My Ba-Rock the Vote Greatest Hits

I know this is not a political blog, but I'm pretty blown away by the inspirational energy and phenomenal creativity of the music videos, original songs and down right brilliantly edited videos that have appeared on behalf of Barak Obama. It's a grassroots energy that lifts my soul and gives me, yes, hope.

I was asked to put together some of my favorite videos for some friends, so I thought I'd share them with you. Some of this is really state of the art Internet video production. Of course, in the case of Dave Stewart (formerly of the Eurythmics, who co-wrote the first song below with Bono), this is new work from some of the top rock musicians in the world. But there are a number of much lesser known artists below that are also sensationally original. I offer these links with sincere appreciation for the way these folks are using the new media to make a difference. Thanks!

My American Prayer by Dave Stewart
This is just awesome. Taking inspiration from the 40 years since we lost MLK, and using top acting talent as well as top music making, this multi-layered montage takes us back to "the mountain top." Yes, to many, Obama is an answer to a prayer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVi4rUzf-0Q

Vote for Hope by M.C. Yogi
A young rapper whose uplifting message and visual style are first rate.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iojPaw8yX0

Respondele a Obama by Jose Conde
Infectious Latin rhythms and Latinos on the streets of NYC make me want to dance with joy. Obamanos!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ycu0sy5RW8

Hockey Mama for Obama
One mama whose voice is worth hearing. I like the moose too. Hysterical.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bh9BmNuqeiQ

A Message for Sarah Palin from "the Young Girls of America"
These young women speak for themselves. Touching & motivating.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53XnLUUL82k

The American Promise by the Obama campaign
Is there anything that this campaign does that isn't first class?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCx0J3NiABY

The original "Yes We Can" video by will.i.am
from February just in case you didn't see it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjXyqcx-mYY

and for good measure, how about a little
Bruce Springsteen in Philadelphia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFnCc20E87g

Enough? :)

YES WE CAN.

Howard Rheingold Parses the Video Language

Howard Rheingold was a thought-leader before the term entered the vernacular. For example, he wrote the original book on virtual community. Now, Howard is helping people to understand what he's calling the "video vernacular" by walking his talk ie by posting a video on his vlog (video blog).

Just like us videographers used to talk about the "language of film making," Howard is correct that the whole video language, along with all the various forms of interacting with video are going through a radical metamorphosis. Video will never be the same. Will we? Doubtful.

Howard does a tease at the end of his six and a half minute video clip for the relevance of these new forms of video to education. In any case, I appreciate Howard's effort to help those of us who don't swim in this cyber-crap daily to get some perspective on what's happening.

Facebook to Become New Distribution Channel for Major Media Videos

Social media platforms are all the buzz, but I think this is a milestone worth noting: Slide today announced a deal to use Facebook to distribute videos from "major media" companies (including CBS, NBC and many more...). The geeky young face you see to the right is not only the founder/CEO of Slide, but a co-founder of PayPal.

Sure, Amazon and NetFlix (just to name two) are now distributing streaming video; but the leverage of Facebook is quite amazing. In fact, I've become an active Facebook user myself recently (see link lower left of this page), and I enjoy (among other things) using the quickie one-click video embed for Facebook that's offered by YouTube. Now, fans of network TV shows will actually be able to embed episodes and who knows what else.

Stay tuned. The Video Web is regenerating with a major boost from social networking power!

Live Video Streaming for Cell Phones Hitting, well, the Main Stream

Last week, a friend on Facebook (or actually an acquaintance... someone who I've never met in person, but within whom I've done a little work via phone and email) offered a link (via Facebook) to a live video stream of a techie industry party on a rooftop over-looking Washington, DC. The amazing thing was that when I clicked the link, it actually worked. Instantly, I was face-to-face, in a virtual sense, with party-goers who were saying things like "I just thought you were taking my picture..." to which this guy says, "No, you're live on the web" and a quasi interview ensued.

The Video Web is expanding more rapidly than even I realized... and cell phone video, live streaming cell phone video, is to blame.

If you want a more widely-respected opinion, The New York Times wrote up the whole scene in a Sunday Business section column called "Novelties." The article, "Capturing the Moment (and More) Via Cellphone Video," includes some even more compelling examples from the likes of LA's NPR radio leader, KCRW and mentions two leading live webcam video streaming website platforms (which are enabling these feeds): Kyte.com which calls itself "The Universal Digital Media Platform," offers ideas for "monetization" and offers the image above as part of its self-promotion, and Qik.com which appears to be a bit more popular with the blogging/social networking crowd, including my pal in DC.

