Recently, Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt had claimed that Internet video websites, particularly YouTube, has displaced TV watching ... but this has been refuted by some of the widely popular TV channels including Sony, who are more confident of their infinite content and video quality, and further reason this with the growing number of LCD and LED TVs.
However, this has also been a fact that video sharing websites such as
YouTube are continuously gaining users.
Internet giant Google, who owns YouTube, had recently announced that the video
sharing website was drawing one billion unique viewers a month. The whole idea
of exploring more possibility in viewership and subsequent growth has been a
constant look out zone for YouTube. For quite some time, the site has been
investing much in delivering quality content by funding the launch of more than
100 channels from well-known media brands and personalities.
"I thought that YouTube was like TV, but it isn't. I was wrong," said Robert
Kyncl, YouTube's global head of content."TV is one-way. YouTube talks back."
And he further added,"TV means reach, but YouTube means engagement."
In a sense, YouTube is a way to reinvent television. Television, as an integral
part of mainstream media, has been a one way platform where as YouTube or any
other active video sharing websites come under the Web 2.0 revolution that talks
back. Not only you have the option to like, dislike and share (Google+) your
video, visitors always have a chance to talk back in comments or reactions.
So, which is bigger: the more conventional TV or the new age invention YouTube? Honestly, YouTube has a long way to go in order to catch up with television. There is still a large portion of people worldwide who are yet to use Internet in their daily life. Certainly, it makes sense for those with internet connectivity to visit YouTube and subscribe to different channels. But as far as TV is concerned, any channel always has a fan or audience base and any new programme of a single channel bank upon those audiences.
YouTube, on the other hand, has to come up with quality content those mater and cater to large audience groups. It is, no doubt, a whole new platform and programme, and will take awhile before the TV viewership comes down. Nevertheless, YouTube has many advantages to count on, for example its worldwide reach that is universal distribution. YouTube is everywhere on your personal computer to your smartphone. Anything on YouTube is directly at the customer hand.
As one rightly said, if you own a small business in some part of USA - you can still build a customer base outside the country using YouTube and that too without much investment on advertising cost. Unlike television where you can only get recognised in your local market, YouTube means – you have viewers/customers in every country. It’s the modern age television.
All in all, at present, there is no need that the traditional TV industry should consider itself warned. Of course, you may find millions of channels on YouTube compared to those few hundred on television, but no way will every new channel on web get a loyal audience. Even if you have a video channel on YouTube, you have to do a lot of promotion to reach what you have aimed for. For now, the talk on YouTube Vs. Television will go on.
|
|
Comments:
