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DEL.ICIO.USYouTube walks a tightrope
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Lots of news — some significant and some not — has been shared in recent days about video phenom YouTube. However, nothing matches in importance for owner Google and the YouTube team than a Harris Poll released Monday.
Nearly three-quarters of frequent YouTube users in the polltold Harris they would not use the site as much if short video ads were added before the clips. Breaking that down further, 42 percent said they would visit a little less often, and 31 percent, a lot less often.
YouTube founder Chad Hurley told the BBC last weekend that they are considering video ads as short as three seconds before videos. That’s far shorter than video ads on most sites, including this one.
Research has shown that users are willing to sit through an ad to watch TV shows and other fare online. But that research has not included the YouTube audience. Aongus Burke, senior research manager of Harris Interactive’s media and entertainment practice, cautioned: “… those who are accustomed to finding and watching everything for free at YouTube may have developed a different set of expectations for the site.”
YouTube/Google’s strategy is becoming clearer. To no one’s surprise, Google Video announced last week its video search now includes YouTube videos. Hurley revealed over the weekend that they’re planning a revenue share system with content creators. Obviously, that revenue comes from video ads and video search ads.
It’s been obvious for some time that YouTube would go through growing pains as it becomes a real business. That day is now here, and we’ll see how it walks the tightrope of making money without losing its massive audience. Its far less popular competitors — Revver, Guba, Metacafe, etc. — will be watching as well.
Would you be less inclined to watch YouTube clips if the site becomes more commercial? Or are you willing to accept a little commerce to see the wacky clips?
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Comments
By DePoWeR
February 8, 2007 12:33 PM | Link to this
Well being a content creator, it would be a small pause to await a crazy video! Depending on how well and how “funny” the clip is depends on how long and if at all people will wait to watch, i belive the clips would have to be longer than say: 30sec most videos on YouTube are very short and some drag on to the 10min time limit allowed. but all in all i belive this will affect YouTubes audience very little if any.
DePoWeR RadioandFilm.com