Kyte also offers among other things, "The Kyte Premium Facebook application (which) is more than a simple widget – it’s a branded social communications platform, featuring live video streaming, multimedia chat, viral distribution capabilities and monetization opportunities." Don't we all need one of those?

Michael Moore to Make New Movie Free for Downloads

In a move that would make Chris Anderson proud -- and in a move that is, to my knowledge, completely unprecedented for a "major motion picture" -- Michael Moore and Robert Greenwald's Brave New Films have announced that Moore's new flick, "Slacker Uprising" will be made available via the web for free download on Sept. 23rd. If you're interested, this link will hook you up to the viral marketing campaign so you can spread the word.

Their announcement also adds, "You can also buy the DVD for $9.95, which will start shipping on September 23 and features extras like: Special Guest Joan Baez - America the Beautiful, Why People Like George Bush?, My Pet Goat, The O'Reilly Factor for Kids, Just Add Water and Heat - More Ramen and Clean Underwear, and more. Or should I say, Moore!"

Here's the trailer:

Web Video News Story: Democracy Now host Amy Goodman Arrested

In this world of video on demand and video shooters everywhere sharing their news, it is no less shocking to have the highly-respected American journalist, syndicated columnist and author Amy Goodman arrested while doing her job, right here in the USA, at a demonstration outside the Republican National Convention. (Full disclosure: I was, many years ago, a producer for Pacifica Radio, the network of independent radio stations who produce Ms. Goodman's "Democracy Now" broadcasts.) Perhaps even more striking (and dare I say empowering) is the fact that this story can be tracked in detail via videos on the web. For example, here is video documentation of her actual arrest:



And here is a short video interview conducted in the halls of the RNC immediately following her release from jail:



By way of background, Time magazine's website provides an overview on the demonstrations; and if you are as shocked and appalled as I am by this kind of treatment of journalists, please sign the petition at Freepress.net demanding that the charges against Amy Goodman and her producers be immediately dropped. I submit that freedom of the press is worthy of your time to support. As a journalist, I feel personally violated by this kind of intimidation of the press.

Updated Tues 9/3: The most comprehensive online coverage, video and otherwise, of the clashes and arrests by police in St. Paul may well be aggregated by Glenn Greenwald of Salon.com who goes so far as to suggest with shocking substantiation and more web videos that the FBI may well be involved in coordinating the attacks and intimidation of protesters.

The State-of-the-Art of Sponsored Internet Videos?

The world of Internet videos keeps getting richer. Yes, there's more interesting stuff than what's on YouTube (not that's YouTube is bad, there are just more channels on the "Internet TV system" than most people know). For example, this Beet.TV interview with Ziv Navoth, VP Marketing & Business Development at Bebo (which is one of the slickest, high quality internet video sites) offers one of the most passionate and somewhat persuasive pitches I've seen for a monetized opportunity for video producers. What do you think? Is it time for you (or me) to finally do an online video series?

OMG, Twitter is like so totally busted! "Twitter Whore" shows all...

I mentioned below the "In Plain English" Twitter video which actually explains Twitter to the uninitiated or un-techie amongst us. But, on the other hand, if you want to laugh a little, and sorta, kinda experience the frenetic experience of what I believe Twitter to be (and why I'm not a participant... go on, comment below about why I'm missing out!), then OMG! I'm sure you'll enjoy the Twitter parody videos below, produced by and staring one of YouTube's rising stars, Lisa Donovan (screen name LisaNova), a self-described "Twitter Whore" (video is in two parts below). As they used to say on Hill Street Blues, "Be careful out there."

Matt Makes Viral Video Delight & Super-Hit

Frank Capra used to say (regarding the requisite creative direction to make a movie), "One man, one movie." In today's world of viral video distribution, one man (or one woman) can make a super-hit all by themselves... or in this case with the support of one partner and a chewing gum company for a sponsor (no kidding). The story is well-written in this NYTimes coverage, "A Private Dance? Four Million Web Fans Say No" (although as of this writing it's been viewed 5.5 million times.) The Times calls it, "an almost perfect piece of Internet art: it’s short, pleasingly weird and so minimal in its content that it’s open to a multitude of interpretations." I like it for all of the reasons above as well as the fact that it's just plain fun and makes you feel good. :) (btw, clicking on "watch in high quality" is HIGHLY recommended, although you have to view the clip here on YouTube to do that.)



