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VideoHub Gets MRC Accreditation for Video Viewability and Other Metrics
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LAST DAY for Early Bird Discount - June 4th Video Ad Summit
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VideoNuze Podcast #180 - Does Live Streaming TV Make Sense?
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Turns Out Most "Mobile Video" Experiences Actually Happen at Home
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Multiscreen Live Linear - Consumer Values and Perceptions
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Live Streaming Gets Another Boost As Brightcove Rolls Out New Live Module
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Early Bird Discount Ends This Friday for June 4th Video Ad Summit in NYC
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Study: Click-Through Rate for In-Stream Video Ads is Four Times Higher Than for Rich Media and Mobile
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ABC Introduces Live Streaming as TV Everywhere's Grip on Broadcast TV Tightens
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Video Apps, Devices, and Fragmentation: How to Navigate the Maze
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Analysis for 'Indie Video'
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Common Craft's New Subscription Model Offers Lessons for Video Creators
Online video has spurred countless talented video creators to pursue their dreams and connect with their audiences. But finding a sustainable business model remains a persistent challenge. Should videos be free and ad-supported? Or paid for by viewers on a one-off iTunes type basis? Or be part of a "freemium" model? Or be in a subscription service? Or maybe some of all of the above? Experimentation, intuition, knowing who the customer is and listening to feedback, and taking risks must all be taken into account when determining the right business model.
And that's why Common Craft, a husband-and-wife team that focuses exclusively on producing simple, short explanation-oriented videos often on technology topics (see below for an example) that have been viewed 35 million times in the last 4 years offers useful lessons for video creators. After pursuing a pure iTunes approach with payments on a per-video basis while doggedly staying away from an ad-supported model, the company has now completely shifted its model to subscriptions-only.
Categories: Indie Video
Topics: Common Craft
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Friday Fun: Jason Alexander's "Netflix Relief Fund" and Microsoft Office 365's "Gmail Man" Videos
A little Friday fun - if you haven't yet seen former "Seinfeld" star Jason Alexander's hilarious "Netflix Relief Fund" video on Funny or Die or Microsoft Office 365's "Gmail Man" videos, it's time to take a break and do so. I promise both will lighten your day and prompt you to share further. Then get back to work. Both videos are after the jump. Enjoy!
Categories: Indie Video
Topics: Funny or Die, Microsoft, Netflix
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Break and Scripped.com Announce Screenwriting Contest Winner
Something fun to get this summer week started: Break Media and Scripped.com have announced the winner of their recent contest to identify an up-and-coming screenwriter, produce his/her script and feature it on Break.com. From 300+ submissions, the winner is Evan Kaufman, a Boston-based comedian for his script, "The Cutest Website" (see below for video and enjoy, it's pretty funny).
The Break/Scripped.com contest illustrates once again the larger point that online video is opening up new avenues for talented creators to be discovered and connect with their audiences. In the traditional TV world where there was finite shelf space, the odds against an aspiring writer breaking through were astronomical. The odds are still long though much better since with online video, there are many more outlets, more creative freedom, and many more ways to find an audience. Sites like Break, which has placed a huge emphasis on original content, are helping fuel this process.
Categories: Indie Video
Topics: Break Media, Scripped.com
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5 Lessons AOL CEO Tim Armstrong Has Learned About Online Video Success
At WPP Group's Global Video Summit yesterday afternoon, (hosted by Kantar Video, GroupM and WPP Digital), AOL CEO Tim Armstrong shared 5 lessons he's learned for online video success:
1. Dedicated teams for video are required; it's too important to share resources
2. Video assets must be organized and catalogued; most companies don't even know how much or what they own as he found when he arrived at AOL 2 years ago
3. A great video player is needed; it's at the center of the user experience
4. Video should be put everywhere; distribution is crucial
5. Collecting data on video performance is essential; data is particularly useful in determining the optimal ad formats and user experience
Categories: Indie Video, Portals
Topics: AOL
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YouTube Pursuing "Strategic Catalyst" Role for Industry
An article in the WSJ yesterday reported that YouTube may be planning to spend up to $100 million to commission low-cost web-only content as part of
a reorganization of the site into 20 "channels." While the article was short on details and YouTube wouldn't confirm anything, the initiative feels consistent with the "strategic catalyst" role I characterized YouTube as playing in the online video industry last month, following its acquisition of Next New Networks.
