Veoh Dumping Veoh TV

View this blog post “Veoh Dumping Veoh TV” on my new blog site at SmokeJumperStrategy.com/blog.

After recently launching a new web-based video player, Veoh is abandoning support for VeohTV.  The Veoh Web Player allows you to watch videos of any length in your browser.  Previously, on Veoh, any video of more than 30 minutes had to be viewed in VeohTV (which was a hassle for many users).

The Veoh Web Player still involves a download but offers benefits such as being able to view download videos at a time when you are not connected to the Internet.

For more information and download of the Veoh Web Player . . . .

Cable 2.0 Is (Finally) Upon Us

View this blog post “Cable 2.0 Is (Finally) Upon Us” on my new blog site at SmokeJumperStrategy.com/blog.

Interesting coverage out the SJ Mercury News today about web video developing into a viable alternative to cable tv.    This is very much in line with my post early last month “Why I’ll leave cable t.v. behind . . . .”

With the entry of Sling, joining other sites such as Hulu, Joost, Veoh and others, most of what is available on cable is now available on the web.  Now I can watch my favorite shows:  The Office, Prison Break, Law & Order, Brothers & Sisters, ER, House, The Daily Show and Colbert Report . . . when I want.

The only major hurdle is that I can’t easily watch them on my TV.  And watching on the 13″ screen of my MacBook after I’ve been on it all day is not joyful.  Worse is attempting to watch on my iPhone.  That will change and when it does I won’t miss cable.

Monetization of Online Video

View this blog post “Monetization of Online Video” on my new blog site at SmokeJumperStrategy.com/blog.

News covered by TechCruch that MySpace has implemented a system that allows them to automatically identify any uploaded video clip from shows produced by MTV.  The ad platform, called Auditude, displays an overlay at the bottom of the screen when a clip is played.  This identifies which episode the clip originally came from, air-date and links to where users can buy the entire episode.  Read coverage . . .

More analysis from James McQuivey . . . he anticipates as more networks sign on with MySpace this will become standard practice.

Online Video Compared to Nascent TV Market

View this blog post “Online Video Compared to Nascent TV Market” on my new blog site at SmokeJumperStrategy.com/blog.

TechCrunch recently covered Chad Hurley, founder of YouTube, and his keynote address “A Brave New World – The Future of Managing Content” at MIPCOM conference in Cannes, France.

Here is an interview immediately prior his keynote. 

In his keynote, he likens the current state of online video and advertising around it akin to the dynamics affecting the TV industry in the early 1940’s:

• A small group of innovators introduced a new technology that has the ability to entertain and engage people on a massive scale
• Advertisers are reluctant to risk money on this untested platform
• Content owners are fearful of alienating their existing audiences and distribution partners
• [Some] experts hail this new platform as signaling the demise of another (e.g. radio)

He then goes onto to debunk the current value of a centralized distribution model in today’s world.  This is evidenced by today’s consumers who want access to content on PCs, TVs, mobile phones and social networking pages.

None of this is particularly new or earth-shattering as I have discussed recently.  Chad makes reference to the recent study Forrester completed for Veoh Networks looking at how online video engages.  In reaction to that study a number of major network executives agreed that online video was adding to their viewership, rather than cannibalizing it.

However, Hurley puts forward an interestingly broad perspective on the dynamics in the video and content market and appears to make a universal call to throw off the cold war-like vestiges of “old media” vs. “new media” and rather look at it as “one media” with a common purpose:  “to inform, move and inspire the world through information, art and entertainment.“

Kumbaya.

Online Viewers More Engaged

View this blog post “Online Viewers More Engaged” on my new blog site at SmokeJumperStrategy.com/blog.

Friday media coverage round-up related to my recent post on Forrester Research report on How Online Video Engages Consumers:

• eMarketer:  Online Video Viewer Demographics:  Who watches the most online video?
• New York Times / GigaOM:  Research: Engaged Viewers and Male Behavior
• WebProNews:  Online Video Viewers More Engaged:  More Than With TV
• TVWeek:  Study:  Online Viewers More Engaged
• Washington Post / paidContent.org:  Studies Aim to Show How Well Online Ads Work and How?
• Veoh Networks Press Release:  Study Reveals That Engaged Long-Form Online Video Viewers Are Highly Receptive to Advertising

Eisner Takes Shots at Hulu and MySpace

View this blog post “Eisner Takes Shots at Hulu and MySpace” on my new blog site at SmokeJumperStrategy.com/blog.

