`
`
`
`Back to previous page
`
`document 1 of 1
`
`Online Video Gets Real; It's never been easier to get your own video
`content in front of an audience.
`
`Quain, John R. PC Magazine; New York 26.3 (Feb 7, 2007): 5666.
`
`Abstract
`
`The Internet is now teeming with sites that let anyone armed with basic video and audio tools reach an audience
`extremely easily. Quain discusses the many ways in which an amateur video hobbyist can reach video fame.
`
`Full Text
`
`Missy DePew of Denver, a mother of two, wanted to reach out to other moms. So she launched her own broadcasting
`network on the Web, that is. Now, her MomMe TV microchannel, at www.mommetv.com, is an absolutely thriving,
`profitable, advertisingsupported videodistribution destination.
`
`In the same way, a group of professional golf instructors decided they wanted to extend their lessons to the Web. So
`they launched the GolfSpan network, where offtheshelf, lowcost tools are used to reach thousands of golfers. The
`network is supported by both advertising and paid downloads of instructional videos, many of which are filmed with
`just one stationary, inexpensive digital video camera.
`
`Aside from having been started with nearly no budget, there is another common thread between MomMe TV and
`GolfSpan: Both successful Web video startups avoided the complicated, costly world of TV licensing and distribution by
`reaching out to Brightcove.com. Brightcove charges them nothing for distribution and promotion, and splits
`advertising revenues with the grassroots producers.
`
`Services such as Brightcove, which can help you launch a Aprofessionallooking and profitable Web video operation,
`are just the tip of the iceberg. The Internet is now teeming with sites that let anyone armed with basic video and
`audio tools reach an audience extremely easily. Just look at YouTube, which took a year to balloon to approximately
`30 million unique visitors per month who watch about 100 million video clips at the site every day.
`
`Web videos are even going mobile. Verizon Wireless Arecently inked a deal with two videosharing sites YouTube and
`Revver (www.revver.com) to deliver online video clips to cellular handsets. Early this year, Apple will release its iTV
`settop box, which is designed to bring online video from your computer to your livingroom TV. Meanwhile TiVo
`Aalready offers a service called TiVoCast, which lets you automatically record online videos to its DVR just as you
`would your weekly fix of American Idol. The result is that you can watch amateur videos culled from the Web
`alongside episodes of Desperate Housewives.
`
`Getting your moment of potential video fame is very simple, but it does require you to make some choices. Do you
`http://0search.proquest.com.catalog.multcolib.org/abitrade/printviewfile?accountid=37296
`
`1/11
`
`Page 1 of 11
`
`
`
`
`3/21/2017
`Getting your moment of potential video fame is very simple, but it does require you to make some choices. Do you
`want to launch fullblown online TV shows? Or post short video clips or video blog entries? Do you have commercial
`aspirations? Something in between? In this story, you'll find handson reviews and instructions for delivering your
`show on the Web, starring you.
`
`Preproduction Notes
`
`Before you start posting videos of Fido jumping through flaming hoops in your backyard, there are several points you
`need to consider. The first is that you don't need a $1,000 camcorder to record a video for online posting. Most sites
`transcode or reformat uploaded videos anyway: Clips need to be small enough to stream easily to online viewers
`using players employing Adobe's Flash software. These players have the virtue of working automatically in most
`browsers with a Flash plugin.
`
`The downside is that picture quality suffers, sometimes so severely that your own mother might not recognize you in
`a clip (of course, that can be a benefit too). Clips from an inexpensive webcam, a digital still camera, or even a cell
`phone can be good enough to convey your story and get you started. Eventually, though, investing in good cameras,
`good microphones, and good editing software will give you a big quality boost.
`
`You also don't need to begin by running out and buying Adobe Premiere (a steal at just $849!) to edit your mini
`movie. Several sites now help you edit your video online for free, and you don't have to be a filmschool grad to use
`the software. One big tip, though: Don't underestimate how important goodquality audio is. A $100 lavalier clipon
`microphone provides vastly better sound than the audio built into many cameras, and for applications such as
`overdubs, a headset with microphone (Sennheiser makes good ones) can hugely boost your audio quality. At mixing
`sites such as Eyespot.com, you'll find numerous free ways to customize your audio. Good standalone editing software,
`such as Final Cut Pro, also lets you refine it.