I also recommend viewing Matt's "Dancing Out Takes" at http://www.wherethehellismatt.com/

New iPhone Videos Better Than Ever

I'll leave the commentaries on Apple's dramatic announcement of the iPhone 3G to others. I'll only say that after holding out on buying an iPhone, I'm glad I did. Because now I'm ready! Half the price for double the speed (and all those new applications!) I'm going to get an iPhone 3G as close to July 11th as possible. That's as strong an endorsement as I can make. And, I think the iPhone is truly the first, the leading and the most important mobile computing platform.

I also noticed that the videos of today's announcement are better than ever. For example, here's a nice little hightlight reel from the Wall Street Journal:



I also looked at a little of Apple's streaming Quicktime version of Steve Jobs' complete presentation, and the quality of that video looks better than ever at http://events.apple.com.edgesuite.net/0806wdt546x/event/

I also enjoyed and appreciated the excellent live blogging done by the TechCrunch crew. Their live blog posts included videos of key people and commentators pre-event (including a nice scoop that EBay would be announcing an application) as well as great photos during.

More Very Useful Explanations in Plain English

I'm going to claim this might be the best resource for explaining Web 2.0 communication platforms to newbies ever! See my post below about CommonCraft, and if you're someone who would like a better understanding of stuff like blogs, RSS, social networking, podcasting, Twitter and more, there are easy to understand and remarkably clear and enjoyable CommonCraft videos about each of these subjects on the CommonCraft YouTube channel. Enjoy!

Podcasting (and Twitter) in Plain English

OK. I'm someone who has been doing his best to "span the Grand Canyon Gap between people and technology" for quite a number of years, so when I say this is impressive, I at least have some vague idea of what I'm talking about... ;)

I was trying to explain Twitter to my associate and went to Twitter.com and clicked "Watch a Video" Ta-da! A simple, cleverly animated, and impressively clear (and that's the main thing) explanation. What a concept! No kidding. As I once wrote, "making it look easy is the hard part." The creative production company is CommonCraft.com They say, "Our product is explanation." I love that and I love their work.

I'll let their work speak for them and maybe you'll agree it's impressive. Here's "Podcasting in Plain English":

Video Chat Portal, Seesmic Gets Celebs including Spielberg

I fooled around with the social video site Seesmic--you might think of it as a video chat portal--some time ago, and I found it boring. But now that the likes of Steven Spielberg, Karen Allen and Harrison Ford are posting video clips there too, maybe I should take another look?

And here's a thread you can view (without signing on to Seesmic) from a UK Guardian Journalist who dialogged via video with Steven, Karen, Harrison & more: Spielberg Pops Up on Seesmic

I caught wind of this from a TechCrunch post: Don’t Screw Your Partners Over A Marketing Promotion which explains more background and some related technical issues. Most interesting to me, they refer to the appearance of these celebrities as a "promotion" without explaining that deal. Jemima Kiss, the UK journalist says "the guys behind the project" are the Picture Production Company. However, The Industry Standard's coverage of this says, "Seesmic’s founder Loic Le Meur claims that he didn’t even know it was going to happen until right before the videos went up."

Still, it's clear that these celebrities are not just posting. For one thing, they all have the same background (gold curtains) on their videos so they apparently all went somewhere together and recorded their posts. These are hardly the casual, usually at-home kind of chats most Seesmic users post. Just the same, I view this development as an interesting new kind of access to some very interesting creative, innovative people, as well as more evidence of how important "The Video Web" is becoming to more and more people, including top-level leaders in the entertainment industry.

Anyone out there using Seesmic regularly and care to comment?

YouTube Video Quality & Flip Video Illustrate Latest Dynamics on The Video Web

One issue we've been dealing with that I think many people struggle with is how to get better quality video on YouTube. Here's the most useful insights I've seen to date on this subject:

>> Read: "Hi-Res YouTube Hacks"

Some of you know that I'm impressed with the amazingly simple, little video camera called The Flip. Here's why another thoughtful person thinks The Flip is important and perhaps indicates meaningful web video trends pointing toward our future:

>> Read: "Video Flips for the Future"

And while we are illustrating what's cool about the rapidly expanding world of video on the web, here's my son's newest favorite short video, which clearly would not have been possible without "the video web" both in terms of production as well as distribution. Pretty cool, eh? Enjoy!


