Four of the big media companies have joined talks about creating a video web site for the purpose of competing with Google's (GOOG) YouTube, ZDNet reports, citing a Wall Street Journal article.
The four companies in the talks are Fox (NWS-A), Viacom (VIA) NBC Universal (GE) and CBS (CBS). What they will try to create, if they can come to an agreement, will be a site for the purpose of streaming shows that are from their television networks. They are also considering building their own video player to play the clips.
In spite of the talks, CBS and NBC have already entered licensing deals with Y
ouTube. YouTube is the leader in online video-sharing with over 100 million views a day.
The Walt Disney (DIS) company, the parent of ABC television, isn't interested in the idea as they are confident in the strength of the brand.
As usual, the big companies are doing the stupid thing. How many people at this time care about television being transferred from the TV to the internet? If I can watch it on TV or DVR it, what possible reason do I want to go to a site for the purpose of looking at only what is on their TV channels?
Now if they were talking about original content and extras unique to what they already offer, it may have some value. But to create a mirror of their broadcast channels, makes no sense at all.
More than likely its being bantered around for negotiation purposes to try to extract some better deals from the growing number of sites offering video streaming of shows. They should follow in Disney's footsteps and enter into the changing entertainment world then continuing to obsess with control; they lost that a long time ago.
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