Physical GooTube DOA
Google reportedly has a deal in place with Panasonic to create Google-enabled TVs. But no one really wants to watch YouTube videos on their TV. People may think they do, but they don’t.
Online video primetime is during the day when people check out from work to “snack.” Few will buy a TV just because it’s YouTube accessible, especially if there are better alternatives and there will be by the time this is released.
Television demands a certain quality of experience, and while Google has some smart people who will go a long way toward making YouTube watchable on the TV, users demand more. Quality will be an issue, the navigation will be a hassle and Google has failed to reach agreements with those producing the most compelling digital content.
Set-top boxes will ultimately offer the greatest choice in online video delivered to the TV. Google’s YouTube content simply doesn’t offer a strong enough value proposition to compel users to go out and pay more for a TV bearing its name.
Tags: Google Panasonic TV
January 9th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
I couldn’t agree with you more… I think that we as online video producers tend to ignore over and over again that if we want to compete with mainstream media we must either match them in their production values from writing to shooting (I’m not holding my breath) or alternatively capitalize on our unique strengths - low production costs, creative freedom, and boundless, inexpensive interactive technologies with which to engage our audience. Only then will online video content quality be compelling enough to compete with msm, both socially and economically.
January 9th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
Plus, YouTube hasn’t been good at signing the really good independent content that is out there. Most of the online content I might want to watch on my TV is on Blip or elsewhere.