Love the "TBS of online video" comparison. I think Hulu has the right idea though. As a consumer, I'm much more willing to watch a few ads from P&G's portfolio as opposed to being bombarded by offers to by ring tones and mp3's. I think that's definitely a segment that YouTube is missing out on. My question is, will YouTube become the MySpace of online video as better quality video platforms arise elsewhere, perhaps with less mass appeal?
Adam Ostrow
· 8 months ago
They have such a staggering lead it's hard to imagine it going away, but I think the TV networks are going to be very stingy with giving them their premium content. But, Google might be forced to take the deals to make sure they keep their lead, even if it doesn't ultimately generate a lot of revenue for them.
Mike Abundo
· 8 months ago
Taking the "you" out of YouTube. Sad.
luv4piggy
· 8 months ago
sucks big time
amazingaaron
· 8 months ago
I hope this does not mess up everything that makes YouTube so great!
Hyder
· 8 months ago
Let me guess - "We're sorry but due to "insert copyright crap here" we cannot show you this video as you are not residing in the U.S".
bradleyf81
· 8 months ago
That was my first thought. I'm an American living in Southeast Asia and I'd love the opportunity to watch television content from back home, but on Hulu it's all blocked. I suppose I'll run into the same problem with YouTube soon. It sucks, and it's going to annoy the hell out of a lot of people, because there are plenty of users on YouTube that aren't in the US.
Tiffany Gabrielle Xinidakis
· 8 months ago
... Exactly! It would be awfully annoying for Canadians too (like me). Alot of us watch pretty much anything people watch in the US. It would be a shame if we couldn't watch this stuff on Youtube. Alot of our favorite things are American, so it would -feel- like taking away Canadian stuff from Canadians!
bradleyf81
· 8 months ago
I think I can understand that. I was so used to being able to see US programming, that I get really annoyed when I run into something on the web on that says "Not available in Your Current Region or Country."
John
· 8 months ago
They should just get rid of user generated content altogether. Nothing but drama queens haters, and trolls on there anyway.
LOL! well since i dont like TV much i guess youtube will be losing my clicks. i have understood for some time now how they dont care about their users, even tho they helped build the site.
there are plenty of other video-sharing websites to enjoy =)
amazingaaron
· 8 months ago
Thats true! We can always go somewhere else!
Wisewinston
· 8 months ago
It's always about the money. Sad. Hulu has great TV programming (or so I'm told) but its movie selection is simply terrible. I think Jeff makes a good point about YouTube's potential to be the MySpace of online video. That should be cause for concern. That said, I think 2, 3, 5 years from now we'll continue to get YouTube links sent to us daily by friends and colleagues. YouTube is the Long Tail. The sheer variety of material is its strength. How to Videos, live concert footage, humorous mash-ups. It's intrinsically viral and that will sustain it.
Here's a Question: Couldn't YouTube charge users money to upload video? Watching could remain free, but I think at the right price, wouldn't users accept the fact that their material takes up server space and therefore in a quasi-moral sense they wouldn't object to a fee to put their content out there? Isn't it kind of like the success of Itunes being based on the fact that the price is low enough that users were happy to go the legal route and at the same time feel good about rewarding artists. Thoughts??
Leandro Oliva
· 8 months ago
It's certainly not a radical concept. Paying for server space is pretty standard, and even a nominal fee per month for a "pro" account to post videos over, say, a certain length (or premium to upload in HD) I think would be accepted, particularly by people who are using YouTube for commercial ends. But putting the viral aspects of YouTube in danger is very tricky.
bradleyf81
· 8 months ago
I think doing what you suggested would drive away users. People would balk at the idea of something that's been free for so long suddenly costing money, regardless of the price, and a huge majority would find another video sharing site that would let them upload for free. I'm sure Metacafe would enjoy the influx of new users.
I think what the other responder, Leandro Oliva, said makes a lot more sense.
Wisewinston
· 8 months ago
You guys are right. There'll always be an outcry when a free service starts charging. Last.fm, anyone? Leandro is right. Maybe the model would have to incorporate video length and HD quality. Last time I saw Chad Hurley talking about this issue, I think he said that only 2% of Youtube visitors upload content themselves so it wouldn't affect most people. However, with the emergence of Flipcams etc, this number will surely escalate. Better to get the pricing in place now while there are still relatively few uploaders...
bradleyf81
· 8 months ago
I only recently started uploading stuff to YouTube. I don't do it often, and it's typically only short home made clips from my camera's record feature. I use it to embed video into blog entries but I'd still rather just use pictures.
