Fox (News Corp.) and NBC Universal said on Thursday they will launch a free online video site this summer, featuring full-length movies and television shows in a challenge to YouTube. (Source: Reuters/Yahoo News). The two companies have also enlisted Yahoo, Microsoft and TimeWarner (AOL) as distributors of the entertainment on their websites.The move underscores how serious a threat YouTube has become to media companies, which fear losing a new generation of viewers who are as likely to be found in front of computers as television screens.
Content will include such popular TV shows as “Saturday Night Live” on NBC and “The Simpsons” from News Corp.’s Fox network, as well as films like “The Devil Wears Prada” and “Borat” from 20th Century Fox.
“This is a game changer for Internet video,” News Corp. Chief Operating Officer Peter Chernin said in a statement. “We’ll have access to just about the entire U.S. Internet audience at launch.”
What’s WillVideoForFood’s take?
Based on Yahoo, AOL and MSN’s involvement I’m not sure this is an online video “site” at all. It sounds like a new distribution platform for NBC and Fox. This is motivated by the old “an enemy of my enemy is my friend” theory, but I do think it’s far more sustainable than previous attempts by networks to dethrone YouTube and others. For starters, it will have good content and a wide audience.
Is it the end of YouTube? Hardly. Will Google try a similar play for alternative content (with other networks)? Of course. In the end, this will all accelerate the space and raise the bar in online video. So bring it on.
Let’s also be sure that Yahoo, MSN and AOL aren’t idiots. Their deal with Fox and NBC is surely not exclusive.
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Dang, that was quick. And nice peacock. And very good analysis.
I needed a peacock, mind?
do I need to hunt down one of my prediction? what did I say? come on what did I say? really, what did I say? I can’t remember.
gootube may hit a deal with viacon yet AND/OR disney
I can no longer read the phrase “bring it on” without hearing it in your voice.
I heard about this this morning, it sucks… They need to partner with youtube and do this. We don’t need competitors, we need one big company. Google has what it takes to control the big tv players.
I like this idea a lot. There are tons of sites that stream full movies and tv shows the day after they come out so I’ve only used youtube for it’s great community of video makers. Having the movies and shows available legally is just adding another option for people that stream their movies and shows. I don’t see youtube being affected very much by this since youtube is all about user made videos. This is just my opinion, I could be wrong.
At least NBC has a clue…. Viacom could learn a thing or two from NBC, methinks.
Joost will crush them all!! When it finally gets going… I got an email from them recently saying how much they are sorry for the delay and promise to give me a pass in the next few weeks… we’ll soon see about that!
-Foxy
I finally got my joost invite too! woohoo
this isn’t about youtube at all. it’s about itunes.
When will the networks finally grasp the idea that, yes, they have lost a great number of viewers, but not of one demographic or generation? There are many of us fed up with overproduced, cheesy, and generically beautiful shows, and can’t be satisfied with reality TV. We have tasted some personal power now in the way of discovering our own palate where entertainment is concerned, and enjoy the activity of scoping out our own content. There will always be those who like to have their plate served to them, but then there are others who want to be the chefs. LOL It’s a new form of entertainment in itself for us to scope out talent ourselves, play the critic, and give feedback straight to the videographer. It’s an indie thing.
I don’t think networks will be able to win back those audiences. Now, if they want to talk commericial-free, we might head back to the tube every now and then. YouTube and like sites have nothing to worry about.
When will the networks finally grasp the idea that, yes, they have lost a great number of viewers, but not of one demographic or generation? There are many of us fed up with overproduced, cheesy, and generically beautiful shows, and can’t be satisfied with reality TV. We have tasted some personal power now in the way of discovering our own palate where entertainment is concerned, and enjoy the activity of scoping out our own content. There will always be those who like to have their plate served to them, but then there are others who want to be the chefs. LOL It’s a new form of entertainment in itself for us to scope out talent ourselves, be the entertainment ourselves, play the critic, and give feedback straight to the videographer. It’s an interactive indie thing…like the difference between baseball and extreme snowboarding. I don’t think networks will be able to win back those audiences. Now, if they want to talk commericial-free, we might head back to the tube every now and then. YouTube and like sites have nothing to worry about.
So sorry that posted twice, Nalts. How embarrassing…
This is a gamechanger allright, for the networks which still broadcast analogue and linear. The competition for Newco will not be online but offline. Who likes to watch programmed television when they can watch on demand? Cannnibalization is lurking, but the other alternative is even worse: being bypassed by other (legal or illegal) online distribution forms. Hopefully the networks will understand soon that the world is a little bigger than the US and the rest of the world can profit as well. Otherwise, Joost, BitTorrent and co will florish even more.
YouTube is there for the long tale, this is the short head of the curve.
[...] defense, and Viacom, News Corp and NBC attempt to build a YouTube competitor. Lesson: as I mentioned in March, that old “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” consortium thing never quite works out [...]