Categories: Aggregators, Indie Video
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Break Media and Scripped.com Give Young Screenwriters a Shot
Online video has created enormous opportunities for undiscovered talent to make it big (e.g. Justin Bieber), and this week Break Media and Scripped.com announced a contest that offers them yet another shot. The "Break's Big Break" (say that 10 times fast!) contest asks up-and-coming screenwriters to submit their script, which will be judged by a panel including Ed Burns, Steven De Souza and Break executives. The winning script will be developed and distributed by Break and five finalists will also receive $500 for their efforts.
Categories: Indie Video
Topics: Break Media
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Hulu Also Making Move Into Original Video Production
While Netflix got a lot of attention this week for possibly moving to distribute an original TV series, "House of Cards," an interesting scoop in Adweek notes
that Hulu may also be looking to ramp up its original production efforts. According to the article, Hulu has been building two content groups, one focused on branded entertainment and the other on niche comedy and documentaries.
Categories: Aggregators, Branded Entertainment, Indie Video
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HealthiNation Launches Video Series to Address Americans' Wellness
HealthiNation, an independent provider of medical and health related online programming, is unveiling a number of new series today, focusing on the adjacent category of wellness. The new videos come on the heels of research which HealthiNation fielded showing a discrepancy between how nutritional Americans thought their dietary habits are vs. what they actually are. With the new video series, HealthiNation is aiming to educate Americans in a fun, accessible way. Raj Amin, HealthiNation's CEO, brought me up to speed on the new initiatives last week.
HealthiNation engaged ORC International: Caravan to conduct a phone survey of 1,000 American adults, and found that 52% thought they're doing all they can do to achieve a balanced nutritional diet and 63% who think they have a solid understanding of nutrition's basics. However, it also turns out that 76% of adults eat fewer than three servings of fruits and vegetables each day, which is the USDA's recommended minimum.
Categories: Indie Video
Topics: HealthiNation
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Who Will Win the Chance to Watch Every 2011 MLB Game?
This past Monday night was the application deadline for "MLB Dream Job," a new web series that Major League Baseball and Endemol are creating, in which one lucky fan will be sequestered in a New York City apartment to watch every single game of the 2011 season and blog frequently about his/her experience. It's an attention-grabbing idea that, according to this THR article, had already attracted over 5,000 submissions, as of about 2 weeks ago. When I first read about the web series, my initial thought was, "wow, if only I were 22 again, what a great way to spend 6 months," but then that yielded to a memory of what happened to filmmaker Morgan Spurlock when he went on a McDonalds-only diet for 30 days in the 2004 documentary "Super Size Me."
Categories: Indie Video, Sports
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VideoNuze Report Podcast #91 - Mar. 11, 2011
I'm pleased to present the 91st edition of the VideoNuze Report podcast, for March 11, 2011.
In this week's podcast, Daisy Whitney and I discuss YouTube's acquisition of independent online video producer Next New Networks. As I explained in my post earlier this week, while it's tempting to see Google/YouTube becoming a content creator itself with the deal, instead I think of the move as taking a page from the cable industry's early playbook. YouTube is trying to play the role of "strategic catalyst" for online video creators, similar to what early cable TV operators did for early cable TV networks. Daisy doesn't see it quite the way I do however, which might suggest I'm giving YouTube more credit than they deserve. We'll see how it plays out over time.
Then we talk briefly about "ELEVATE: Online Video Advertising Summit," a new 1-day conference I announced earlier this week. Note, just as I finish up inviting Daisy to participate, the gremlins attacked and the podcast recording unexpectedly stopped. For those of you interested in her response, she said "she'd be happy to join us, that is if she's not in Paris at the time." Ahhh, choices, choices.
Click here to listen to the podcast (13 minutes, 41 seconds)
Click here for previous podcasts
The VideoNuze Report is available in iTunes...subscribe today!
