Execs: Web video not a threat

Posted by Cory Bergman on October 1, 2006

“[Web video] is not replacing the high-end, high quality programs on television. They are offering different experiences,” said NBCU CEO Jeff Zucker at Wired’s NextFest conference. What about YouTube? “I don’t think we can ignore it, anymore.” He said YouTube has been great promotion, “but then we said ‘why don’t we have the ability to do this ourselves?’” Zucker said NBBC is a step in that direction. Meanwhile, Judy McGrath, Chairman and CEO of MTV Networks, said “the notion of exclusivity has blown up. It has no value. Any exposure [of music videos or a TV network's programming] helps. It doesn’t hurt. It somehow rubs off on us. It’s additive. It’s the greatest thing that could have happened.”

http://thelosangeleschannel.com thelosangeleschannel

that is some short sighted thinking on mr. zucker’s part.

who really believes hollywood has a lock on creativity? they had a lock on distribution but no more. considering nbc is in the basement they ought to be surfing the net for a “hit” or ten.

it’s only a matter of time, probably weeks, till some independent puts up a series via the net that begins to attract an audience that hollywood would envy.

stay tuned.
thomas

I have to agree with Mr. Zucker; for now anyways. I dont see web video as a threat to television, will it be in the future? It sure has the opportunity to be, but I do not see this *revolution* occuring in the next few weeks, or the next year for that matter. What concerns me is that “tv people” see the web as a threat and not an ally, what they dont understand is that the web is just a new medium to display their, mostly sub-par work on. As both a consumer and a person working in the streaming media industry I would love to see all content “on-demand”, I wouldnt even care if it was ad supported as long as it was in decent quality. -End-
Safran

They have the ability to do it themselves if they want to. There is nothing hard about allowing someone to share your video. There’s nothing tricky about giving someone the teeny piece of code that lets them embed the player on their page. The ability is there. The will is not, because it involves giving up control.
http://thelosangeleschannel.com thelosangeleschannel

sorry if you took that to mean it would ALL happen in a few weeks.

i think i was pretty clear in saying “some indepedent”, “a series” and “begins” to attract an audience.

all it will take is one to get people thinking in these terms. then the evolution of the past 6 years will begin the revolution many will need to see to take it seriously.

you can pretty much see nbc’s strategy in what they did with their answer to Y-T…they’ll just co-op the idea when it catches on.

for now, i’ll go out on a limb and say within the time frame i mentioned in my initial comment (a few weeks) Y-T will be named a defendant in a napster-style suit.
thomas

Well if you say “itâ€™s only a matter of time, probably weeks…” then most people are going to assume thatâ€™s what you mean; were not all mind readers :) . I agree with you, there is opportunity for independents to take center stage and give traditional broadcasters a run; just havenâ€™t seen anything note worthy yet. As far as someone going after Y-T, I donâ€™t know about that, maybe, but what are they going to get out of it? As far as I know they still donâ€™t have a viable business model, so suing would just be ridiculous as this point. Again, what do I know?
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http://thedetroitchannel.com thedetroitchannel

thomas,

fair enough on the first part. you got me!

lonelygirl15 would be an example of what i was getting to; a low budget, mediocre quality series of videos that catch a wave. there are thousands of wannabes in colleges and high schools around this great nation who could give ‘em a run. no one is saying they’ll replace the big three, but they’ll certainly diminish the line of thinking mr. zucker was posing.

as for suing YT: that would be done to reinstitute control of distribution (or try). you can’t tell me they’re not calculating the risks of a backlash from the public. my guess is it will NOT be one of the networks who does this but a surrogate.

cheers!
thomas

I think we may be on different pages in regards to what kind of content we are talking about. Your example is the YT sensation Lonelygirl15 is more viral than real content. I interpeted Zuckers comment to be in regards to “real” programming, such as “Lost” or “The Simpsons” rather than budget indie shorts or viral’s.

The YT legal battle in my mind is going to look much like the RIAA / ISP legal debauchle. Networks are going to attempt to push YT to give up user information on those who upload “illegal” content and YT is not going to do so. I guess we will all have to wait and see what happens; the next few years should be interesting.
http://thedetroitchannel.com thedetroitchannel

i used lg15 as an example because you’re right, up til now there hasn’t been anything noteworthy.

the buzz, and the ensuing publicity like leno having her on with tucker carlson will most likely blur the definition of “real” content, at least in the eyeballs of the audience. which is all that really matters, right?

anyhow, thanks for the conversation!
thomas

always up for a good discussion.

GO TWINS!! & Gotta love KC.
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