The Explosion Of Video Online
Author: Madison Lockwood

In just over a year, the idea of easily uploading your home
videos or personal creative projects to an easily accessible,
popular web destination has gone from "unheard of" to
commonplace. The explosion of web video is just another example
of the egalitarian appeal of the Internet. If you're new to the
latest craze, here are some of the major players in the world
of online video.

What is You Tube?

You Tube is a video social networking site that allows its
members (membership is free) to upload their own videos and tag
them with keywords so that they can be categorized.
You Tube is probably the best example of just how fast a
"social networking" web site can grow. The company was founded
in February 2005. In July or 2006 it announced that 100 million
video clips per day are being uploaded from the site. It is
currently the sixteenth most visited website on the Internet.
Many of the uploads have been professional music videos or
movie clips or clips from TV shows, and they have had their
share of threats and legal action over copyright issues. You
Tube is responsive to copyright violations, and has readily
taken down copyrighted material when they have received
objections.

What is Google Video?

Google has also opened up a video sharing service. They provide
an opportunity for registrants to upload personal videos to
personal blog sites or web pages. In addition, the Google video
service provides a library of music videos, sports clips and
movies. The films are usually for sale - Google will tease you
with a couple of minutes of the footage and then offer the
chance to buy it for fifteen dollars or so; or purchase a "one
day pass" for $1.99.

Google posts a "most watched" list of its amateur videos, just
as You Tube does. For Google, however, the personal element of
video uploading seems to be just an extension of other
"personalized" services they offer. The commercial side of
their video section provides feeds from AOL, Yahoo and other
sources. They have a collection of music videos for which they
must have received copyright clearance.

What is Video Online?

Video Online is AOL's entry into the field. It is more a
library, or collection of links to, video from all manner of
sources. It is offering "video on demand" which consists of old
movies for sale. They offer video in various "channels" and
provide a search tool to look for "videos across the web." They
also offer a "Video Uncut" service on their paid tier that has
extremely high rankings among web users.

What is BlipTV?

BlipTV is a site for short form videos that provides for user
uploading. The website essentially takes control of the
material, however, formatting it for a video entertainment
website. They are in search of quality short form video; their
slogan: Nobody does it shorter!" Clearly, their goal is to
bring talent to their site, give them some exposure and gain
quality programming in the process.

Independent Video vs. Corporate Programming

You Tube is the one service that was developed with the
anarchist approach that drove early Internet creativity. The
intent was not to lift copyrighted, professional content but
rather provide a platform for all those people out there with
video cameras and ideas. Their success has been unparalleled
and now, speculation turns to what exactly can be done
commercially with a website that draws millions of daily
visits.

Much like MySpace, the advertising community isn't sure what
the value proposition is and the founders of the site aren't
sure what commercial application is appropriate for the site.
You Tube has struck a deal with NBC to carry selected network
programming over their website for periodic downloading; and
thus have become one of the initial outlets for online
television programming.


About The Author: Madison Lockwood is a customer relations
associate for http://www.apollohosting.com. She helps clients
understand how a website may benefit them both personally and
professionally. Apollo Hosting provides website hosting,
ecommerce hosting, & VPS hosting to a wide range of customers.