Categories: Aggregators, Deals & Financings, Events, Indie Video, Podcasts
Topics: ELEVATE, Next New Networks, YouTube
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With Next New Networks Deal, YouTube Evokes Cable's Early Days
With Monday's announcement that YouTube is acquiring independent video producer Next New Networks, plenty of people have concluded that Googleand YouTube have officially become content providers themselves - something the companies swore they'd never become. While it's tempting to conclude this, my take is that YouTube is actually lifting a page from the cable industry's evolution - seeking to act less as content creator, and more as a "strategic catalyst" for the online video era. Let me explain.
Back in the early days of cable, its primary value proposition was purely improved reception. Many of the earliest cable systems were built in communities where over-the air broadcast signals were poor. Once those initial systems were built and then subsequently upgraded to have expanded capacity, the industry recognized that it needed to hang its hat on more than just the proposition of "better picture quality." Thus began a frenzied process of creating new specialty channels to appeal to specific audience segments. Initially these channels offered re-runs and other inexpensive shows they could get their hands on (who remembers that ESPN's early days featured ping-pong?). Eventually however, these channels would become original programming powerhouses in their own right.
Categories: Aggregators, Cable Networks, Cable TV Operators, Deals & Financings, Indie Video
Topics: Liberty Media, Next New Networks, TCI, YouTube
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Break Media Introduces 5 New Originals
Break Media is introducing 5 new web series today, continuing its investment in original content production. The first new series rolling out is "For the Win," a weekly how-to series focused on helping men "win at life," which will run on Break's "Made Man" lifestyle site. The topic is defined expansively in keeping with Break's target audience; today's episode is "Win a Fight With One Punch." For the Win will also be distributed on YouTube and through the Break Media Network.
The other series, which will debut in the spring - and the Break sites they'll reside on - include "Awesome America" (Break), an offbeat travelogue show, "Thinking Out Loud" (Screen Junkies), a comedic take on celebrity interviews, "MMAashed Potato" (Cage Potato), weekly re-caps of MMA highlights and "FAQ U" (Game Front), a review show for popular games.
Categories: Indie Video
Topics: Break Media, YouTube
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Tom Hanks Hits the Web with New Talk Show
Online video continues to attract more mainstream Hollywood talent and the latest is Tom Hanks, whose company Playtone, this week launched "The Three Minute Talk Show" hosted by comedian Barry Sobel. I watched the the first couple episodes and was impressed (an you have to love the little 3-minute countdown icon in the lower right corner). It's a little manic, but the fast pace holds the viewer's attention. Hanks appeared on the first episode and actor Bryan Cranston on the second. The show is part of Lexus' LStudio, so presumably there won't be any additional advertising. As connected devices proliferate, this is the kind of high-quality content that will play well for couch potatoes.
Categories: Indie Video
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5 Items of Interest for the Week of Dec. 12th
Happy Friday. Once again I'm pleased to offer VideoNuze's end-of-week feature analyzing 5-6 interesting online/mobile video industry news items from the week that we didn't have a chance to cover previously. This week I'm changing the format a little bit, creating an individual post for each item. I'm doing this in response to reader interest in being able to share individual items (not the whole group) more easily. Let me know what you think of the new format. Here they are:
1. Potential YouTube-Next New Networks deal is a bit of a head-scratcher
2. Here's a great example of why TV Everywhere matters so much to the pay-TV industry
3. Hulu's Kilar: "Hulu Plus now a material portion" of revenues
4. Google not ready to announce fiber winning communities
5. Tiffany shows online video works for luxury retailers
Read them now or check them out this weekend!Categories: Aggregators, Broadband ISPs, Cable Networks, Cable TV Operators, Commerce, Deals & Financings, Indie Video, Satellite, Telcos
Topics: Google, Hulu Plus, Netflix, Next New Networks, Tiffany, YouTube
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Potential YouTube-Next New Networks Deal is a Bit of a Head-Scratcher
I'm still scratching my head a little over this week's report that YouTube may be looking to acquire independent video network/developer Next New Networks. An acquisition of Next New Networks would mean that YouTube would no longer be solely a platform for indie video, but a producer as well. So the first question is why, after so many assertions by Google executives that it is "not a media company" has it decided that in fact it now wants to be a media company? Does Google feel that indie content is underfunded and developing too slowly, hence the need to bring its massive resources to bear? Maybe so.
