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Agnes Varnum is a freelance writer, film programmer and communications manager for the Austin Film Society. She is the primary contributor to doc it out and Tribeca Film Institute's Resources.

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The online video question

July 8th, 2006 • Related Posts • Tags

I just noticed an older post from Steve’s POV noting a CNET article on the future of YouTube. The article says that since YouTube basically has no business model – they either will have to sell ads or become subscription, neither of which would appeal to the 13 million people already used to using it as is – the company is going to deflate soon. Certainly given the dotcom bust of yesteryear, this is a distinct possibility. Most internet companies are again following the Google route: build a huge community and figure out how to make money at it later. But Google has the advantage of having hardware and the brightest minds in tech behind them. I don’t know the YouTube folks, but since they declined to answer questions for the CNET article, I’d guess they don’t have a trick up their sleeves. They would be able to come up with a more clever comeback than “company executives have offered Martin ‘no insight into our business.’”

The other aspect for producers is how to make money from your content. YouTube could certainly be useful in driving traffic to your content and website where you sell content, but if you were inclined to deliver content via modes such as YouTube, Google Video, Vimeo or others, how might producers and providers monetize the content in a way that consumers will buy?

If you are serious about making a living from producing media, why post on YouTube?

There Are 5 Responses So Far. »

  1. Comment by Mitch Teplitsky on 10 July 2006:

    Hi Agnes:

    Your last paragraph poses exactly same question I’ve been discussing with my editor (and web team at http://www.sonnetmedia.com). But why not simply post trailers or teaser clips on public services (YouTube et. al), with your own URL posted in video as end credit where viewers can buy or sign up for mailing list or whatever action you want to take….great to see you last week, I’ll be in touch from Peru! – Mitch

  2. Comment by Bob Alexander on 10 July 2006:

    These streaming video sites, of which there are now many (10 or more of any size), are a great promotional vehicle for a teaser/trailer. Under no circumstances would an individiual interested in paying the cost of her/his internet subscription post to these sites anything more than that! I love it (

  3. Comment by Bob Alexander on 10 July 2006:

    for our business), but it’s surely not for everyone. A Venture Capital type person (sub species of human being) says: I think on-line will gravitate toward Google Video. Really? What a thought! It’s possible that Google will be able to charge some small amount for persons who post there, but if you have video content that is significant, why (unless you have a trust fund) would you put it there? Here is another thought: There is a type of media called “user generated media” or UGM. The archetype of UGM is a phone call — user generated media. But, for example, independent film has a structured production process and a structured process for its evaluation and accreditation. Why would someone confuse UGM with independent film?

  4. Comment by agnes on 11 July 2006:

    The Hollywood Reporter reports that Sundance Channel made a deal with Google video. They are differentiating between amateur and professional content: “Google Video is really an extension of Google overall as the organizer of the world’s information and we’re very interested in providing premium and user-generated content,” said Jennifer Feikin, director of video and multimedia search partnerships for Google.

  5. Comment by agnes on 11 July 2006:

    I guess one of my concerns is for the people who are falling somewhere in between. Perhaps self-funding a film and not finding the home for it they anticipated, so in an effort to get it seen, posting it online. Or, self-distribution strategies that include these outlets purposefully – something creative that we haven’t seen?