Video: not easy or cheap?

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IP Democracy has a headline that says “Web Video is Neither Cheap Nor Easy.” Based on a theme coming out of the New Video Summit.

Oh, really?
Check this out. It’s so easy I did it while on the freeway. And so cheap it cost me nothing.

My video was in response to a lunch I had with a producer who makes big-screen TV — works for one of the big three TV networks. She admitted to me that they were struggling to come up with ways to remain relevant in the world where audiences are shifting from watching TV to spending time online.

I noticed that her crew was very expensive: an audio guy, a video guy, talent, a producer, and really expensive cameras which make my cell phone look totally lame.

But she recognized that my cell phone had media power. She wouldn’t let me turn on my cell phone and film her.

[kyte.tv appKey=MarbachViewerEmbedded&uri=channels/6118/67078&embedId=10008045]

Published by Robert Scoble

I help entrepreneurs build their technology business' story, help with getting ready for investors, with other launch plans, and many other strategic things that can help your new startup. Call to talk: +1-425-205-1921 (text first).

Published

49 thoughts on “Video: not easy or cheap?”

  1. I’ve been watching all the tweets about kyte.tv, videos, five minute videos, shorter videos, longer videos, etc. ad nauseum, but this is the first time that I’ve actually watched any kyte.tv video. A few comments:

    (1) Videotaping and audio recording pre-dates rap concerts, and gets into all sorts of copyright issues that date well before Metallica. Ignoring the fact that the media companies may not treat the artists fairly, does such taping infringe on the artist’s rights?

    (2) While the freeway looked safe, and I’ve pulled similar things myself, I wonder what will happen as California laws change. Would this be considered unauthorized use of a cell phone while driving? And the documentation is right there on kyte.tv for the cops to see.

    (3) We’re already seeing “citizen journalism” (or whatever you want to call it) affecting the mass media, although I’m not sure that they’re talented enough to use it properly. However, as a matter of principle (I can’t stand Harvey Levin) I haven’t tuned into the new TMZ TV show, so I don’t know how effective the practice is.

    (4) Your major point is valid – if the content is important, it doesn’t matter if the camera is only $15. I’m heading to Oracle OpenWorld in a couple of weeks, and if Larry Ellison (or, better yet, someone from BEA) should happen to drop by the bloggers’ dinner, you can bet that a dozen people will whip their cheap cell phone cameras out and videotape every utterance.

    Like

  2. I’ve been watching all the tweets about kyte.tv, videos, five minute videos, shorter videos, longer videos, etc. ad nauseum, but this is the first time that I’ve actually watched any kyte.tv video. A few comments:

    (1) Videotaping and audio recording pre-dates rap concerts, and gets into all sorts of copyright issues that date well before Metallica. Ignoring the fact that the media companies may not treat the artists fairly, does such taping infringe on the artist’s rights?

    (2) While the freeway looked safe, and I’ve pulled similar things myself, I wonder what will happen as California laws change. Would this be considered unauthorized use of a cell phone while driving? And the documentation is right there on kyte.tv for the cops to see.

    (3) We’re already seeing “citizen journalism” (or whatever you want to call it) affecting the mass media, although I’m not sure that they’re talented enough to use it properly. However, as a matter of principle (I can’t stand Harvey Levin) I haven’t tuned into the new TMZ TV show, so I don’t know how effective the practice is.

    (4) Your major point is valid – if the content is important, it doesn’t matter if the camera is only $15. I’m heading to Oracle OpenWorld in a couple of weeks, and if Larry Ellison (or, better yet, someone from BEA) should happen to drop by the bloggers’ dinner, you can bet that a dozen people will whip their cheap cell phone cameras out and videotape every utterance.

    Like

  3. No one is making any money in Hollywood (quote by George Lucas). Movie stars goes back to television. NBC says dollars are turning into pennies. Existing business models appear obsolete, while new ones like iTunes are resisted. Zucker blames Apple, but the truth is that they have destroyed their own business for a very long time. You can have the MBA approach to doing business: Where is the money? Or you can have the artists approach: What does my passion tell me?