`
`The process of uploading a video for the masses to see and judge is remarkably straightforward. Typically, Web
`auteurs sign up for a free account, respond to a confirmation email, and then start uploading video files. There are
`limitations on the size of videos usually 100MB per clip but most sites don't restrict the total storage space you can
`use. Most also accept the standard digital video formats WMA, MOV, AVI, and MPEG and then convert the clips into
`a streaming format for you.
`
`Read the fine print in the termsofservice agreements at any sharing site you are thinking of using. Most sites let
`you retain all rights to your creations, seeking only your permission to display your clip online or use it in promotional
`material. But, unfriendly as it may be, the TOS agreements at a few sites claim all rights to videos that members
`upload, including the right to sell clips or add advertising to them without reimbursing their creators.
`
`Fortunately, the videosharing community is rapidly maturing beyond its stupidhumantrick Abeginnings. There are
`socialnetworking sites that rely on videos rather than oldfashioned print profiles to help members hook up. Family
`sites are designed to help members share material with farflung relatives and friends. And businessminded sites are
`designed to help video directors sell advertising, generate revenue from syndication, and even handle payperview
`videos. Small and large businesses will also find sites designed to help them share what are affectionately referred to
`as "industrial videos," typically inhouse training clips or marketing infomercials. (See the second section of this story
`for business sites.)
`
`Armed only with a camcorder, Adobe Premiere Elements, a couple of webcams, and good microphones, we tried out
`nearly 30 videosharing Web sites for this story. Read our opinionated profiles of some of the more noteworthy options
`here. And remember that many of the sites are adding features weekly and in some cases daily.
`
`You and MeToo Tubes
`
`Like spinoffs from a popular sitcom, the vast majorAity of videosharing sites are modeled after YouTube. These sites
`typically feature amusing and not so amusing short subjects or topical clips, such as the latest embarrassing
`Britney moment. The hallmark of such sites is that they are free, easy to use, and can draw a lot of attention to your
`video. They can also be used simply to host a video that you want to embed on your Web site or blog. The advantage
`of doing so is that the sharing site will do all the hard work, turning your clips into video that can be streamed. More
`http://0search.proquest.com.catalog.multcolib.org/abitrade/printviewfile?accountid=37296
`
`2/11
`
`Page 2 of 11
`
`
`
`
`3/21/2017
`of doing so is that the sharing site will do all the hard work, turning your clips into video that can be streamed. More
`important, the site stores the video for you obviating the need to pay for addiAtional storage space or bandwidth
`charges from your ISP if your video becomes a hit.
`
`YouTube (www.youtube.com)
`
`Synopsis: The biggest but not necessarily the best, YouTube is in a state of transition. Originally, this massive site
`featured work from amateur auteurs that could be categorized as the world's funniest or dumbest home videos. It
`has also proved useful as a portal for homespun broadcast journalists posting clips of world events and disasters. As
`YouTube seeks ways beyond advertising to monetize its mateArial, however, commercial videos such as teasers and
`trailers from CBS are becoming a mainstay.
`
`Still, YouTube makes it relatively easy to share or broadcast a video. Uploads work reliably, although processing and
`posting a video can take a long time (up to 30 minutes for a 3minute clip). YouTube's major virtue aside from
`boasting the largest potenAtial viewership is that it contains a slew of privacy and usage controls for contributors.
`You can make a video public or private, allow or disallow comments (got thick skin?), preclude people from rating your
`work, and even prevent external sites from embedding your video.
`
`Logline: Still the tops for those seeking the largest possible audience and for videographers who want to control how
`their material is used online.
`
`Google Video beta (video.google.com)
`
`Synopsis: Initially conceived as a way to search for videos and purchase programs, the sharing side of Google Video is
`a nononsense experience. With a Google account you go straight to an upload page, add descriptive information, and
`choose to make your contribution public or keep it unlisted. Once your video is online, you can easily post it to
`Blogger, MySpace, LiveJournal, or TypePad, or embed it in a Web site.