I previously posted about a Veoh Networks event where Forrester unveiled research on How Online Video Engages Consumers.  At that same event, Michael Eisner “headlined” in an interview.  Yes, the Michael Eisner, former head of Disney, and current head of The Tornante Company which owns digital studio Vuguru – producer of web originals Prom Queen and Foreign Body.

Here’s some of what he had to say and my response (in italics): 

• Hulu may not represent the future of online video.  (Agreed but they have staked a rapid and growing claim around studio-produced TV content online.  Their ownership structure sure helps.  But more than than they have an attractive and very usable site).
• MySpace is blowing a golden opportunity to dominate the space.  (I wonder if they know that?  Wonder how Facebook feels about the issue?”
• Pre-roll ads are not the answer.  (Hallelujah!  But reality is that short (up to 15 seconds) pre-rolls are part of the answer – longer than that is annoying.)
• And the Internet may eventually produce a hit series that reaches bigger audiences than TV ever has.  (Provocative upon initial read but basic logic would lead one to that conclusion.  If the Internet produces an audience that is larger than TV ever was and can spend marking $’s promoting a quality title in the manner that TV has, then it will happen).

While Eisner hasn’t produced that monster web original hit yet, he is able to keep costs low for his shows by “hiring more waiters than anybody.”  Those waiters are affordable because they are “non-union.” Good to know there may be job security for waiters in this economy, albeit at non-unionized, low wages.

Additional coverage of Eisner’s interview:

• MediaWeek:  Vuguru’s Eisner Takes Shots at Hulu, MySpace at Veoh Forum
• MediaPost:  Eisner: Video Will Continue to Evolve Online
• TVWeek:  Michael Eisner:  Web Video to Surpass TV
• Wired Blog:  Michael Eisner Calls Hulu A Nice “Middle Game”
• Washington Post / paidContent.org:  Eisner on Online Video and What “Works”:  Sex and Sarah Palin

Why I’ll leave cable TV behind . . .

View this blog post “Why I’ll leave cable TV behind . . .” on my new blog site at SmokeJumperStrategy.com/blog.

As more and more interesting and relevant video content is available online, I gave pause to ponder why do I need to “program” my DVR and why should I wait for Netflix to show up in my mail box in order to have entertainment in my living room when I’m ready to turn off my brain and decompress? This line of thinking comes at a time when I’m also looking at the myriad of expenses I pay around the house (isn’t everyone)?

I understand why online video holds much appeal – infinite library, “free” (ad-supported models), portability, ease of discovery, sharing with others, always at the ready when I”m wanting to watch (regardless of time, schedules, etc.) While I’ve had to “learn” the benefits of this, others (such as my 17-year-old nephew) never watch TV and wonder why anyone would. Save the exception of some live sporting events, I’m seeing the wisdom in youth.

So why not make the transition to watching all my video on a PC now? Well as much as I love my 13″ MacBook, I’m on it 8-14 hours a day and can’t imagine wanting to spend more time on it. I don’t get wanting to watch video on it – short of perhaps long plane rides (but that’s usually when I clean out email, read a book or sleep). And I will never be one to watch much video, but for short clips and highlights of my beloved Canucks and Sharks (yes I’m a professional hockey polygamist), on my iPhone (or whatever replaces it).

So when will I chuck cable and my DVR box (and the $100 per month bill along with it)? Likely when I can get my hands on a SlingCatcher. I haven’t done a detailed review of its features, but James McQuivey got an early demo. If it works as advertised, I’ll be setting up my “man-cave” complete with SlingCatcher and flat screen TV before the end of the year. My 14-year-old Sony Trinitron and DVR have served me well but must move on.

How Online Video Engages Audiences

Read this blog post How Online Video Engages Audiences on my new blog site at SmokeJumperStrategy.com/blog

Much has been written about YouTube and there is ample hype about where online video is going. I don’t get too excited about the latest dog on skateboard or Japanese student in dorm room dance sensation. Forrester Research (commissioned by Veoh Networks) recently took a systemic and fundamental look at online video and the impact it is having on consumer behavior and attitudes.

