Where are they watching video online?

So who scored more than 50% of online video viewing sessions in April of '08? It should come as no surprise that they are flocking to Google's YouTube, but 50.4% of the market? That's a BIG number. Perhaps not as much as the +70% of ads in the online universe that are served up by Google. Anyway, as Google gains in month to month figures over March of '08 (up from 48.1% in March of '08), who are the also-rans in this universe, and what kind of viewing numbers are they pulling down? In the #2 spot in online video viewing sessions is Yahoo with 8.2% of the market (April of '08), down from 8.5% in March. Then comes Fox Interactive Media at 6.6%, Microsoft at 4.1% and TimeWarner at 3.6%.

What amazes me is that only one of the networks even ranks in the top 5! ABC was #7, CBS Interactive #11 and Hulu (NBC and FOX) at #14. No doubt about the fact that the online video universe is not run by the traditional TV media world.

Network News -- Just a Memory?

The headline for a Recent post on the Pew Research Center Site reads ---

Is Network News Signing Off?

Many Journalists See Uncertain Future For Nightly TV Broadcasts and Fault Current Coverage

I missed this article by Carroll Doherty, Associate Director, Pew Research Center for the People & the Press dated April 15, 2008. Here's a link to the story

I think that what's next might be some kind of online version of network news. The next frontier might be to simply move the whole shooting match online.

And while we're on the network news topic, where's the good news these days ladies and gents? Between Burma's cyclone, Chinese earthquakes, world rice prices skyrocketing along with that of oil, and our '08 prez election, there's not a whisper of good news to be found. I guess there's always the Onion -- good stuff.

Alec Baldwin All Time Insult / TV Reviewing

On 60 Minutes tonight, Alec Baldwin was interviewed by Morley Safer about his mouth, his career, his failed marriage with actress Kim Bassinger and the infamous recording of his frightful attack on his daughter. He was asked about his ex-wife's lawyer whom he called a "300-pound. homunculus with a face like a clenched fist. " He retorted by saying, "I was being kind, Morley." Baldwin's colorful career has definitely been quite a ride.

Looking for a good place to find something to watch on TV tonight. Checkout David Bianculli's blog, TV Worth Watching. David reviews Television for NPR's Fresh Air program. You can also see his take on the 60 Minutes segment above.

One TV reviewer I certainly miss is John Leonard whose colorful and thoughtful segments used to be regular fare on CBS Sunday Morning. But with the loss of one great mind, comes the addition of another, Bill Geist. Bill is as about as nuts as journalists come on TV, so don't miss his latest walk on the wild side. Whether he's buying an Oscar, visiting the psychic capital of the world or visiting bikini clad baristas, Geist is clever and entertaining and able to find stories that would make Sunday Morning's original host, Charles Kuralt, chuckle with delight.

Great Idea - Great Execution - Great Cross Platform Campaign

How do you make an ordinary product memorable? Tie it to a great idea. You may have spotted Lincoln Financial Group's new ad campaign which is basically, Meet Your Future Self. In the commercial present selfs meet 'future selves' (think Back to the Future). I found three commercials on YouTube. The sound is out of sync on the Plane, and there is a noisy interlude on the Nursery. The third one is called ER, I got the old raised hair on the back of neck with one of them.

In each commercial the future self gives the today self' advice, thoughts and compliments about planning for the future and future planning well done. It's simple, elegant and fun, driving home the message about what life can be like in the future - if you save. The LFG web site has a campaign companion which further fleshes out the idea -- what if you could speak to your futureself.

This is strong creative work, and it will be interesting to see how this concept plays out on their bottom line. The site upsells all the services offered by LFG in a smart, compelling, and easy to understand way.

What Streaming Video on News Sites is Telling You

The quality of video streaming on the web is improving on a weekly basis. Watching the election results last night was almost like watching live TV. A few glitches and halts, but on the whole I turned the TV off, yet I felt like I was watching it on my computer. I bounced around between various network newscasts and found that it was easy to watch the election highlights on the net. This morning I watched highlights of Tim Russert's appearance on TODAY (they are getting better at the cross promotion stuff) and then listened to a series of stories about the flooding in Myamar/Burma.

What all of this tells us is that the newscast format is alive and well on the web, and that there is no reason that it cannot be applied to numerous storytelling applications for clients. A newscast (or some version of it) doesn’t have to cost a lot, and it can stay on top of the changing communications and marketing needs of clients. No pun intended, but this is a communications tsunami looming, and the sooner clients get on board, the more ahead of the curve they will find themselves.

More Video Production Thoughts and Comments

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Thx,

CB