YouTube: NOT future of media?
Does the future of YouTube portend the future of media?
YouTube was not present at the 2007 Media Summit in New York City this week, but it was on everyone’s mind. YouTube may be following in corporate parent Google’s industry conference strategy: Minimal (non-guaranteed) presence.
Rare is the Google or YouTube keynote, even though they would undoubtedly be welcome to keynote at any and every event. Additionally, Google and YouTube panel appearances have a good chance of turning into “no-shows.”
Kevin Donahue, VP of Content, YouTube, was scheduled to participate in a “Hollywood and the Digital Consumer” panel but was not present. The panel moderator quiped, does Jeff Zucker’s public “swipe” at YouTube have anything to do with the no-show? (see “Will TV networks call Google’s bluff?”).
Although YouTube did not keynote, it made its omnipresence felt in the keynotes, thanks to the Business Week questioners.Rupert Murdoch, CEO News Corp., was asked about competitor YouTube and took the opportunity to shed doubt on its long-term viability, both from revenue and content perspectives:
Barry Diller, CEO IAC, was asked about prospective competitor YouTube and took the opportunity to declare a lack of longevity, from both the video user and video provider perspectives:"It is hard to monetize. If you interrupt the flow of videos with commercials, they (users) are going to go to other sites"...
Content companies (such as Fox) are sounding “hostile.”
It is impossible (for YouTube) to be the only game in town going forward. Those tools are going to be everywhere. It’s not going to be one place to go…
(Viacom said) Let me be really clear with you, you’re not going to take the stuff we made, then massage it and control it for other people.
Private addendum from the floor (me): Unless you pay us for the right to do so!
ALSO: IAC CEO Barry Diller on Ask.com and Fox Business Channel: Nicer than CNBC? TAKE THE POLL: Will a TV network sue Google?
PLUS: ARE YOUTUBERS AT RISK?