YouTube cements its position as the internet channel

December 2, 2006 · by Dr Neil Hair · in Business, Commentary

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Coming to a smaller screen near you! It was probably only a matter of time before they started offering new platforms for people to access their content but I am surprised at the speed with which YouTube appears to have beaten the competition (traditional television channels) to the post. I YouTubed my night away again the other day (literally) watching old music video's of Midge Ure (I'm sorry), Nick Kershaw (I'm really sorry), and the Pet Shop Boys (I'm beside myself with grief). It reminds me a little of an ultimate TIVO experience where you can go back in time and relive just about anything – including an old Erasure concert I went to in 1992 (but not unfortunately images of an old best friend trying to ride a bicycle with cross crossed hands). It's continuing to annoy the premium sports channels in the UK – the cricket federation back home is furious that live streams of the Ashes in Australia are being shown (the tolerance of some peoples levels of excitement never cease to amaze me, I'd personally rather watch Rachel Ray insult servers with offensive tips on $40 a day than bored people swinging boring bats on boring fields). These are then archived on YouTube by the masses who want to watch or share. What I love most about YouTube however is this community that supports it. I left some comments on a Talk Talk video the other night, only to find myself COMPELLED by the power of email (which informed me that someone had replied to my message) to engage in communitylouge. Fantastic stuff – I enjoy participating and I love the fact that YouTube have successfully manipulated me and continue to do so whilst making me happy. I'm loving it, and Google will be loving it all the way to the bank. Pity about the legal issues of copyright – still, google has deep pockets and will probably reach some sort of pay per view deal with anyone who threatens to spit out their dummy.