People in Order

Enhancements to the Video Web: The Mini-Camcorder Du Jour & Intelligent Video Conversations

A couple of quick blog bites (vs sound bites) from the NYTimes website which indicate continually brighter days ahead for what I affectionately call The Video Web:

First of all, my fave tech writer David Pogue not only reviewed my Christmas present (see posts and demo video below), The Flip Ultra, but his latest "State of the Art" column, "Camcorder Brings Zen to the Shoot" pretty much nails it. It also informed me--and I had no idea about this--that the Flip is now garnering a rich 17% of all US camcorder sales and "has been the best-selling camcorder on Amazon.com since the day of its debut. For Pogue's finely articulated perspective, click here.

The other item is what appears to be a new feature on the NYT website, which is Bloggingheads.tv "diavlogs." Language-wise this is a double-derivative term. I'll bet most people don't even know that the term "blog" is derived from "web log" let alone that a "vlog" is a video blog. Just the same I welcome this combination that creates a new kind of conversation. (kind of rolls off the tongue) I've been thinking and occasionally saying that the use of webcams and the ease of the current state of video conferencing should be put to more use. Little did I know that this kind of video dialog, oh OK, diavlog was being so widely distributed. And then imagine my delight when I found at least these two commentators talking about the Barak Obama race speech being more articulate and interesting than most of those duds on cable TV news shows. Right on. It was also nice to see the NYTimes editing down and providing a solid 4-minute excerpt of what appears to be an almost hour-long original conversation on BloggingHeads.TV At least the whole thing is there for you if you want it.

Click here to watch the NYTimes-BloggingHeads edit: "Obama's Grandmother" which asks the scintillating question: "Is everyone missing the whole point?"

I have to add that the intelligence of this BloggingHeads conversation is in stark contrast to my experience experimenting with the Seesmic.com video "conversation" website which is mentioned in the Davos post below. That turned out to be an interesting attempt from a technological point-of-view, but extremely boring overall. Even Seesmic's specially produced (and apparently funded) posts were disappointing (to say the least). Sorry. I liked their bushy-eyed enthusiasm, but there's good web video and a lot that is not so good. Like everything else...

Quality Video Programming is On Now

On my less optimistic days, I feel like we've gone from "nothing on" crappy TV programming, to "too much on" kitchen sink internet video programming. But fortunately those days are few because of how much uplifting and inspiring stuff is out there.

Recently, rather than bottom feeding, I've been top feeding with some of the best online video programming anywhere.

Tonight I was browsing some great Talks at Google on YouTube (from obvious Google execs, to fascinating authors, to presidential candidates). And earlier this weekend, I caught a link (on an Amazon author blog no less) to yet another amazing one of the extraordinarily inspiring TED talks. Truly great stuff. These are also available via iTunes and, for me, has made having a video iPod worthwhile.

Here's the latest TED talk that blew my mind. If you've ever wondered the meaning of all the left-brain, right-brain talk this will clear it up and uplift you as well, at least it did me:



By the way, if you're interested in getting a full taste of the TED conference, I highly recommend the DVD, The Future We Will Create: Inside the World of TED. It's a kind of greatest hits, behind the scenes look at the 2006 TED conference. Also, inspiring and uplifting.

See there's lots of good stuff to watch. ;)

My Virtual CES Report

No, I didn't go to CES (the consumer electronics mega-convention) in Las Vegas, but here are a few tidbits from the web that I've found worthy:

Scoble's doing Qik videos direct from his cell phone including this interview with the guys from YouTube:



And CNET picked this astoundingly innovative and open source BugLabs platform as its CES Awards winner for "emerging technologies." I even like their video. Cool.

Nintendo Wii Hack Creates 3-D Virtual Reality Head-tracking: Whoa!

I don't usually cover do-it-yourself techno-hacks, but as far as I'm concerned this is one of the kinds of things that YouTube was invented for. Specifically, here's an amazingly creative computer guy (a Ph.D. student actually) who has figured out a way to create a true 3-D virtual reality experience by doing a customization (a.k.a. a "hack") of the Nintendo Wii.

What's equally impressive, at least to me, is that in less than 5-minutes on the video clip below, he not only explains how to do this yourself, but he educates us mortals about the difference between a simulated or flat 3-D image and the much more real virtual reality style head-tracking that he has managed to implement. I love not only what he's done but the fact that he can use internet video to share it (and to share it so clearly) with the world. (Thanks, Johnny.) Enjoy.