`
`Unfortunately, Google has taken the barebones approach a step too far in some areas. For example, there's no
`progress bar to indicate how your upload is proceeding, and there are none of the multitudinous sharing options
`offered by YouTube. Google did rank first in one category, however: It had the poorestquality video we witnessed.
`
`Logline: Amateurish design, poor video quality, and Google's purchase of YouTube point to the imminent demise of
`this site.
`
`Yahoo! Video (video.yahoo.com)
`
`Synopsis: "Be discovered," says the sharing side of Yahoo!'s video portal, touting its ability to give your videos career
`launching exposure. But don't count on it. This site is so poorly organized and its features so meager that it screams
`"afterthought" instead.
`
`There's no option to make your video private, for example, so families looking to share videos of their kids with
`relatives should beware. Moreover, Yahoo!'s video search engine was the slowest we tested. Several days after posting
`one video, we discovered that the clip was still not included in the site's search engine, making it extremely difficult to
`find or share. What wasn't difficult was finding violations of Yahoo!'s policies online. Like other sites, Yahoo! states
`that it will not permit adult material to be posted but rather than burying that information in the fine print of a TOS
`agreement (as most sites do) it takes the paranoid precaution of warning you right up front before you upload
`material. There's probably a good reason for that: In spite of the warnings, we found naked bodies on the site without
`even trying (again, parents beware).
`
`One positive point: It took less than 10 minutes for us to upload and view a 3minute clip online.
`
`Logline: Definitely not ready for prime time.
`
`AOL Video (video.aol.com)
`Synopsis: Looking to become America's online video portal, AOL has by far the friendliest, most expertly designed
`http://0search.proquest.com.catalog.multcolib.org/abitrade/printviewfile?accountid=37296
`
`3/11
`
`Page 3 of 11
`
`
`
`
`3/21/2017
`Synopsis: Looking to become America's online video portal, AOL has by far the friendliest, most expertly designed
`video Web site. It emphasizes commercial videos and classic TV shows such as F Troop many of which you can watch
`for free. There are also shows like Blue's Clues to rent and movies to purchase. Sharing amateur videos is secondary,
`but unlike Yahoo!, AOL has sought out partners that are experts in video sharing to help out.
`
`For example, to upload a clip to a section dubbed Uncut Video, users must first download and install VideoEgg's
`Windows software. This extra step ran afoul of some of our test system's security settings only AOL had this
`problem but once those obstacles were overcome, we discovered the software was easy and helpful. It lets users
`both upload files and record video directly from a webcam, a connected camcorder, or a mobile device a handy
`option.
`
`Also offered via AOL Video is the opportunity to sell your videos online using Brightcove's service (see profile under
`Business Opportunities).
`
`One major weakness is the lack of privacy settings, so once a video is uploaded, there's no turning back: Everyone
`can see it.
`
`Logline: Taking baby steps, but has potential.
`
`Notable Contenders
`
`Looking to carve out their own niches in the burgeoning usersupported video marketplace are dozens of smaller
`sites. Many target specific interest groups; we avoided the plethora of adult sites and those touting objectionable
`material in order to highlight the notable familyfriendly sites.
`
`Blip.tv (www.blip.tv)
`
`Synopsis: A sharing site for (somewhat) more Aseriousminded vloggers and bloggers, Blip.tv has a promising design
`and is easy to use for visitors and members alike. It encourages wouldbe directors to create more polished,
`independently produced shows in the hopes of gaining a toehold in the market. Expect to encounter the odd technical
`glitch and lost page, however.
`
`Two aspects of Blip.tv make it noteworthy: Clips and shows can be uploaded directly from Windows Movie Maker, and
`members can store video in a highquality, nonstreaming AVI format at the site.
`
`Logline: For vloggers who have something to say.
`
`ClipShack (www.clipshack.com)
`
`Synopsis: Purely a metoo play, ClipShack is a simple uploadandshare video site. One differentiating factor is its
`emphasis on webcam talkinghead commentaries, which include movie and book Areviews from users. In spite of
`such efforts, however, ClipShack generally fails to distinguish itself from other sharing sites.