Screen Sleuth
· 8 months ago
Is Hulufication a word? Using the names of sites as adverbs is kinda...well, silly, IMHO.
As for the article: YouTube needs to make real money, and they won't do it with amateur home videos or user made clip assemblies.
Adam Ostrow
· 8 months ago
it should be! :-)
milowent
· 8 months ago
yes, "hulufication" was first used by Philip of Macedon during the invasion of Thessaly in 353 B.C. he was the original sxephil, actually.
----
well, i guess its sad that youtube is going to bite the dust, as we know it. what's ridiculous is that it seems there is a business model that could make youtube money with UGC- the profit margin may end up being less than hulu, but the idea would be to make up for that with its huge volume.
Mike Abundo
· 8 months ago
They even dropped the tagline: "Broadcast Yourself". Now they're just broadcast.
They did remove it sometime last year, but user outrage made YouTube put it back after about a week.
Alex Mather
· 8 months ago
interesting change, but I doubt it will affect user behavior much, if at all. youtube usage is driven primarily by the sharing of deep links and searching. that's not going to change...for a while.
JC John Sese Cuneta (謝施洗)
· 8 months ago
Google finally bowing?
Sasha
· 8 months ago
YouTube has enough problems right now. They need to stop messing with it right now and forever. There goes my dream of being YouTube popular and make videos :(
Zacqary Adam Green
· 8 months ago
Well, there's always Vimeo. They've already got an edge in terms of video quality. Also, I like how when you upload HD videos there, they actually get processed as HD 100% of the time; it's hit and miss on YouTube, and there you can't replace a video file without deleting the old upload.
luv4piggy
· 8 months ago
that is a big mistake.
youtube is about "broadcast yourself."
it seems they lost their way.
luv4piggy
· 8 months ago
Now, it will be much harder to gain new subscribers.
There's a lot more I could say in a reasonable and constructed argument, but this is a big issue, someone else will say everything I want to. So I'll just say this:
FUCK. THAT.
ofarevolution441
· 8 months ago
this actually makes me want to cry.
i was just about to come out with a few more videos, but I don't know if that's happening now. i don't want to be affiliated with a site that doesn't care about me anymore.
Dan
· 8 months ago
Just watch, Hulu will eventually be up to par with YouTube if they don't do anything to improve upon what they have already done. The new addition of copyright issues with music definitely hurt them, as many vloggers incorporate "copyrighted" music into their videos.
Maybe a YouTube and Hulu team up would be cool, but that would never happen, unless....
i hope it not reduce our comfortable to share video on youtube
James
· 8 months ago
They should just get rid of user generated content altogether. Nothing but drama queens haters, and trolls on there anyway..
iaMyla
· 8 months ago
Is this a april fools joke?
Because they can't be serious...
Chris Gen
· 8 months ago
Great article. We are trying to get more Japanese companies to be involved in Youtube marketing.
Excellent report.
Thanks!
Chris Digital Marketing Japan
nalex
· 8 months ago
google rakes in billions providing public services as it leverages their audience. The value of real entertainment production for youtube means marriage to that audience. Youtube's plans are getting people not watching TV to watch youtube instead, they can continue to grow their audience and give youtube stars a meaningful somewhere to graduate.
Next the studios will start creating content for youtube instead of CBS.
Diego
· 8 months ago
Leave youtube alone! It's great be cuz its YOU! n the TUBE! They should stick to their user oriented roots because they've created a whole new cyberculture. I say they ride that wave out and make it the best they can.
Oliver
· 8 months ago
Nooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!
theo
· 8 months ago
I think that eventually good content will win from content made by users. People want to be entertained. Content made by users was just the beginning of online video. But there will always be a market for content from users. http://www.mizoda.nl
luv4piggy
· 8 months ago
Alan Distro wrote a great article on his web site, viralvideowannabe.
“youtube is going about this all wrong by burying the worker ants who’ve carried youtube this far.” - Alan Distro.
The last line says it brilliantly.
I agreed with you 100%.
We, the ants, made youtube to be well known around the world and youtube is drowning the ants to attract a different audience for the TV shows and movies.