But data just this week from the company, disclosing its 2010 top videos viewed seems to suggest that indie creativity is bubbling along just fine. The top two videos were actually Next New productions, and the company blogged a must-read post about how it achieved this success. Maybe YouTube feels it can turbo-charge indie content, and this is strategic to help support its Google TV efforts since it's getting stiff-armed by major broadcasters. If the deal is done (and doesn't end up as another Groupon non-deal) it will be interesting to learn how Google/YouTube explains it.Categories: Aggregators, Deals & Financings, Indie Video
Topics: Google, Next New Networks, YouTube
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AOL Makes Yet Another Move Into Video With Eisner's Vuguru Studio
Another day, another move by AOL to deepen its commitment to online video. Today the company announced that Michael Eisner's independent online video studio Vuguru will produce at least 6 original series for distribution by AOL. Each series will be 90 minutes in length and broken into segments for episodic distribution. The companies are positioning the series as filling a role between high-cost Hollywood content and user-generated content on the low end.
The deal follows AOL's recent acquisition of video syndicator 5Min and its acquisition earlier this year of video platform and production company StudioNow. With 5Min in particular, AOL can further distribute the Vuguru series to a network of third-party publishers as well as on its own site. By expanding reach and leveraging its own ad sales capabilities, AOL is much better positioned to monetize the original content. I would also expect involvement of brands along the way as well, morphing some of the series or episodes into branded content or involving clever product placement. AOL has tied its future heavily to advertising, and clearly recognizes that video offers higher value opportunities than other forms and is therefore pushing hard to create more content and video ad inventory.
What do you think? Post a comment now (no sign-in required).Categories: Indie Video, Portals
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Metacafe's "Shocktober Showcase" Promotion Gains 2 Million Views
Metacafe launched a new channel at the beginning of October dubbed "Shocktober Showcase" which features 2 new pieces of exclusive short-form content each day from recent or upcoming movies and video games. Metacafe says the promotion has already racked up over 2 million views from 30+ pieces of content featured. Partners in the promotion include Electronic Arts, KONAMI, Sega, Ubisoft, Summit Entertainment, Paramount, The Weinstein Company and others.
The promotion is meant to underscore Metacafe's positioning as a destination for curated short-form online video entertainment for males 18-34.
Categories: Indie Video
Topics: MetaCafe
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5 Items of Interest for the Week of Oct. 11th
Continuing VideoNuze's Friday feature of highlighting 5-6 interesting online/mobile video industry stories that we weren't able to cover this week. Read them now or take them with you this weekend!
JetBlue Unvails Ads Created By Mullen
Take a moment to head over to YouTube today where JetBlue has bought out the top-of-page expanding banner for a hilarious new ad campaign, "You Above All," featuring a series of reality-style videos of New Yorkers in situations that mock the JetBlue competitors' service. The clever JetBlue campaign follows the head-turning Sylvester Stallone YouTube ad for "The Expendables" from a couple months ago and underscores the ascendance of YouTube as the #1 piece of online real estate for break-the-mold video campaigns for high-profile brands. Google is capitalizing on YouTube's appeal by featuring it prominently in its current "Watch This Space" ad campaign promoting the value of display advertising.
Google TV Guns for Cable Deals
And speaking of Google, with the recent introduction of Google TV, the company is reaching out to cable operators to ink integration deals similar to what it showcased with satellite operator Dish TV last week. Google TV offers tantalizing potential, particularly to smaller operators, to add Internet elements to their core video service, helping better compete with over-the-top entrants like Netflix. Conversely, as we saw this week with the funding/public launch of BNI Video (and in a series of separate product announcements coming next week), technology vendors are lining up to offer cable operators the ability to deliver their own Internet experiences. It's a very confusing time for cable operators, who must figure out whether to go it alone and invest heavily, or partner with a tech giant like Google.
comScore Releases September 2010 U.S. Online Video Rankings
comScore's video rankings for September yielded no big surprises, as Google/YouTube continued to be the dominant online video provider and Yahoo narrowly retook the #2 spot from Facebook. comScore changed the way it publicly reports its data this past June which has made it a little harder on independent analysts like me to show trending data as I used to do. Nonetheless, I'm hoping to have some new trending charts to share soon.