`
`Logline: Copycat.
`
`JuiceCaster (www.juicecaster.com)
`
`Synopsis: Ostensibly, this site's raison d'Atre is to make it easier to blast video and pictures directly from a cell phone
`to blogs and socialnetworking sites. JuiceCaster is supposed to work with a Web site or pages on services such as
`MySpace, Xanga, and Blogger, via a small free application called AMediaBox that you download to a phone.
`
`Unfortunately, neophytes will find the site and MediaBox difficult to use. The absence of proper instrucAtions and help
`pages and of an upfront list of compatible phones means this site is best Asuited for teens who live on their cell
`phones and don't ask such silly questions.
`
`Logline: If you have to ask, you don't get it.
`http://0search.proquest.com.catalog.multcolib.org/abitrade/printviewfile?accountid=37296
`
`4/11
`
`Page 4 of 11
`
`
`
`3/21/2017
`Logline: If you have to ask, you don't get it.
`
`
`
`Stickam (www.stickam.com)
`
`Synopsis: An example of a site strictly focused on the socialnetworking aspect of online video, AStickam does more
`than let you post your video profundities on the Web. It also lets members put up live Webcam feeds to satisfy
`exhibitionist cravings (remember CuSeeMe?). Stickam is very popular with the younger crowd. Many of the videos
`are, shall we say, flirtatious, but even more are of blankfaced members just working on their computers. If you are
`looking for flirtatious interaction, you'll find a strong emphasis on it here. In fact, many video sites on the Web provide
`various kinds of forums for flirting.
`
`Logline: For the Me Bored generation.
`
`The Editors
`
`Not all video is good video that's why editors were created. But a good videoediting package can cost hundreds of
`dollars and take weeks to master. Fortunately, there's a new generation of videosharing sites that include free video
`editing tools.
`
`Eyespot beta (www.eyespot.com)
`
`Synopsis: Not only does Eyespot let you upload and edit your video online, it also encourages the use of free public
`domain and openlicense material.
`
`To edit a video, you simply drag and drop clips into a timeline. To trim a sequence, Eyespot indicates start points with
`a brightgreen arrow and end points with a red arrow, a method so simple it puts every other video editor to shame.
`Members can also drag and drop transitions into the timeline, add captions, and insert special effects. Music and
`soundtracks can be added, and the natural sound of your video can be muted when necessary.
`
`Eyespot gives members samples to create "Amixes." We uploaded a test video in minutes, grabbed some sample clips
`from the site, and edited a goofy video . . . all in less than 15 minutes, proving that Eyespot does the best job yet of
`making video sharing accessible to newbies.
`
`Logline: Far and away the easiest editor on the Web.
`
`Grouper (www.grouper.com)
`
`Synopsis: Notable primarily because it was purchased by Sony last summer, Grouper takes a unique approach to
`helping users edit their efforts. Rather than having them perform edits online through a browser application, Grouper
`offers a free editing program for download. Unfortunately, the Windows program leaves a lot to be desired.
`
`The editing software can be set to scour your hard drive for clips automatically and put them in a library for
`inspection. Its tools are very rudimentary, however; they cover just basic cutting, reordering, and the addition of
`sound. The software also proved confusing when it came to uploading our work.
`
`Grouper was also the only site where we experienced multiple upload failures, whether we used the Grouper software
`or did it directly on the site. Sony is already trying to take advantage of its purchase by offering streaming clips from
`famous Sony movies ("You talkin' to me?") as a comeon to purchase DVDs. Maybe it'll have more luck with that.
`
`Logline: Grappling with Grouper is a challenge.
`
`Jumpcut (www.jumpcut.com)
`
`Synopsis: Recently acquired by Yahoo!, Jumpcut was clearly designed with bloggers in mind. Its lucid online video
`editing program is useful and troublefree, and the site offers lots of options for getting your message online.