James McQuivey presented a summary of this today at an event in NYC “Watching the Web: Engaging Consumers in Online Video. See James’ blog for his personal take on the subject.  The full research will be available via Veoh. It answers questions such as . . .

1. What it means to be an engaged online video viewer
2. Why engaged viewers watch online video
3. How online video holds viewers attention
4. Which types of online video are more likely to engage consumers
5. Whether online video present advertisers with a unique medium with which to reach consumers
6. How viewers feel toward online video advertising
7. Which advertising experiences are more likely to be be accepted by viewers

Online Video is Hot

• Nearly 2/3rds of those online in the U.S. watch video in a typical month (117M)
• The average online video viewer watches 56 minutes a week (>100m of total viewing hours each week)
• Moving beyond strictly a YouTube phenomenon – people are watching everything from animation to TV re-runs to news clips

“Our kids will take a look at us sideways when we talk about schedules for TV.”

Engaged Viewers are Most Attractive

Online video is creating a market of users who are more engaged and involved with the content being viewed (pay more attention – as I check email, switch between baseball playoffs, Monday night football and a “classic” Sharks hockey game, draft a blog entry, twitter, talk to my son and listen to voice mail) and are more receptive to ads. Marketers need to understand this audience and then leverage video content to connect to their core/target audiences.

Who are Engaged Video Viewers

Forrester defined Engaged Viewers as those who watch more than an hour of online video per week.

• Though they are just 36% of online viewers, they watch 74% of all video
• A third of them – 36% – are between 13 and 24 years old
• They spend 2.5 hours with online video a week (on average), watching 6.1 different types of video content
• They pay close attention to what they are watching (vs. when watching TV)

Forrester breaks these Engaged Viewers down into more detailed groups of consumers worth understanding.

Long-Form Video Engages More

Long-form content sites not only attract desirable viewers, but also they cultivate an environment that garners more viewer attention and engagement with advertising. Some unique attributes of those who watch long-form content online:

• more likely to pay full attention to the videos they watch
• interact and rate the videos they watch more often
• 2x as likely to recall in-video ads
• agree more readily that advertising helps pays for their free experience
• try to replicate the TV experience by looking for things “they wish were on TV”

Implications for Content Providers

Online video growth will continue and will result in more engaged viewers. Content providers need to prepare given:

• Engaged Viewers want even more content
• They want it to be even easier to watch
• They enjoy the convenience of watching many kinds of video on the same site

Implications for Advertisers

Advertisers need to rethink their approaches in order reach the Engaged Viewer

• Think “Advertainment“, not Advertisement – be creative and don’t repeat the same ad over and over in the same piece of content
• Use all the ad units on a page in concert to activate viewers
• Use content (and sites) to target video ads

More details, including details on the make-up and composition of engaged video viewers, available Veoh Networks.

See NY Times (GigaOM) coverage, including recent research from Heavy.

Watching the Web . . . How Online Video Engages

View this blog post Watching the Web . . . How Online Video Engages on SmokeJumper Strategy.

Tomorrow in NYC, Veoh Networks will host the first in their Insight Series, “Watching the Web:  Engaging Consumers in Online Video.” In addition to discussions with Michael Eisner (Founder, The Tornante Company) and Dimitry Shapiro (Founder, Veoh Networks), there will be an expert panel with Albert Cheng (EVP Digital Media, Disney-ABC Television), Patrick Keane (EVP/CMO, CBS Interactive), Greg Clayman (EVP, MTV Networks), Amanda Richman (SVP, MediaVest) and Tom Morgan, (Chief Strategy Officer, Move Networks).

Joining this impressive group (with their lofty titles), will be James McQuivey of Forrester Research.  Forrester was commissioned by Veoh Networks to conduct some in-depth and independent research on how online video, including long-form (TV and movies) engages audiences differently than short-form video and television.

I was fortunate enough to work on this research on behalf of Veoh – thanks to Mike Henry, Annie Morita, Edwin Wong and the rest of the team at Veoh.  I will provide some summary level insights in this blog once James has had a chance to unveil Forrester’s work tomorrow.