The Story of Stuff: Powerful, Interactive Online Education & Activism

I certainly don't want to diminish the enthusiasm of those who are authentically spreading joy by giving gifts, but as someone who has not only been concerned about the environment and the people on our planet for many years, and someone who has been watching various forms of interactive online videos and Flash movies for those that are the most powerful and (in my humble opinion) the most likely to succeed in making a difference, I was really blown away by the twenty minute presentation:

The Story of Stuff with Annie Leonard

Please click the link above to watch this fabulous program and check out this great website (or watch the Flash video intro below). Then if you are so inspired, please "pay it forward."

Happy Holidays!!

Information R/evolution

I love the way these videos from an outpost in academia illuminate information's revo-evolutionary process. IMHO, the insights are way worthy of reflection. Enjoy and appreciate the disruptive dynamics of our rapidly changing information society...

Google Mail Video Best Viral Video User-Generated Video Marketing I've Seen

Geez, I'm always posting about how hot the online viral video space is becoming, and wouldn't you know it, here comes Google with not only my 2nd viral video post of the night, but one that leverages user-generated content to the max. Great stuff you all, and I really mean you all. And, oh yea, nice job Google for editing it all together in such a snappy fashion. More info here: http://mail.google.com/mvideo

Seniors Nintendo Wii Bowling Video Scores as Viral Video Marketing

Here's a video that's not only entertaining and about seniors using the innovative Nintendo Wii video game, but it is also a clever form of viral video marketing which subtly promotes a senior assisted living company. Expect to see more of this kind of thing in the future. This one is unusually well done, and they save the low-key pitch for last. Appropriately putting the fun first...

A Viral Video with Massive Heart, Energy & a Difference

Sometimes I see something that moves me and is sufficiently "right on" that I feel I need to post it. This is one of those times:

Recording a Skype Video Call, Good Fun

Yesterday, I had a pro bono client who wanted to demo a new voice mail system at a conference. I came up with the idea of using Skype to record the call and found Call Recorder (for Mac).

Today, because I had Call Recorder demo installed, while I was on a video conference call using Skype with a client, I had the idea of recording a message to my designer/producer having the client acknowledge his work in a video clip. Presto. Easily done with a click of a button.

Nice software. It works. Does what it's supposed to as far as I can tell and only costs $15. Nice.

PS. Bonus, because Call Recorder records the calls as Quicktime movies, I can easily go into iMovie and add visuals to enhance the voice mail demo. Very nice. :)

Video Shows (or Channels) Are Attracting Real Money

Beet.TV is calling this a "boom time for niche media" as in Believe It: Boom Time in Niche Media is Now: Mediapost Sells for $23 Million....WallStrip Producer Explains the $5 Million Value Proposition for CBS..and More! Impressive sales for producers who started their own thing, only on the web. Real sales for real substantial dollars. Nothing pie in the sky. Unquestionably, internet video programming has become a REAL market.

NYTimes covered the MediaBistro sale

A New Way to Distribute Your Videos on the Web

What's a video producer to do? We all want to have as many people as possible see whatever we produce... So should we upload our clips to MySpace, to YouTube, to Google Video, etc. etc. Or, wouldn't it be nice to have a simple web-based service that does this kind of distribution for us?

Well, now there is. It's called Hey!Spread. Get it? They help you spread your video around the web.

It's a basic, practical, straight-forward service (but you do need to set up accounts at the services you want them to populate with your clips) and most importantly, it's immediately useful. I like that. ;)

Thanks to TechCruch for their mini-review of this service.

What We Call the News: "Only the Truth is Funny"

Happy Monday. I'm on the run, but (as some of you know) what I think matters most about all this new media revolutionary... internet, digital video, and other technologies that are associated with the potential democratization of media (and so forth) is that all of this new media offers an alternative to the media circus that has largely replaced honest and informative journalism in our mainstream media. Thus, my enthusiasm and salute to the Jib-Jabbers who created the following bit of parody and spot-on comedic commentary. Enjoy.



Or, you may view "What We Call the News" at JibJab.com

Skype Video Call Gives Me a New Taste of the Global Village

I know this is nothing new, but the experience is somehow different, especially when it happens to you unexpectedly. Here's what happened...