Sadly, that is low down dirty shame.
amazingaaron
· 8 months ago
They should be sharing more with the users that created them!
Dennis
· 8 months ago
I have been a YouTube Partner for over a year with about 40,000 views per day (other partners with these number of views get about $900/month) . I have spend a lot of time filming, editing, uploading, annotating, linking, commenting. I hope this is not the beginning of the end for us! Remember Googles motto “DO NO EVIL”.
Dennis
· 8 months ago
I have been a YouTube Partner for over a year with about 40,000 views per day and doubling every 5 months. I have spend a lot of time filming, editing, uploading, annotating, linking, commenting. I hope this is not the beginning of the end for us! Remember Googles motto “DO NO EVIL”.
Ross Lamond
· 8 months ago
The You Tube Revolution Begins.
Jared Armbruster
· 7 months ago
This is a just a glutt of features that they don't need!!!!LEAVE IT BE!!!!
Stef
· 7 months ago
I say they divide YT into 2 websites. Give us users back the original one, and make a shiny new one because y'all want money. That's fine.
David
· 7 months ago
you is supposed to stay community based, by them focusing on "big companies" that shows that they don't care about us. Bunch of money hungry fools.
Dean
· 7 months ago
no more ads , consumerism is the destruction of human will.
anngirl
· 7 months ago
OMG ..they are taking away what made youtube the essence, I know I will be sorry damn corporations
praetoriosneil
· 7 months ago
the whole point of youtube is the word YOU. the entire premise of the site is to let everyone be themselves. the ultimate form of self expression. not being limited to letters or words or pictures. the most authentic way to show YOUr personality is through the words YOU utter the actions that YOU do and the opinion that YOU express
You
· 5 months ago
This video is better!!!! just see it!!!.....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2oHNj1zbeQ
You
· 5 months ago
This video is better!!!! just see it!!!.....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2oHNj1zbeQ
You
· 5 months ago
This video is better!!!! just see it!!!.....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2oHNj1zbeQ
You
· 5 months ago
This video is better!!!! just see it!!!.....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2oHNj1zbeQ
paramendra
· 4 months ago
User generated videos also deserve to be monetized.
All Comments
programming, that I get really annoyed when I run into something on the web
on that says "Not available in Your Current Region or Country."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ndx_IdlUQU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrmqS3hmMRU
there are plenty of other video-sharing websites to enjoy =)
Here's a Question: Couldn't YouTube charge users money to upload video? Watching could remain free, but I think at the right price, wouldn't users accept the fact that their material takes up server space and therefore in a quasi-moral sense they wouldn't object to a fee to put their content out there? Isn't it kind of like the success of Itunes being based on the fact that the price is low enough that users were happy to go the legal route and at the same time feel good about rewarding artists. Thoughts??
I think what the other responder, Leandro Oliva, said makes a lot more sense.
As for the article: YouTube needs to make real money, and they won't do it with amateur home videos or user made clip assemblies.
----
well, i guess its sad that youtube is going to bite the dust, as we know it. what's ridiculous is that it seems there is a business model that could make youtube money with UGC- the profit margin may end up being less than hulu, but the idea would be to make up for that with its huge volume.
Edit: Just realized the graphic above is a mockup. Silly angry me. Still, if YouTube drops the tagline, they drop the very value proposition that drew their huge audience in the first place.
youtube is about "broadcast yourself."
it seems they lost their way.
what a shame!
they shouldn't forget their loyal viewers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hckIaJH2_w
So I'll just say this:
FUCK. THAT.
i was just about to come out with a few more videos, but I don't know if that's happening now. i don't want to be affiliated with a site that doesn't care about me anymore.
Maybe a YouTube and Hulu team up would be cool, but that would never happen, unless....
RT
www.anonymity.us.tc
Because they can't be serious...
Excellent report.
Thanks!
Chris
Digital Marketing Japan
Next the studios will start creating content for youtube instead of CBS.
http://viralvideowannabe.com/end-of-youtube-red...
“youtube is going about this all wrong by burying the worker ants who’ve carried youtube this far.” - Alan Distro.
The last line says it brilliantly.
I agreed with you 100%.
We, the ants, made youtube to be well known around the world and youtube is drowning the ants to attract a different audience for the TV shows and movies.
Sadly, that is low down dirty shame.