The New York Times reports today that YouTube is going to add another 50 channels to the 100 video channels it already has.
While this makes YouTube look more and more like Time/Warner Cable Service instead of the ecclectic online video site it began as is somewhat besides the point.
What is interesting here, from the point of view of content creators, is a) they are prepared to spend even more money underwriting new independent productions and b) their sudden discovery that, (gadzooks!), you can actually make content faster and cheaper than networks do!
““What we found amazing about the opportunity was to go from ideation to production and having content in front of our fan base in a ridiculously short amount of time, and content that’s produced at television-level quality,†said Peter Levin, chief executive of Nerdist Industries.”
Really Peter?
What a discovery!
Of course, all you had to do is read iPhone Millionaire: Six Weeks To Change Your Life, or join NYVs.com
Of course, IMHO, the last thing the world needs is yet another 50 channels!
Aren’t there enough channels already that basically have nothing on them?
Here in NY I have about 2,000 channels on my Time/Warner system that seem to have an endless supply of pointless and unwatchable pap.
What is needed is not more channels but a complete re-think on how content for television is made and WHO makes it.
I see in the Times article that one of the ‘new’ production companies they are touting is Revision3.
Revision3 is owned by Discovery Communications.
They already know how to make TV the OLD way.
And they already have like a dozen cable channels they could improve – without adding any more.
(see Military Channel, Discovery Health, Planet Green and a few others).
No, the answer here is not ‘more channels’ but better, more creative quality and far lower cost.
So pick up your iPhone (and send that email to YouTube).
