It's As Much About What You Can Do As What You Can Watch
This NBC/News Corp thing is promising lots of high quality content. That's great. But you can get that at Peekvid, YouTube, and other web video services already. Sure it may be illegally uploaded but all you have to do is look at the music business to see that the average consumer doesn't give a rats you know what about that.
I don't think web video is as much about quality content, because quality content is available on the web already and there are no walls on the web.
I think web video is largely about how you can engage with the content, what you can do with it. I've been offered the ability to play with some of the technology behind this NBC/News Corp service. I'll do that and show you what I can do with it.
The more I can do the better. Because its more about what you can do with the content than anything else on the web.
NBC is hopefully heading in the right direction. It's interesting to see what they're doing with The Black Donnelly's and offering a web only episode in the beginning of the season which is actually important. I really hope their next incarnation is better than their current online video experience.
Posted by: John | March 23, 2007 at 11:57 PM
The web is an inherently participatory medium. If this effort simply tries to create a new venue for an essentially passive viewing experience, it will likely fail. That said, I'm hoping for the best.
Posted by: John Mahoney | March 24, 2007 at 11:23 AM
When it comes to online media, the word "engagement" is so overused, it's become totally meaningless.
However, the group within NBC that's executing the most innovative web strategies to support/enhance their broadcast programming is Bravo.
From the simple-but-rarely-done-well (show stars blogging and ichatting with the audience) to the best-ideas-taken-from-DVD-'extras' (director's commentary on podcasts, alternative endings, behind-the-scenes exclusive interviews) to the TV-marketing-at-its-best (teasing viewers about upcoming episodes with non-spoiler, daily week-long plot-turning hints..."design your own episode" mashups inviting user-generated content), they've set the bar incredibly high for the rest of the NBC family, and infused meaning back into the term audience "engagement."
Posted by: Megan | March 25, 2007 at 09:17 PM
Well All I can say is that I foudn the best version of 300 and since i am a big supporter of free Stuff. I had to share with you guys. Spartans rule.
Posted by: NewShowTime | April 09, 2007 at 12:13 AM