`
`Newcomers can upload a video and start editing it; if they like the way it all works, then they can sign up. The editing
`http://0search.proquest.com.catalog.multcolib.org/abitrade/printviewfile?accountid=37296
`
`5/11
`
`Page 5 of 11
`
`
`
`
`3/21/2017
`Newcomers can upload a video and start editing it; if they like the way it all works, then they can sign up. The editing
`software includes about a dozen different transition effects and a score of special effects (such as color changes and
`overlays like circles and tints). Your changes can be previewed in a jiffy to see how they look before you commit
`yourself, and dropdown help files are truly helpful.
`
`Jumpcut includes thoughtful tricks, such as letting you add photos automatically from Flickr or Facebook. Clips also
`can be routinely added to more than half a dozen different blogging services. And inveterate bloggers will appreciate
`the fact that Jumpcut lets you upload new videos via email perfect for travelers and those who want to allow
`friends to contribute their own movies. All of this adds a level of convenience not yet witnessed at other sites.
`
`Logline: Fast, efficient, effective site that should Aappeal to bloggers of all stripes.
`
`Motionbox (www.motionbox.com)
`
`Synopsis: Taking a nomuss, nofuss approach to editing videos, Motionbox emphasizes sharing "the good stuff." In
`other words, it lets people cut out the dead, dull, and dopey parts of their videos quickly online so that the audience
`doesn't get bored. Generally, Motionbox accomplishes its mission, but it doesn't provide much more in terms of giving
`free rein to members' creativity. So don't look to this site to create your next Sundance Film Festival entry.
`
`Logline: Editing site for people who want to cut out the crud, and no more.
`
`YouTube The epiAcenter of free, userAgenerated video content, but its deals with networks and commercial media
`outlets may substantially change its future appearance.
`
`Google Although its efforts in online video have been misdirected (and marred by poor streaming video quality), more
`people may tune in now that the company owns YouTube.
`
`Yahoo! Video It hasn't done much to distinguish itself as a sharing site, but the company's purchase of Jumpcut may
`give its Aefforts new energy.
`
`AOL Video As an arm of a major media company, it's angling to become a mainstream video portal featuring classic
`TV, celebrity clips, downloadable movies and even amateur contributions.
`
`Blip.tv Looking to feature more than talking heads recorded on webcams, it hosts many independently created
`programs, including the Fearless Cooking show.
`
`Eyespot (beta) Makes online video editing a snap, Aenabling quick, easy cuts and even letting members incorporate
`each other's clips in their "mixes."
`
`Grouper Offers a free editing program for download, but its attractive interface is hamstrung by technical problems
`and enigmatic options.
`
`The Business End of Video Sharing
`
`Twentysecond videos of cats riding skateboards or cherubic Ainfants waving byebye to Grandma are fine for a giggle,
`but what if you have higher aspirations? There are videosharing services that can accommodate much longer, more
`ambitious projects and help you make money in the process.
`
`Several potentially revenuegenerating sites are designed to encourage contributors with financial rewards should
`their videos be viewed by a large, predetermined number of visitors. Others look to generate income for video
`directors by placing ads or commercials in front of a video (called preroll) or at the end of it (postroll) and split the
`fees with the creator. Still other sites merely host shows for a fee and leave the moneymaking ideas up to you.
`
`One advantage of such services is that the production and image quality of video clips tends to be much higher than
`what you see at the YouTubes of the world. And better picture quality makes your work more visually appealing.
`
`Another benefit: There are often no restrictions on the length of shows or programs you submit. Consequently,
`http://0search.proquest.com.catalog.multcolib.org/abitrade/printviewfile?accountid=37296
`
`6/11
`
`Page 6 of 11
`
`
`
`
`3/21/2017
`Another benefit: There are often no restrictions on the length of shows or programs you submit. Consequently,
`companies can create indepth training videos and have them hosted on such a service. Or serious producers can
`distribute what amount to fullblown movies and television pilots directly to viewers online. Goodbye Hollywood
`studios, hello Internet audience.
`
`But taking your video work to the next level online means upgrading production techniques as well. Producers looking
`to work with the sites in this section should therefore at least consider using a highquality digital video camera and a
`solid editing package, such as Adobe Premiere or Apple's Final Cut Pro, before embarking on this approach. Also, as
`you boost your production values, invest in good microphones, such as a $100 clipon lavalier, and use the audio
`mixing features in your editing software.