    Like

  4. No one is making any money in Hollywood (quote by George Lucas). Movie stars goes back to television. NBC says dollars are turning into pennies. Existing business models appear obsolete, while new ones like iTunes are resisted. Zucker blames Apple, but the truth is that they have destroyed their own business for a very long time. You can have the MBA approach to doing business: Where is the money? Or you can have the artists approach: What does my passion tell me?

    Like

  5. Nice counter-argument đŸ™‚ I agree in parts, the ability of you driving and videoing at the same time whilst doing so online? welcome to the world of “We are connected” (Insert Daft Punk Song here).

    That being said, the next step is HD YouTube style videoing. Cameras are getting pretty darn good at the quality the downside is once they hit the web, the quality goes south.

    Thus, I predict concepts like the next generation Silverlight and Flash are really going to push this approach in a totally new and energetic way. It will however come down to hosting costs, and that’s pretty much were the cost hits you.

    Kyte didn’t cost you anything, but it cost Kyte something đŸ™‚

    –
    Scott Barnes
    RIA Evangelist
    Microsoft.

    Like

  6. Nice counter-argument đŸ™‚ I agree in parts, the ability of you driving and videoing at the same time whilst doing so online? welcome to the world of “We are connected” (Insert Daft Punk Song here).

    That being said, the next step is HD YouTube style videoing. Cameras are getting pretty darn good at the quality the downside is once they hit the web, the quality goes south.

    Thus, I predict concepts like the next generation Silverlight and Flash are really going to push this approach in a totally new and energetic way. It will however come down to hosting costs, and that’s pretty much were the cost hits you.

    Kyte didn’t cost you anything, but it cost Kyte something đŸ™‚

    –
    Scott Barnes
    RIA Evangelist
    Microsoft.

    Like

  7. Cool. I like it and want more of this.

    Let’s be careful not to make video the one and only content. Writing still has value too.

    Oh, and Robert, watch out you don’t turn into some travelling salesman.

    Past few days all I’ve seen you do is race around, carrying gear and living in your car and other people’s offices.

    Next interview: poolside or something, okay? đŸ™‚

    Like

  8. Cool. I like it and want more of this.

    Let’s be careful not to make video the one and only content. Writing still has value too.

    Oh, and Robert, watch out you don’t turn into some travelling salesman.

    Past few days all I’ve seen you do is race around, carrying gear and living in your car and other people’s offices.

    Next interview: poolside or something, okay? đŸ™‚

    Like

  11. Why is Cell phone usage so different in Europe and in the US? I cannot understand you guys don’t take pictures or videos with your cell phones… I mean, you’re using the same korean phones as we do, I guess? I heard something that SMS didn’t take off in the US because the protocols of different telco providers don’t interoperate. But MMS sucks and no one is using it, still everyone is taking pictures over here and in the US not?

    Like

  12. Why is Cell phone usage so different in Europe and in the US? I cannot understand you guys don’t take pictures or videos with your cell phones… I mean, you’re using the same korean phones as we do, I guess? I heard something that SMS didn’t take off in the US because the protocols of different telco providers don’t interoperate. But MMS sucks and no one is using it, still everyone is taking pictures over here and in the US not?

    Like

  14. Florian: we have a lot more computers over here. The culture is different. But we’re catching up. The iPhone dramatically pulled us into the mobile online world.

    Like

  21. You confuse making an mp4 file with making a Web video.

    Creating an mp4 file is easy and cheap. Making and interesting Web video is expensive and hard.

    Like

  22. You confuse making an mp4 file with making a Web video.

    Creating an mp4 file is easy and cheap. Making and interesting Web video is expensive and hard.

    Like

  25. @ Stefan,

    An interesting question!

    There are actually 3 different ways to produce video-shows from the mobile phone:

    1.)
    Use the Kyte Mobile Java App and Produce a ‘QuickVid’
    Note, the video will be limited to 30-45 seconds

    2.)
    You can record a video on the cellphone’s native application. Then, send the video directly to the channel’s email address (@kyte.tv) via email-message.

