My thoughts on…boob tube vs YouTube
March 17th 2007 -
As of late, I’ve been reading articles about the copyright battle between YouTube and the major networks, as users upload full episodes of popular programs like 24 and Lost. I’ve also heard discussions about whether or not network TV is relevant anymore. What is it about Google’s billion dollar baby that makes it a threat to conventional television? Well for one, you get far more variety than regular TV. Think 200 channels is great? Try having millions, all created by people just like you, not network execs motivated by ratings and not sanitized by censors. Internet video gives users the ability to control content. We’ve all said to ourselves, “How did this crap end up on TV? I could make a better show than this!” Well with Internet video you can. There is also the appeal of instant stardom (probably the same reason so many people are blogging nowadays). Upload a good enough video, and by good, I mean something totally stupid or fanboy fodder, a couple million hits later, and you’re known worldwide. The guy in the mail room that no one talks to may be a superstar on the Internet. And that’s part of the appeal of YouTube, that you could be the next Star Wars Kid. That’s probably why Google paid $1.6 billion for it.
I still think there’s a place for the ol’ set in the living room though. Internet video is amusing yes, but it’s far too amateur and sophomoric to be taken for serious programming, despite the fact that some smart (dare I say it) programming is finding its way on the Internet. And I doubt that this will change any time soon, as it is mainly dominated by self-indulgent, under-achieving teens who need to feed their bruised egos. So I won’t be trading in my TV anytime soon. As for the copyright battle, it can’t be won. If Google decides to clamp down on uploading copyrighted material, no matter how hard it tries, there are far too many “offenders” to target. 65,000 videos are uploaded to YouTube everyday. Not even a company as large as Google can filter that much information. Not like they would want to, because they know that users will jump ship if they try to restrain users’ activity. Remember “new” Napster?
De Immigrant Says:
March 17th, 2007 at 9:43 pm
I really stopped watching network tv about 7 years ago. Now as far as tv is concerned its either news or a movie I missed on dvd. during the week my few spare night hours are spent on the web. This video thing has really taken off on the web during the past 18 months though. Wow!
taylor2nd Says:
March 18th, 2007 at 3:03 pm
wait.. what about pornotube.. cant leve em out the race. pornotube
Anne Says:
March 18th, 2007 at 3:55 pm
Have to agree with you on some point…
Personally though, I believe web videos are going to be stronger and stronger… We can never imagine what could happen in the next 10 years just like what happened to us in the past 10 years.
Crankyputz Says:
March 19th, 2007 at 11:32 am
Have yet to watch tv on the net….but totally agree with you, this stuff is impossible to control, I think people should stop the whinning and get with the times….
Renagu Says:
March 19th, 2007 at 10:28 pm
Great comments. I agree with your views and believe that the control for content will continue even if Viacom succeeds in clamping down on their content. Maybe if they push too far and offends consumers, Viacom and its products will be boycotted and consumers will opt to continue viewing what they want in a new forum somewhere else.