`
`Those with still greater ambitions may even consider equipment designed expressly for the purpose of putting high
`quality video online. One popular example is a NewTek TriCaster, essentially a computer, portable video mixing board,
`and broadAcasting studio packed into a $5,000 box (for more details, see our interview with the producers behind PC
`Magazine's own Cranky Geeks, page 66). Of course, you can always start more modestly. Here's a variety of examples
`representing what's available online for those with commercial aspirations.
`
`Brightcove (www.brightcove.com)
`
`Synopsis: If you're serious about producing video for a living, Brightcove is an excellent example of a fullblown,
`sophisticated, and flexible service that can take advantage of all the available commercial opportunities.
`
`For example, there's the Brightcove Network, which, like most consumeroriented sharing sites, is free and allows
`members to upload video clips and shows. Brightcove calls one's artistic endeavors assets, but it handles them in
`much the same way as other sites. What's different is that individuals can choose from one of several possible
`revenue streams and even control where their material Aappears, right down to specific pages on Web sites.
`
`One option is to allow Brightcove to put advertising in your video. The company will split any revenues from ads with
`contributors. Unlike other sites, you can choose from a dozen different ways that an ad can appear in your work,
`ranging from page takeovers to preroll sponsorships and banners. For auteurs sensitive to the way their work
`Aappears onscreen, such options are important.
`
`Furthermore, you can control the look and feel of the embedded player for your video. In other words, you can put
`your brand on the player or make it more of an aesthetic match for your program. One can even set the player to roll
`a series of clips in a particular order, creating what is essentially a miniature online programming channel.
`
`More control is offered using affiliate networks, which let you pick and choose who exactly can Aembed your videos
`and where. For example, one Brightcove client, Reuters, has its own extensive affiliate network but prevents some
`sites from airing specific stories. Contributors also have the option of posting their work to AOL Video, since Brightcove
`is the company behind AOL's forpay sharing portal.
`
`To help generate more revenue, which means getting your video seen by more people, Brightcove can also suggest
`marketing techniques and add autoAmatic RSS feeds as part of its syndication management tools.
`
`Of course, you can decide to sell your videos Adirectly. The site stipulates that you have to charge a minimum of 99
`cents per download, but videos can be made available in highresolution 1.5Mbps WMV format, and you get 70
`percent of the proceeds. (For highquality postings, the company recommends using its transcoding and uploading
`software.) Files also include digital rights management copyright controls.
`
`For larger companies, for example record labels and media firms, there's a payasyougo option. In such cases,
`Brightcove charges basic monthly hosting fees but allows clients to go out and sell ads on their own or not, as the
`case may be. So a company can hire the site to handle storage and traffic to its videos and then charge whatever the
`market will bear to advertise on its programs.
`
`If this all sounds complicated, it is. But there's a detailed online control panel for selecting different options, and
`http://0search.proquest.com.catalog.multcolib.org/abitrade/printviewfile?accountid=37296
`
`7/11
`
`Page 7 of 11
`
`
`
`
`3/21/2017
`If this all sounds complicated, it is. But there's a detailed online control panel for selecting different options, and
`there's an extensive library of help documentation available. Despite its pretext of being all things to all vloggers,
`Brightcove is best suited to those with professional video aspirations; it's an ideal choice if you have your own popular
`Web site and just need someone to handle the video side.
`
`Logline: For video producers with broadcastAquality material looking to make a buck.
`
`Current TV (www.currentv.com)
`
`Synopsis: For all the power that the Internet wields as a communications tool, television is still a dominant force.
`Consequently, there are several sites catering to various television and entertainment fields designed specifically to
`help jumpstart your career. In the broadcast journalism area, there's Current TV.
`
`Famous mainly because it is supported by former Vice President Al Gore (he's the company's chairman), Current TV
`has one big advantage: Unlike many sites catering to young upstarts, it doesn't just show video pieces online it also
`airs segments on its DirecTV and Time Warner cable channels nationwide. The main ethos of Current TV is to
`encourage independent producers to submit innovative pieces that otherwise would not make it to air in mainstream
`media outlets. So the site accepts uploaded "pods," nonfiction stories, or profiles of noteworthy individuals that are up
`to 7 minutes in length.