    3.)
    Use Kyte Web Upload to upload your video directly from your cellphone’s gallery. This is a Nokia Only feature. Robert uploaded his video this way from his N95.

    Send us a feedback (feedbackkytetv)if you have any questions.

    Like

  26. @ Stefan,

    An interesting question!

    There are actually 3 different ways to produce video-shows from the mobile phone:

    1.)
    Use the Kyte Mobile Java App and Produce a ‘QuickVid’
    Note, the video will be limited to 30-45 seconds

    2.)
    You can record a video on the cellphone’s native application. Then, send the video directly to the channel’s email address (@kyte.tv) via email-message.

    3.)
    Use Kyte Web Upload to upload your video directly from your cellphone’s gallery. This is a Nokia Only feature. Robert uploaded his video this way from his N95.

    Send us a feedback (feedbackkytetv)if you have any questions.

    Like

  27. fred: I watched mainstream TV last night. Maryam was watching “the Bachelor.” That proves that you can spend a lot of money creating very expensive crappy video. And even better, people watch it.

    Me? I’d rather create very low cost crappy video. People watch my stuff too (a million unique visitors a month now) but if it’s crappy not too many dollars were spent.

    Like

  28. fred: I watched mainstream TV last night. Maryam was watching “the Bachelor.” That proves that you can spend a lot of money creating very expensive crappy video. And even better, people watch it.

    Me? I’d rather create very low cost crappy video. People watch my stuff too (a million unique visitors a month now) but if it’s crappy not too many dollars were spent.

    Like

  29. @14 You are asking the wrong question.How much money was made for ABC on “the Bachelor” vs how much money made on the million unique visitors for your video? I’m guessing ABC made out pretty well,even factoring in relative costs.

    Like

  30. @14 You are asking the wrong question.How much money was made for ABC on “the Bachelor” vs how much money made on the million unique visitors for your video? I’m guessing ABC made out pretty well,even factoring in relative costs.

    Like

  31. Don: ABC +better+ have made out. They are a public company, took dozens of years to build its distribution network, and have a LOT of expensive buildings and people to pay.

    Me? I have a cell phone and Milan and Maryam to feed.

    Like

  32. Don: ABC +better+ have made out. They are a public company, took dozens of years to build its distribution network, and have a LOT of expensive buildings and people to pay.

    Me? I have a cell phone and Milan and Maryam to feed.

    Like

  35. Very cool! No wonder Barry Diller says he’d rather be a waiter than go back to Hollywood [sic]

    Any info on using iPhone for this kind of work?

    Just be careful, my friend, as using a cell phone is definitely a high impairment when driving and lots of muni’s are forcing “hands free” laws.

    Like

  36. Very cool! No wonder Barry Diller says he’d rather be a waiter than go back to Hollywood [sic]

    Any info on using iPhone for this kind of work?

    Just be careful, my friend, as using a cell phone is definitely a high impairment when driving and lots of muni’s are forcing “hands free” laws.

    Like

  39. Pingback: www.latesthollywoodgossip.info » Comment on Video: not easy or cheap? by Jan

  42. @16 You are either missing my point or proving Ron’s. If you are making video for video’s sake–even if you have great interviews, then, well, you get what you pay for. If I were you I would find a way to monitize those 1MM users (beyond sponsorship). It appears, at the moment, that videos that actually make money are not easy and not cheap.

    Like

  43. @16 You are either missing my point or proving Ron’s. If you are making video for video’s sake–even if you have great interviews, then, well, you get what you pay for. If I were you I would find a way to monitize those 1MM users (beyond sponsorship). It appears, at the moment, that videos that actually make money are not easy and not cheap.

    Like

  46. Free and easy don’t necessarily mean compelling. While gimmicky content may grab people’s attention for a few minutes, the video that builds new businesses will have to bring people back for more. The barrier to entry for that type of video goes far beyond something you can do in your car with your phone.

    Like

  47. Free and easy don’t necessarily mean compelling. While gimmicky content may grab people’s attention for a few minutes, the video that builds new businesses will have to bring people back for more. The barrier to entry for that type of video goes far beyond something you can do in your car with your phone.

    Like

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