I have a prospective consulting client in the UK. We've had a couple of phone calls and numerous emails. I was away on vacation last week and we planned to talk yesterday to catch up and finalize details. She suggested we use Skype. Truthfully, I've used Gizmo Project for internet phone calls. For a while, I used it quite a bit, but not lately. I had downloaded Skype for Mac just in case while a client was overseas, but hadn't really used it.

I scrambled... First, upon plugging in my USB headset, I found that it was recognized right away. I was able to confirm this quickly with a nifty test call feature that was built right into my "buddies" list. Then, unexpectedly, the prospective client suggested we might do video; and before I knew it, I could see her!

I have a MacBook Pro with a build-in webcam. I opened Skype's preferences and told it to automatically activate the camera. She called back and presto, we were in a face-to-face meeting. Just like that, my first transcontinental video conference call. Very much like being in a meeting, but without the travel time.

I was impressed with Skype's ease of use, neatly supported by the Mac's ease of use and the fact that Skype supports the Mac. It's easy to see why Skype is the clear leader in VoIP calling.

And, despite writing about this stuff for years (and even consulting with VDOnet years ago when they had one of the first webcam networks), I was struck by the immediate reality of our global village. It reached out and touched me in a concrete way, and gratefully in a way that may well benefit my bottom line.

It's a treat when all this stuff we write and think about comes up to you and gives you a nice warm fuzzy nudge. ;)

NYTimes Spotlights The Internet-to-Cable Comedy Incubator

I love this. More evidence of the power of putting video online. More creative freedom and opportunities for creative people. More media power to the people. More breaking up of the old guard media empires (oh yeah, they call those "disruptive technologies"), etc.

New York Times television "news" section calls its report: Online Yesterday, on Cable Today

Enjoy.

Creating YouTube Video Channels, A Pro Explains His Search Engine Strategy

Toward the end of this interview on Beet.TV, Brad Inman of leading edge, yet professional internet video producer, TurnHere, gives the most credible explanation of why companies, corporations and other organizations should be creating their own YouTube channels. It's all about search.

Finally, An Overview of Video Sharing Sites and Revenue Opportunities

I've been wanting someone to write this article. (Thanks to Beet.TV for the tip.)

A site called LightReading (which calls itself "the leading integrated business media company serving the telecommunications industry and other related next-generation communications markets") has published Online Video: Show Us the Money which includes information on no fewer than 75 video sharing sites with mini-reviews of the Top 10 revenue sharing sites. It's complete with comparison charts, and I recommend clicking on the "Print" link to get the whole report with charts embedded. You could really call this a white paper in the purest sense.

Great work. Thanks, Light.

Web 2.0 Illuminated by Neat Video

Great video illuminating Web 2.0. Thanks, Kanas State U. ;)



OR a higher-quality WMV version of this video is available here.

Enjoy.

Online Video Explosion Signposts

One nice thing about the online video explosion, revolution, or whatever you want to call it, is that it does have signposts. (FYI, I'm still waiting for some professional publisher to ask me to write more about all this... hello?!).

But meanwhile here are a couple of recent articles and/or posts that I found to be of interest and encouraging re: the re-emergence of my own "video-video" enterprises (videos about video and online communications) which are percolating in the background:

> VideoEgg Hits 3 Million Uploads -- TechCrunch insights on the growth of this online video leader vis a vis GooTube (Google-YouTube) who may have the best ad platform of the moment. I said "may."

> All The World's a Stage (That Includes the Internet) -- NYTimes writer Scott Kirsner offers a nice overview with examples of how user-generated content can and is making money, at least for a few leading edge folks.

Online TV & Video: "social revolution" No Longer an Exaggeration

Sighting a pressing TV industry need to monetize the "massive interest in online (video) content," eMarketer.com summarized an Informa Telecoms & Media research report (which I could not find on their site) including numbers that would make almost any venture investor salivate. For example, "In the US alone, revenues are forecast to rise from $538 million in 2006 to nearly $4 billion in 2012."

"These trends are now so pronounced, that the term 'social revolution' no longer seems too much of an exaggeration," said Adam Thomas of Informa.

Personally, today, I was checking out VideoEgg.com which boasts an easy to use video upload, Flash compress, and, yes, video editing platform as well as a pretty impressive online video ad network that's focused on social networking sites.

Does anyone have a good comparison of all these new Web 2.0 video platforms?

TechCruch seems to think that SplashCast may have the ultimate player platform.

