YouTube

Mondo Times editors    Boulder Colorado USA

Posted at 2:00pm on Friday, January 22nd, 2010

YouTube Tests Film Rental Waters

The New York Times reported on January 20, 2010:

"YouTube, which is owned by Google, is introducing its rental service with just five movies, all from independent filmmakers.

By comparison, Netflix gives its customers the choice of thousands of films, and most cable operators offer their customers large catalogs of on-demand films. More movies will come to the YouTube service later, but the company did not say when or what films it may offer.

Still, YouTube’s decision to dip its toes in online rentals represents a significant, if expected, shift for the online video site. YouTube has thrived by offering an eclectic collection of free video clips and earns most of its revenue from advertising. YouTube already offers some older, full-length movies on its site free."

The full story:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/21/technology/internet/21youtube.html

Mondo Times editors    Boulder Colorado USA

Posted at 8:07am on Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009

YouTube Looking To Sell TV Shows?

All Things Digital reported on December 1, 2009:

"YouTube already lets users watch a smattering of TV shows for free, with advertising. Now it envisions something similar to what Apple and Amazon already offer: First-run shows, without commercials, for $1.99 an episode, available the day after they air on broadcast or cable.

Sources say the site’s negotiations with the networks and studios that own the shows are preliminary. But both sides seem optimistic, since models for such deals already exist. No comment from YouTube."

The full story:
http://mediamemo.allthingsd.com/20091201/is-youtube-ready-for-prime-time-google-wants-to-stream-tv-for-a-fee/

Mondo Times editors    Boulder Colorado USA

Posted at 1:30pm on Tuesday, November 17th, 2009

YouTube Launches Citizen Journalist Channel

The Hollywood Reporter reported on November 17, 2009:

"The world's top purveyor of Internet video has launched YouTube Direct, whereby TV and online news editors can obtain video from so-called "citizen journalists" -- and even request such video be shot by amateurs seeking attention.

It's not entirely about celebrities. Many news outlets will be seeking disaster footage, for example, or rowdy behavior at political town hall meetings.

News outlets seeking footage can announce it in a variety of ways, including via call-out videos posted at YouTube. When a YouTube user has video they think will interest the mainstream media, it can make it easy for editors, producers and journalists to contact them.

"News organizations always want to verify the content they use," said Steve Grove, head of news and politics at YouTube.

YouTube Direct isn't a revenue play -- either for YouTube or its users, Grove said. "It's an incentive to upload great video, because of the recognition you'll get from legitimate news organizations," he said."

Mondo Times editors    Boulder, Colorado USA

Posted at 10:16pm on Saturday, October 10th, 2009

YouTube is turning video piracy into revenue, according to a story in the New York Times from October 6, 2009:

"YouTube appears to be mastering the art of turning video piracy into revenue for itself and its partners.

For years, the clips of television shows, music videos and other copyrighted content that users uploaded to YouTube without permission were a source of tension between Google, which owns YouTube, and media companies, which owned the copyrights.

But since last year, a growing number of media companies have stopped insisting that YouTube take down those unauthorized clips. Instead, they are choosing to claim the videos as their own, and allowing YouTube to sell advertising when people watch them. The revenue is split between YouTube and the content owners."

The full story:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/07/technology/internet/07youtube.html