Blip.tv Predicts Best Quarter Yet for Web Creators
More encouraging news on the online video ad front, as video platform/distributor blip.tv said this week that Q4 '10 is on track to be its best quarter ever. Blip has been a very important player in bringing independent web series to market and its ability to monetize is a key driver of sustainability for many fledgling creators. Blip's news synchs with overall online video ad momentum in first half '10.
Introducing the JW Player for Flash and HTML5
Last month I wrote about how the open source JW Player is receiving 15K downloads per day. This week version 5.3 of the JW Player was released which integrates Flash and HTML5 into a single video player, using a unified JavaScript API. What that means is that anyone embedding the new player can seamlessly deliver either Flash or HTML5 video with the browser auto-detecting which playback mode to use. Since browsers and devices are still quite heterogeneous in what formats they support, initiatives like this help reduce friction in publishing and user experience.
Categories: Advertising, Cable TV Operators, Devices, Indie Video, Research, Technology
Topics: blip.TV, comScore, Google TV, JetBlue, JW Player, YouTube
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5 Items of Interest for the Week of Oct. 4th
It's Friday and that means that once again VideoNuze is featuring 5-6 interesting online/mobile video industry stories that we weren't able to cover this week. Have a look at them now, or take them with you for weekend reading!
Verizon to Launch 4G LTE Networks in 38 Markets
Verizon will enable 5-12 megabit/second mobile data speeds in 38 markets, reaching 110 million Americans by the end of the year. The 4G technology, known as "LTE" promises a major new growth opportunity for HD mobile video, making smartphones and tablets even more appealing as video viewing devices.
Time Warner Sees Ally in Web
Time Warner's CEO Jeff Bewkes understands the Google TV value proposition, explaining that it will help program discovery and provide another option for paying subscribers to view. Those sentiments echo what I said in my initial thoughts on Google TV, that incumbent TV networks should be enthusiastic about Google TV because it doesn't disrupt their business models, but - by fully tying in the Internet - creates all kinds of new on-screen engagement opportunities. I expect other TV networks will follow soon.
Sony's Crackle movie and TV streaming service debuts on Android phone app
In a sea of new Android app releases, the new app from Crackle stands out because it offers streaming of full-length TV shows and movies on all Android devices. I sampled it this week on my Droid X and the video quality was outstanding. With the launch of LTE from Verizon later this year (see above), the quality bar will be raised further. Given Android's momentum, all premium quality video providers (e.g. TV networks, Hulu, Netflix, Amazon, etc.) should be optimizing their content for it.
Rupert Murdoch: Simultaneous Theater-VOD Release 'a Big Mistake'
A word of caution from News Corp head Rupert Murdoch: so-called "premium VOD" - where theatrical release windows shorten to allow for a new high-priced home VOD option - is a mistake. Murdoch didn't give further details, though he does see some window compression happening. I continue to argue premium VOD would be a wrongheaded move by pay-TV operators who should be focusing on new ways to deliver more programming for lower prices (to compete better with Netflix, etc.) than less programming for higher prices.
Ford revs up Web series
The latest branded entertainment entry is from Ford, which has partnered with the producers of "The Amazing Race" to create "Focus Rally: America" a new series serving as pre-launch marketing for Ford's new Focus cars that will be featured on Hulu. Ford will use the series to highlight the SYNC and MyFord Touch entertainment/navigation options. Branded entertainment continues to gain steam as an augment to traditional TV advertising as the format allows brands to tell a fuller story in a more immersive context than 30-second TV spots allow.
What do you think? Post a comment now (no sign-in required).Categories: Branded Entertainment, Cable Networks, Devices, FIlms, Indie Video, Mobile Video, Video On Demand
Topics: Android, Crackle, Ford, Google, News Corp, Sony, Time Warner, Verizon
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HealthiNation Adds Doug McFarland as Chief Digital Officer
HealthiNation, an independent provider of health-related online videos, is announcing this morning that online industry veteran Doug McFarland has joined as Chief Digital Officer to oversee digital strategy and operations.
McFarland was previously co-CEO of Dimestore Media (acquired by Knowledge Networks), CEO of online video ad network ScanScout, EVP/GM of Eyeblaster and EVP/GM of Advertising.com. He's also been on HealthiNation's board for the last two years.
Categories: Indie Video, People
Topics: HealthiNation
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