I wish it was like the Videography days when I could get paid to research and write about this stuff. Who knows, if I can find a way to monetize it, maybe I'll be doing some video clips soon. Potential channels would include internet marketing, online video, and the joy of golf. But should I do SplashCast channels, distribute via the VideoEggNetwork, BrightCove, all of the above, or what?!?

Whoa! Netflix to Offer Free TV Shows to Members

The battle for the distribution of broadcast programming via the Web is heating up. Apple's iTunes Store has made big waves by selling TV shows at $1.99 each. Now NetFlix is rolling out what is essentially a perk for membership. Free downloadable TV shows.

Here's the TechCrunch overview of this announcement and the official NetFlix press release and the NYTimes perspective.

New Easy Way to Monetize Your Internet Video Clips

(Sometimes I still feel like I'm covering the "Video Web" the way I did in my "old days" at Videography, yet I know not how many of you readers even know or care.)

I not only think that AdBrite's new InVideo service is useful and practical, but I really like the fact that they're walking their talk with a quick, clean and illustrative video that does a good job (see below) of explaining the advantages of and how this new way to place ads in your internet video clips works (still in invitation-only beta).

Maybe some day I'll get around to producing some online video content? Especially now that I know that I can produce video clips with easily self-embedded video ads that are not offensive and which will travel with an embedded video player to anyone else's website. Nice!

Video & You: Bigger Than Ever

I've been talking about how hot the online video business and content is getting for months, but it's now beyond my comprehension. Not only are the Skype founders testing a new broadband video service and the NY Times is reporting a new online video service being put together by "a handful of giant media companies, like NBC Universal, the News Corporation, Viacom and possibly CBS," but user-generated content a.k.a. "you" is the person on the year and the cover of Time magazine's year end issue. The real story behind this is Web 2.0 and, of course, YouTube. For example, the article explains that last year users were downloading 10 million clips a DAY from YouTube. This year: 100 million video clips a day... read more of Time's perspective... (including the list of related articles.)

Making Money on the Video Web

Any of you blog readers remember my Videography columns? Just curious. In any case, FYI for the rest of you, I've been writing about video on the web since the first streaming video vendors (in fact I consulted by VDONet which preceeded Real in terms of online video). Not that that's important, but it's nice to see the financial eco-system aka the online video marketplace coming of age to a point where people think there's a business there. Of course, the biggest piece is the sale of movies, TV shows and other commercial forms of entertainment. But, as I'm found of saying, "stay tuned"... there's more.

If you're involved in the online video marketplace and its business potential, you'll find this eMarketer.com report about other research reports regarding the "MoneyTube," Online Video Becomes a Real Business, to be of interest.

Net Video Sites Up Offers of Cash for Content

Reuters reports that video sites are now paying real cash money for what has been the amateur-only user-generated content category of web videos. In particular, Break.com has upped it's payments to $400/clip, with more being paid for original animations; and the site claims to have already paid over $300,000 for original user generated content. The universe of web video appears to be beginning to mature in terms of its business models with paying of eyeballs (viewers) and quality content motivating submissions. Stay tuned.

The Birth of the "Social Video Network" (video blogging & social networking remixed)

You take a little MySpace, you add some YouTube, and mash 'em up. That's the latest in easy to use video blogging... er well, I mean video sharing/syndication... well, actually, I mean video "channels" based on MySpace social networking and YouTube video sharing type o' technologies.

The business model et al was written up on AlwaysOn or go straight to Dave.tv (the "social broadcast network") or vsocial.

Next Generation: Online Digital Video Editing Software

As readers of this blog (or my old Videography columns) know, I like the ASP (application service provider) model of "software as service" using web-based applications to replace those that once lived exclusively on your computer's desktop. Video editing software has been one of the most difficult to deliver via an online application. But in today's world of ubiquitous high speed connections, not to mention the massive demand for online video deliver, much more viable solutions, like StashSpace.com are emerging. Very impressive! Read TechCrunch's review with links to other online digital video editing software application sites.

LonelyGirl15: Viral Video Victory

If you search YouTube for "lonelygirl15," you get all kinds of debunking, profanity and other forms of extremely personal video reactions. Whether hoax or otherwise, the girl's got buzz. Personally, I'm with the crowd that thinks she's too polished not to be a professional production (and I am a video production professional). Regardless, she's the latest generation of viral video star; and, as New York magazine says, she's the leading edge of a new (albeit commercial) art form.