How Many Video Sharing Sites Do We Need?
from the the-number-keeps-growing-and-growing-and-growing dept
There's been a lot of joking about just how many online video sharing startups there are, with new ones coming out just about every day. However, it's not just the little guys. While there's been some speculation that some big media player will come along and overpay for YouTube, at least one big media player believes it can build such a site on its own. AOL is apparently launching its own video portal that will offer both free and paid-downloads. While much of the press coverage focuses on how some of the paid content will be licensed from Time Warner competitors, perhaps a more interesting tidbit is the fact that it looks like Time Warner is spreading this video portal across multiple brands. Most of the press is simply referring to this as an "AOL" property -- but a News.com story talks about CNN's video site, which we're assuming is related (if not, then things are even more screwed up at Time Warner than we'd previously imagined). The CNN offering is designed to get people to upload newsworthy videos, which we've seen have been showing up in increasing frequency on other video hosting sites. If it's true that the AOL and CNN offerings are linked, then at least it suggests someone has finally started thinking about ways to actually leverage the various brands inside the Time Warner portfolio across each other. Still, at some point, you have to wonder how much value there is in simply copying what everyone else has already done, rather than offering something that's convincingly better and different.Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
Why not
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Why not
However, I do see a limit to the number of general video clip sites that are really needed, since much of the same content can be found on YouTube or related sites.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
uk
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Disappointing angle
Oh wait...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Disappointing angle
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Disappointing angle
Hmm. I believe you've missed the point of the post (or, rather, perhaps I did a bad job explaining it).
There's a difference between encouraging competition and discouraging useless copycats. What I said, specifically is: "you have to wonder how much value there is in simply copying what everyone else has already done, rather than offering something that's convincingly better and different."
That was my point. Competition should be about creating something different and better -- not about playing catch up with a me too play.
Besides, the question isn't just about encouraging competition, but wondering if AOL is wasting its time with this effort that is starting well behind many of the other, already popular sites. That can simply be a waste of resources for the entire market.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Disappointing angle
I agree that the point was missed (for one reason or another). When I read "you have to wonder how much value there is in simply copying what everyone else has already done" I guess I read it as a blanket criticism of competition within a market, which may have been a silly assumption to make.
And while I agree that companies like AOL (and Walmart ala social networking site) are going to be playing catch up in these markets, you can't hope for alot of innovation if they don't get in the game. Not my favorite companies, and definitely not the players they once were, but as Oblivious said, SOME people DO still use AOL on TOP of Broadband.
I'm not a business guy but IMHO, companies like AOL should just roll over and die. I mean, to my knowledge, AOL's whole existance has been copying poorly what others have already done (EXCEPT MAYBE Instant Messenger). Their flagship product was a watered down and taped off internet, that really only sold well because of people's lack of education. When people realized they wanted to get on the "REAL internet" AOL's product started down the slippery slope of obsoletion. It seems to me, that is their market, finding products that already exist and co-opting them, poorly.
So, I see your point, in that they are definitely coming late to the game, and yes, they probably aren't going to innovate, and, yes, with the Google streak going strong, it really doesn't seem to matter if you show up late, early or not at all. But that doesn't mean SOMEONE shouldn't try.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Competition is good
I have to agree with Alpharocker. Through the whole net neutrality debate you state that the lack of competition is the real issue. Here we have a sector, online video sharing, that has plenty of competition, and you are talking about value. The market will sort it out. Don't worry, be happy.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Some people are missing the point...
I think selling advertising as a business model is becoming more and more obsolete... look at the death throes it's going through for broadcast TV, where it's convenient to bypass advertising entirely, not to mention the same thing on the Web... I for one have almost forgotten the epilepsy-inducing nature of the typical Web ads since switching to superior browsing technology years ago. Eventually, these businesses are going to have to figure out a way to actually sell a product or server... at the end of the day, YouTube isn't really mnuch different from the original Napster, except for the fact that it probably has a somewhat lower proportion of copyright-violating material.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Some people are missing the point...
How many techies will these free sites employ? When you're out of the 19-25 age range how will these bullshit sites help you make a living being a techie? Those are the types of issues that need to be addressed by Microsoft, Yahoo, Google, AOL and all the other giants that find it easier to fking copy than innovate and create jobs.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Some people are missing the point...
Honestly, who cares if "YOU" are having trouble keeping a job. I don't. And the fact that you can't hold a job has absolutely nothing to do with the article either.
The point of a company isn't to make jobs. Its to make MONEY. Innovation more jobs.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Some people are missing the point...
Innovation "does not equal" more jobs.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: Some people are missing the point...
As for job creation I'm currently a software developer and I am employed FYDAI. And the fact that your ignorant ass doesn't care about the availability of jobs just shows that you're not even worth replying to.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: Re: Some people are missing the point.
Oh, look, a programmer trying to tell a business analyst how to run a business. How quaint.
This flamewar is pointless and still off-topic, so let have the courtesy for the other readers and stop it now.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Are we missing...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Why is this even a topic?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
ANSWERING THE QUESTION
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Thats a silly question
How many news sites do we need ?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
If the shoe fits, wear it
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Vmix
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Mike, Hmmm...
As far as numerouse copycat sites, so what? What we are witnessing is evolution in progress. If they truly are copycats, they will go the way of the Dodo bird. Unwilling to be fresh or offer something for the visit, they will suffer their own demise.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Str8Up Online Video Sharing
[ link to this | view in chronology ]