Monty Python Puts All Its Content On YouTube To Increase Sales Of Scarce Goods
from the good-for-them dept
As quite a few folks have sent in, it appears that the always funny team of folks who made up Monty Python actually seem to get the concept of giving away infinite goods to increase the value of scarce goods. They've set up a Monty Python channel on YouTube, where they'll be putting up pretty much all of their videos in high quality. The video announcing this is quite amusing, and a good contrast to all those content providers who decided to sue YouTube, rather than learn to embrace it: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.
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Filed Under: business models, monty python, scarce goods, videos, youtube
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Obligatory...
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Re: Obligatory...
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Re:
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Pythonline.com
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And I'm okay with this move.
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I put on women's clothing...
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that's 2 or was it 3 studios and now Monty Python.
Well, he's...he's, ah...probably pining for the fjords.
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The BBC
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YOU mEan
Now finally someone is doing something for the children.
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Reasons to buy the DVD
Well sure. DVDs offer lots of stuff that I haven't yet seen in simple video files: alternate audio, commentary, making-of featurettes, alternate video angles, subtitles (although some YouTube videos have those now), chapter menus... Plus, it's on a standard format that's still more "universal" (i.e. it'll play on the 9-year-old DVD player in our bedroom or the one built-in to the minivan; I don't have to go buy a new player that'll play .avi files off a disc or USB stick, or bring a laptop to the car). And those are just reasons that are the very nature of the format. (It's also a big part of why I personally don't think DVDs will completely go away in lieu of digital downloads.)
The "Holy Grail" collector's edition I got a couple years ago includes things like an art book and pictures of the filming locations, too, which was a nice bonus "scarce good" I don't mind having in my collection.
Whether that matters or not will be a choice people will make deciding whether or not to buy something, but that's always the case in commerce, no?
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Exceptionally Savvy Marketers
I got a kick out of the novelty of the two tracked Matching Tie and Handkerchief album with two parallel grooves on side two.
This will sell a load of 35 year old merchandise.
Eat it and smile RIAA.
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If the blog comments are any indication...
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Maybe I'm thinking just a bit too far down the road.
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You are picking a bad example for your Business Model
Why don't they give away the DVDs as promtional material for some NEW content they create and sell ONLINE. Now that would be promotional, innovative, and smart. As it is now, it's boring, why would I want to order a DVD when I can watch it online, no waiting no money, and more convenient.
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Re: You are picking a bad example for your Business Model
And, of course, the DVD can be watched in many more locations, unlike online videos, which they would have to burn to DVD or have equipment to stream or read videos from memory cards.
Horrible ideas are horrible :)
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Re: You are picking a bad example for your Business Model
You really are not watching it for free on PBS, you're paying taxes to PBS to keep them running, and if you donate to PBS. Also the small "sponsored by" clips before and after shows. Most DVDs also contain extra things such as making of... and alternate/deleted scenes, which I don't think would show up in the youtube videos.
Think of it now more of a donation to Monty Python then buying the DVD to watch their video with out pirating.
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How completely and utterly awesome - but then, it's Monty Pyton
Might as well as what did the Romans do for us!
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Already helped them in the past!
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And now for something completely different....
On my Christmas gift wish list: Monty Python action figures.
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Not a fan
However, this is enough of an innovative idea that I'm going to forgive them, and at least give it a second chance. If I see something that thrills me, I may even make a purchase for an upcoming x-mas gift.
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"We're Sorry, This Video Is No Longer Available."
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WHAT?
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I had no idea
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Not really
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