On Friday, YouTube unveiled a huge upgrade to its Web site that will change how the millions of YouTube fans will find their videos. The changes will empower them to subscribe to channels that focus on the artists or themes that they prefer.
Right under the broadcast network's noses and other Internet competitors, they have grown from a tiny video search site to the frontrunner of the Internet video community.
While the networks promote their American Idol show, weekly and sometimes daily, internet 'idols' are cropping up all over the place with millions of people watching their videos.
What the new changes do is allow the users to make playlists that they can then share with friends or fellow fans that like the same stuff. Effectively they're creating their own Internet broadcast channels.
YouTube has said that its strategy is to go beyond the latest hit video craze, into creating a more customized programming experience that is similar to watching TV or surfing channels with the remote.
Mike Powers, a senior product manager at YouTube said "The number of channels a user can watch is exploding, broadcast TV offers eight channels and cable or satellite TV has up to 600 choices. YouTube allows a viewer to choose 10,000 channels or more."
If this works, or at least improves the search capabilities for users, this could continually grow as a legitimate outlet for video lovers, that steadily erodes into the faltering Hollywood broadcasting model.
Very interesting news! Thanks for the tip, Gary.
Posted by: Easton Ellsworth | June 5, 2006 7:15 AM | Permalink to Comment