NBC's Love/Hate Affair With YouTube Firmly In The Hate Position
from the bye-bye-youtube dept
Perhaps no company has had more of a love-hate affair with YouTube than NBC. On practically a weekly basis over the past year or so it seems like NBC's official position on YouTube switches back and forth. First, they hated YouTube because the SNL Andy Samberg video "Lazy Sunday" was widely available on it, requiring NBC's lawyers to demand it get taken down. This seemed odd to us, as it was a great promotional vehicle for Saturday Night Live. And, in fact, for a little while, it seemed that NBC agreed, as they set up an official NBC channel on YouTube where they released lots of content, including newer Samberg videos. NBC execs started to talk about how great YouTube was for promotional purposes and some even hoped that NBC would put more content on YouTube. Of course, then Jeff Zucker took over, and one of his first public statements involved slamming YouTube even as his executives were talking about how useful a tool it was. NBC soon filed an amicus brief against YouTube in a lawsuit against the company and, more recently, have been speaking out against the company. Perhaps this isn't too surprising, as the company has teamed up with News Corp in a weak attempt to create its own online video property.So, with that flip-flopping in mind, it should come as little surprise that NBC has now completely shut down its official channel on YouTube according to Valleywag. This is pretty weak, though, as many people who enjoyed getting NBC content that way now have had that rug pulled out from under them. NBC still seems to be under the entirely wrong belief that people will come to them. People want to get content however it's convenient. That means offering it in a variety of places and a variety of formats so that people are more likely to view the content. Taking away options doesn't help things, it just pisses off more fans.
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With ABC, you need select versions of Windows with the most current update and WGA. Sorry, ABC is more back asswards than NBC. Don't know about CBS, do they even have an online site to view their shows?
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Poor NBC... Not listening...
But was asked to fill out a survey, which distracted me. The survey didn't properly ask the questions that were necessary to understand my position.
The email I drafted for NBC UNIVERSAL is below.
_______________________________
I'm real sorry to hear that your no longer going to be on iTunes. Your content was the best, but I realize that your Senior Management is making some decisions that is not win-win-win situation... Especially for me, the customer.
Steve Jobs really thought the world of you. He gave three keynotes featuring NBC content. Steve is not one to forget and forgive-- He gives chances. If you check out his last keynote, he made a genuine plea for NBC while demoing the new Create Your Own Ringtones.. I believe he said "That's what plays when NBC calls".
From my side--
I typically make 3 roundtrip flights a month, sometimes four. Every time I had folks next to me ask about the video iPod-- they didn't realize that the iPod was so easy to use, content was so accessable, and the battery would last for a whole trip (Even on that trip from Seattle to Tampa) on a single charge. It was always great pulling out the iPod video of my shirt pocket during cross country airline trips and watch episodes of The Office, Mad Money with Jim Cramer (CNBC), 30 Rock, Heros and the occasional CSI. (Most recommended by Steve's keynotes.)
While folks around me would struggle with portable DVD players, I effortlessly was able to watch full shows and keep up with what I missed the week before.
Your potential customers saw the content I was playing and knew that iPod was something special. I always recommended purchasing content thru iTunes, and getting the iPod from CostCo (Another company that consistently ranked extremely high in University of Michigan's American Customer Satisfaction Index)
To see that you've moved to Amazon is something of a surprise. I can look out my window and see their building, and while I could consider purchasing a Zune, I won't. I tried Zune in the past, it just doesn't work for me.
I already have well over $7,000 in content invested in iTunes in the form of audio and video content. I'm now on my 4th iPod, and have been considering a iPod Phone for the last 3 months.
I thought NBC of all companies, would be in it for the long haul, especially when Steve stood right behind you.
I guess I have to look forward to purchasing full seasons of CBS and FOX content.
I'd love to have you back...
~~A fan being forced to turn the (virtual) channel.
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