AOL, CNN intensify online video battle
Two well funded, revenue generating mainstream media brands are putting their financial, content, marketing, distribution and advertising muscle behind online video: AOL and CNN.
While the very trendy, but very under-monetized, YouTube upstart has been getting all the attention of late, mainstream media heavyweights have been preparing to leverage and further monetize their advertiser-friendly content and audiences via new online video initiatives.
AOL is launching a new video portal. According to the company:
The new AOL Video is an all-in-one, high-quality entertainment destination to find, watch and share millions of the best videos across the Web.
New features on the AOL Video portal include: over 45 new video-on-demand content channels with thousands of hours of video programming from popular entertainment brands, organized and accessible via video search, browse, or an interactive programming guide; free streaming content as well as the ability to purchase and download full-length content that can be viewed on multiple devices and PCs, online or offline; and access to millions of music videos, news clips, movie trailers, full length TV shows…
AOL's new UnCut Video offering, which makes it easy to upload and share videos online by providing full device support, letting consumers upload and share videos directly from their camcorder, Webcam, video-enabled mobile phone, as well as their PC.
AOL Video IPG will feature paid and ad-supported content on more than 45 video-on-demand channels, including many programmed by new video content partners, including: A&E Television Networks (including A&E Network, The History Channel and The Biography Channel, Comedy Time, Endemol USA, Expo TV, LIME, MTV Networks (including COMEDY CENTRAL, Logo, MTV, MTV2, Nickelodeon, The N, Nick at Nite, Spike TV, TV Land and VH1), National Lampoon, Procter & Gamble Productions, Inc., SORPRESA!, South Coast Golf, TBS, TNT, TotalVid, TV Guide, Warner Bros. Entertainment, Wild America and WNBA.
CNN has created a CNN Exchange hub to solicit user-created video content.
CNN is asking it s visitors to “Send an I-Report”:
What's happening where you are?
Is news happening in front of your eyes? Pull out your camera and I-Report it for CNN. Use the form on this page to send files from your computer. Send cell phone video and photos…
While YouTube is the current Web 2.0 favorite, the online video wars are really just beginning.
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