing for years-- going to the public to get an idea about what they like!

Why doesn't Nielsen go to the TV execs for the same reason that a "They"-Tube that only allows certain content to posted will fail: TV Execs are notorious for getting the public dead wrong! They'll be putting up clips of what they think is 'hot' and 'hip' (which will be whatever makes them the most money!) and the users will never materialize!

and btw... I really like the comment about the superbowl commercial! And you know what.. a good commercial would get MORE play on YouTube than on the TV which means more value.

I mean come on... are WE the ONLY intelligent people around here? I mean it's basic marketing 101 for crying outloud! They're PAYING people to tattoo their bodies with a logo but cry foul when someone advertises for them FOR FREE....

doh!

** bangs head on cement wall **

10.12.2006 22:06 #3

ZippyDSM

Whats to ponder Youtube is so popular because it live off fair use and parody,now having full eps of shows should be frowned on clips can not be touched without the freedom to share pg13 clips youtube is dead and thats where corperations come in they don't understand free,fair use or even parody they want the contracts to the rights so they can do the anal carnage not the "end users"....

limelight
*bonk*
Itunes/Ipod is a paid for paly to ahrdware only setup....

11.12.2006 13:24 #4

sleepele

The companies are so damn stupid. P2P and youtube boost theres show more than they ever can with commercials.If im thinking of buying a cd im not gonna just hear one song and buy the cd. download and listen to whole cd and decide if i want to buy it. If it wasn't for this i wouldn't have bout a cd in 5 years. Same with shows i see tons of clips on youtube and they look funny and i watch them.

11.12.2006 18:06 #5

mxndemon

im pretty sure they dont want this free advertising because it doesnt make the tv studios any money. if u logically think about it all the tv studio does is pump out some stupid show to get people to watch and where they make there money is on commercials .. someone comes along and says hey i wana sell this so the tv company says fine we got 1 million viewers pay us 90,000 $ and well air your commercial. then you tube comes along and suddenly everythings commercial free no money comming in it really doesnt benifeit them at all. BUT the ones it would benefeit are these companys paying outrageous prices to get some damned commercial to air during superbowl. great idea tho for anyone trying to get there product noticed for cheap.

12.12.2006 09:43 #6

Wild9

What goes around comes around..these networks are part of the reason YouTube is so popular; people are switching them off and creating their own entertainment.

The networks are losing money, and I personally don't want to read their PC/Marxist/Globalists claptrap before I watch a video I chose, simply because they have more money than sense and can therefore bully everyone else out the way like they have done in the past..

16.12.2006 09:25 #7

Wild9

The moment these large corporations get involved is the moment freedom of choice takes a nose-dive. It is the same as the North American Union currently selling off American assets to foreign interests - people can't do anything because these corporations have such immense resource as well as political influence. They start dictating morality and look what happens..you can say whatever you want as long as it agrees with them, failing that you're the (their) enemy..

16.12.2006 09:28 #8

ZippyDSM

Wild9
well said!

16.12.2006 09:42 #9

akaangus

I think duckNrun nailed it with their post.

I can see them, instead of making deals with YouTube, trying to pull them under with exclusive content and alternate endings available only at CorporaTube or whatever they end up calling it, then heavily promoting their site on the normal OTA broadcasts.

Remember when CSI Miami had the extra info or something available only through Hummer.com? And the video was almost exclusively an ad for Hummer? Expect more of that garbage.

16.12.2006 15:22 #10

ZippyDSM

Originally posted by akaangus:I think duckNrun nailed it with their post.

I can see them, instead of making deals with YouTube, trying to pull them under with exclusive content and alternate endings available only at CorporaTube or whatever they end up calling it, then heavily promoting their site on the normal OTA broadcasts.

Remember when CSI Miami had the extra info or something available only through Hummer.com? And the video was almost exclusively an ad for Hummer? Expect more of that garbage.this is why I ignore the corporate nazis and the media mafia,they hurt brain..and tis bad enough my brain cells eat each other now and then 0_o

FIGHT THE M.A.F.I.A.A.
Sony has declared war on importers the consumer will be next with CD's,Videos/Games not far behind that....boycott SONY!
http://www.afterdawn.com/news/archive/8062.cfm

16.12.2006 15:52 #11

dufas

I have seen several YouTube personal videos on various TV shows. I wonder if the entertainment industry goes through the trouble to find out who owns the screen names of those videos and either pay them royalties or get permission to use the videos or does the entertainment industry figure that anything to do with video/audio media is a one way street in their favor....

18.12.2006 13:03 #12

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