`
`Videos endure an extensive review process, but if the channel's editors like what you submit and put it on the air,
`they'll pay you $500. Contributors can eventually get up to $1,000 for a submission. AGranted, it's not a king's
`ransom, especially considering the amount of work that goes into such stories, but it could help launch a career.
`
`Logline: If you think journalists are too biased, why don't you start filing your own stories?
`
`Limelight Communications
`
`(www.limelight.com)
`
`Synopsis: If all you've got is an idea and Amoney Limelight is one of a slew of video production Ahouses that can
`turn it into reality (video reality, that is). Specializing in corporate videos, video news releases, and other socalled
`industrial Avideos, Limelight can shoot broadcastquality video segments, write a script, edit the package, and even
`handle mass DVD duplication.
`
`Limelight can also host and stream highquality video to broadcasters via satellite feeds or online to corporate Web
`sites. (For a discussion of how PC Magazine employs Limelight, see our interview with producer Annaliza Savage, page
`66.)
`
`Logline: The place to go when you want a professional to do the work.
`
`Metacafe (www.metacafe.com)
`
`Synopsis: There's a growing movement afoot to Aoffer rewards and financial incentives to those who would otherwise
`be contributing free content to Web sites. Video sharing is no exception, and we think it's about time.
`
`Metacafe offers incentives in the form of "producer rewards." To qualify for payment, submitted videos need to be 20
`seconds or longer, pass a Areview process at the site, and be wholly owned by contributors in order to grant the site
`nonexclusive rights to use and promote the material.
`
`Naturally, the site contains disclaimers and warnings to wouldbe contributors: no obscene or offensive material
`accepted. And dangerous stunts performed exclusively for the purpose of generating higher ratings will be disqualified.
`
`More important, to start the money coming in, a video must be viewed at least 20,000 times and have a viewer
`rating of 3.0 or higher (meaning they like you, they really, really like you). At that point, the site pays $5 for every
`
`thousand plays, with a potential of payout of, say, $10,000 if two million visitors watch your video. So not only could
`http://0search.proquest.com.catalog.multcolib.org/abitrade/printviewfile?accountid=37296
`
`8/11
`
`Page 8 of 11
`
`
`
`3/21/2017
`
`you achieve a form of online fame this way, you could also gain a little online fortune.
`
`Logline: You think you're funny? Put it to the test.
`
`Revver (www.revver.com)
`
`Synopsis: For budding directors, actors, and multimedia artists, another option is Revver. To the standard free
`uploading and sharing scenario, Revver adds, well, ads.
`
`Uploaded videos at Revver must first be approved by the site's reviewers, who weed out objectionable material and
`clips that violate copyrights. Once a video has been approved, Revver appends a postroll advertisement to your clip.
`Then Awhenever someone clicks on that ad, you receive 50 percent of the fee, with Revver taking the other 50
`percent.
`
`In order to create as many opportunities for clicks as possible, contributors must allow their videos to be shown
`anywhere by Revver. So there's the potential that your video could appear on sites that compete with yours. On the
`other hand, if you embed another Revver member's video on your site and it generates advertising hits, you get 20
`percent of those revenues.
`
`Revver clearly prides itself on its appearance. It has a particularly smooth interface, with a handy dashboard that
`tallies your earnings. And, like several other Abusinessoriented sites, it has streamingvideo quality that's superior to
`that of the major consumer videosharing sites.
`
`Recently, Revver attracted attention by signing up with Verizon Wireless to deliver amateur videos directly to V Cast
`handset users. Revver will not use ads for such feeds but rather will split the licensing earnings with contributors. And
`who knows, short, funny amateur video clips could be the perfect form of video entertainment for a handset's small
`screen.
`
`Logline: Viral videos that can earn dividends for their creators.
`
`The Video Revolution
`
`Will Be Streamed
`
`If there is a threat to the hegemony