Tuesday, April 21st, 2009...5:49 pm - Peter Giles
Movies on YouTube
YouTube have just put a deal together with major studios including CBS, Starz, Sony, Lionsgate and the BBC to show full length movies online. An interesting article examines the details an can be found on The Wrap here.
YouTube have upgraded to HD widescreen capability and some brand re-alignment has been going on to diversify from a decidedly low brow ‘user created’ public image. The YouTube Orchestra is one recent initiative which garners credibility for the service from association with some of the international high culture elite.
But how much is this brand re-alignment worth? It seems like the terms thrashed out with the movie studios sacrifice a level of control over advertising and traffic in order to avoid sticky copyright issues which have become a hallmark of the YouTube brand. The big question is, will this help to devise new advertising models, or even pay per view or subscription services that will help to pay YouTube’s massive overheads.
Leave a Reply