Representatives from the TV industry and Web video got together recently at Wired Magazine's Nextfest and almost fell over one another saying how the Web video trend will have no negative impact on traditional television.
The basic argument is that Web video is more of a supplement and feeder for television to promote its current fare.
Referring to web video, Jennifer Feikin, director, Google Video, said at the conference it "is definitely not a substitute for television, rather she concluded that it can "whet the appetite for TV."
Jeff Zucker, CEO, NBC Universal added, "There is room for both," "[Web video] is not replacing the high-end, high quality programs on television. They are offering different experiences."
Zucker also said that while they can't ignore sites like YouTube anymore, and don't want to compete with them, they still want to do it themselves. NBC Universal is probably the worse dinosaur of the whole old media bunch, as they continually push to fight anything that disrupts their old model. I think that they are just buying time until they get their little NBBC Internet platform up to compete.
Judy McGrath, Chairman and CEO of MTV Networks, understands what is happening as she commented that being exclusive has been "blown up." She affirms that any exposure that TV shows get, along with music videos is a tremendous help to the industry. She believes that what is happening is the greatest thing that could have happened.
I was with her until that last comment; as it's putting things on a little too thick to me.
The bottom line? They're really worried. Do you remember the last time someone from Google mentioned that they wouldn't challenge anyone? It was when Google's founders told everyone that they wouldn't be competing with Microsoft.
You can see Luke Skywalker in the background waving his hand saying, "Web video will have no impact on television; Web video will whet the 
appetite for television; Web video will not replace the high-end, high quality programs; YouTube does not want to compete with traditional television."
Final scene: Luke walks off with check from Internet business owners.
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