While YouTube has an amazing record in streaming speed, it still depends on the computer one has and the internet connection speed. Also, while laptops often serve as televisions, particularly for young people, it is still easier and more pleasant to watch programming on a bigger and clearer screen.
Ok, so it's great that I can watch cool and educational TED videos about the mechanics of a stroke, but common! YouTube is much more just a vehicle for regular people to put stupid videos online, and for the rest of us to waste time at work watching them for a quick laugh. If this is the most valuable TV station on the planet, I really have to get off this planet.
You guys aren't paying attention. Have you realized the impact that YouTube has had on this election? Just look at techpresident http://www.techpresident.com/ and you'll see how much candidates are spending on web initiatives, how they're using the Web, and most importantly how many people are finding out more about the candidates on the Web. YouTube is the driving force in a lot of this. A recent McCain video was viewed over 1.5 million times http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-onmedia30-2008may30,0,4939399.... If that's not enough to make you think that it's quite possible that YouTube can become more than just an alternative to TV, but a real destination, just look at these numbers in this report: http://www.forbes.com/technology/forbes/2008/0616/050.html. Think beyond the stupid videos, think about how music labels are using it as the first place to showcase a video. Think about it as how presidential hopefuls use it to announce their candidacy (John Edwards). Think about the original programming there, people making shows like lonelygirl15. Think about the potential of YouTube joining forces with major networks. "According to research firm ComScore the number of online videos viewed in March 2008 jumped 13% to 11.5 billion. That number represents a 64% gain when compared to March 2007. Google sites were number one for online videos during the month with a 38% share of all the videos watched online.
YouTube accounted for 98% of the videos viewed at Google websites." http://www.i4u.com/article17212.html. Now think about this Big Idea again.
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Lynne d Johnson
Senior Editor/Community Director, FastCompany.com
youTube is sort of like Costco... quantity and not quality. i wonder if youTube will collapse inwards from its own weight from the excess garbage people upload onto the site. other more-niche video sites are forming because youTube is just too general.
YouTube may have had a limited impact in the US region, but there are more regions in the world where it needs to be relevant to audiences.
It is premature to describe it as the "most valuable television station on the planet". Competition is rapidly increasing for YouTube and there is still quite a bit more that it needs to do.
A large number of regions still find it easier and cheaper to receive television than internet . Plus the issue of content quality, piracy and visually appeal also provide some hinderance to the most valuable station hypothesis.
I disagree with the 'most valuable' part, youtube doesn't make much money, if any at all, doesn't own the copyright of any of its content and is easier to compete with than traditional TV stations.
I believe you tube is more viral / community based rather then a "television" show based community. Its about people "vlogging" or trying to get a band off, or doing silly parodies etc.
Completely disagree that youtube is the most important television station. Two key points I could write about would be: 1) length of youtube videos is not congruent for television programming, 2) youtube video quality is not congruent for television programming.
Comments | 9 Total
June 2, 2008 at 10:14am by Rachel King
While YouTube has an amazing record in streaming speed, it still depends on the computer one has and the internet connection speed. Also, while laptops often serve as televisions, particularly for young people, it is still easier and more pleasant to watch programming on a bigger and clearer screen.
June 2, 2008 at 10:57am by Tim Tymchyshyn
and Spiderman is real
June 2, 2008 at 11:34am by Erika Schneider
Ok, so it's great that I can watch cool and educational TED videos about the mechanics of a stroke, but common! YouTube is much more just a vehicle for regular people to put stupid videos online, and for the rest of us to waste time at work watching them for a quick laugh. If this is the most valuable TV station on the planet, I really have to get off this planet.
June 2, 2008 at 1:12pm by Lynne d Johnson
You guys aren't paying attention. Have you realized the impact that YouTube has had on this election? Just look at techpresident http://www.techpresident.com/ and you'll see how much candidates are spending on web initiatives, how they're using the Web, and most importantly how many people are finding out more about the candidates on the Web. YouTube is the driving force in a lot of this. A recent McCain video was viewed over 1.5 million times http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-onmedia30-2008may30,0,4939399.... If that's not enough to make you think that it's quite possible that YouTube can become more than just an alternative to TV, but a real destination, just look at these numbers in this report: http://www.forbes.com/technology/forbes/2008/0616/050.html. Think beyond the stupid videos, think about how music labels are using it as the first place to showcase a video. Think about it as how presidential hopefuls use it to announce their candidacy (John Edwards). Think about the original programming there, people making shows like lonelygirl15. Think about the potential of YouTube joining forces with major networks. "According to research firm ComScore the number of online videos viewed in March 2008 jumped 13% to 11.5 billion. That number represents a 64% gain when compared to March 2007. Google sites were number one for online videos during the month with a 38% share of all the videos watched online.
YouTube accounted for 98% of the videos viewed at Google websites." http://www.i4u.com/article17212.html. Now think about this Big Idea again.
--
Lynne d Johnson
Senior Editor/Community Director, FastCompany.com
June 2, 2008 at 3:43pm by Gene Lu
youTube is sort of like Costco... quantity and not quality. i wonder if youTube will collapse inwards from its own weight from the excess garbage people upload onto the site. other more-niche video sites are forming because youTube is just too general.
June 2, 2008 at 3:45pm by Rip Empson
YouTube is to TV as blogs are to journalism
June 2, 2008 at 5:45pm by Syamant Sandhir
YouTube may have had a limited impact in the US region, but there are more regions in the world where it needs to be relevant to audiences.
It is premature to describe it as the "most valuable television station on the planet". Competition is rapidly increasing for YouTube and there is still quite a bit more that it needs to do.
A large number of regions still find it easier and cheaper to receive television than internet . Plus the issue of content quality, piracy and visually appeal also provide some hinderance to the most valuable station hypothesis.
June 3, 2008 at 3:15pm by James Belle
I disagree with the 'most valuable' part, youtube doesn't make much money, if any at all, doesn't own the copyright of any of its content and is easier to compete with than traditional TV stations.
June 4, 2008 at 1:24pm by Salem Honey
I believe you tube is more viral / community based rather then a "television" show based community. Its about people "vlogging" or trying to get a band off, or doing silly parodies etc.
Completely disagree that youtube is the most important television station. Two key points I could write about would be: 1) length of youtube videos is not congruent for television programming, 2) youtube video quality is not congruent for television programming.
-Salem Honey
VP Marketing, Design My Idea