YouTube Announces Channel Strategy

Yes this is days old, but it was Halloween weekend, so simmer down.  As expected, YouTube finally announced a series of category focused channels, making it look even more like a MSO.  What's interesting is that they sold off the individual channels to different content providers, and a close source to me from Digital Broadcasting Group (owner of the 'Spaces' channel), told me that it was insanely competitive to get a slot.

Here's what AdWeek said about it all:

After months of speculation with almost no official confirmation, YouTube has finally announced its long-awaited channel strategy in a post to the company’s blog late Friday evening. The announcement falls in line with what had previously been reported in the press: namely that YouTube will be expanding its lineup of channels to include new offerings from a variety of partners, including well-known personalities and brands in the Hollywood, music, news, and sports worlds. “These channels will have something for everyone, whether you’re a mom, a comedy fan, a sports nut, a music lover or a pop-culture maven,” YouTube’s global head of content partnershipsRobert Kyncl said in the post. Under the new system, content creators—like Vice Media or the video game lifestyle network Machinima, for example—will have a dedicated channel on the site that they will control, continually updating it with video content. YouTube, for its part, will sell ads against that video inventory. YouTube is seeking to organize its site much in the way a cable provider organizes linear TV channels—a fact that Kyncl acknowledged in his post today. “Cable television expanded our viewing possibilities from just a handful of channels to hundreds, and brought us some of the most defining media experiences of the last few decades—think MTV, ESPN, and HBO,” Kyncl wrote. “Today, the Web is bringing us entertainment from an even wider range of talented producers, and many of the defining channels of the next are being born, and watched, on YouTube. “ The channel announcement comes on the heels of a number of other content initiatives from YouTube in recent months, such as its Partner Grant program—announced in July—which sets aside a total of $5 million in creative grants for qualifying video makers to improve their video content. The efforts are aimed at coaxing viewers into engaging with YouTube as they engage with television, spending much more time watching a wider, more compelling array of video content. As YouTube chief Salar Kamangar wrote last May in a blog post entitled "Welcome to the future of video. Please stay a while," "You’re spending just 15 minutes a day on YouTube, and spending five hours a day watching TV. As the lines between online and offline continue to blur, we think that’s going to change."

Viral Video: Girl Falls Into a Mall Fountain While Texting

Just fantastic. This is the epitome of what's wrong with people these days. Pick your head up and lock it up! I'm sure that text was vital to her mall mission.

Heineken Leads Viral Video Charts With Killer Party Entrance

Yes, it's from Wieden & Kennedy, as per usual with phenomenal spots.  "The Entrance" received 2,084,195 views this week as per AdAge's True Reach measurement tool, a partnership with Visible Measures.




*The Visible Measures Top 10 Viral Video Ad Campaigns Chart focuses on brand-driven viral video ads that appear on online-video-sharing destinations. Each campaign is measured on a True Reach basis, which includes viewership of both brand-syndicated video clips and viewer-driven social video placements. The data are compiled using the Visible Measures Viral Reach Database, a constantly growing repository of analytic data on more than 100 million internet videos across more than 150 video-sharing destinations.


Note: This analysis does not include Visible Measures' paid-placement (i.e., overlays, pre-/mid-/post-roll) performance data or video views on private sites. This chart does not include movie trailers, video-game campaigns, TV show or media network promotions, or public service announcements. View-count results are incremental by week.

Online Video Through The Eyes of Jeremy Allaire (Brightcove)

Jeremy Allaire, Chariman and CEO of Brightcove gives a great perspective of the online video space.  He touts the rise of consumer adoption of the medium, as well as large scale marketers embracing the need for having a video presence.  Brightcove is a leading online video platform, allowing publishers to manage and distribute video content (for those not following, it's a video player).

Sourcing Vevo and Florence + The Machine For Jan 3 Inspiration

Despite every radio station calling Florence + The Machine's album 'Lungs' supposed new music, I promise you I've been jamming for at least 8 months.  Having said that, this is an inspirational yet relaxing way to garner energy for the first day back at a desk...

AdAge's Viral Video Chart of The Week Revives Lebron and Nike

"Rise" by Nike was hands down one of th best creative spots I've seen in the past year or so. Wieden Kennedy continues to outwit and out-create their competition. I especially have a soft spot this week because two nights ago, I finally watched "More Than A Game." For those out of the loop, MTAG is a documentary filmed during Lebron James' senior year of high school, and tells the story of how he and his three best friends culminated a decade of playing together at the high school basketball national championships. While that description might paint a sports story, what you get is much much more. It's a story of boys to men, of race and city divisions, of father and son, and of the long pursuit of glory.

Anyhoo...Lebron is back on top of AdAge's Viral Video Chart. So check it out:

'NBA Jam' Is Back With A Social Media Twist

BOOMSHAKALAKA! I remember yelling it in my sleep as a kid, regaling the hours of 'NBA Jam' that consumed me day after day. The legendary arcade basketball game has officially made it's return (and includes original announcer Tim Kitzrow spouting off our favorite one liners like "he's on fire!!").

To jumpstart the games re-entry into the market, David Le, Director of Marketing for EA Sports, worked with Funny or Die to shoot a spoof on the timeless rivalry of uncle vs. nephew in a video game battle royale. Honestly, I think the short is boring, but the games return was enough to make me sit through all three minutes...

Uncle Boomshakalaka! - watch more funny videos

YouTube Live Streaming Starts at 8am PST

Well, for a two day test that is. YouTube has moved slowly into the live streaming. How do you think it will pan out?

Check out the schedule below to see if any of the programming tickles your fancy.

Awesome New Eminem and Rhianna Song

I am indeed a sucker for a beautiful hook, well sung chorus, and tough Eminem verse....

Pandora Video Series - Matisyahu "Thunder"

My boy Matis gives a breakdown of "Thunder" from his new album Light. Some amazing guitar and classic beatboxing in this video. Worth the couple minutes.

Artist description: "Spiritually orthodox musician Matisyahu brings some unorthodox flavor combinations into his live set, including hip-hop, roots reggae and classic rock."

**The Pandora video won't load so here's an alternative...

Hilarious Ad By Hardees

Home page for this new effort http://www.nameourholes.com/.

ESPN Actually Pugging The World Cup and Soccer In America?

Am I dreaming, or has ESPN gotten Kenny Mayne to vouch for the validity of football as the world's game to a couple American meatheads?

Galifianakis Does Kanye, Musically That Is

Hilarious video made by Zach Galifianakis and Will Oldham doing Kanye's "Can't Tell Me Nothing."

Just Another Unreal Falcao Futsal Goal

As Brazil routs Romania 12-0, Falcao does this...

Great Heineken Commercial: Let A Stranger Drive You Home

Honoring Biz Markie, MADD, and everyone against drunk driving across the world...

Spike Lee’s Kobe Bryant Documentary Three Exclusive Previews

Premiering May 16th on ESPN, "Kobe Doin' Work."

Thierry Henry Blowing S**t Up

An awesome post over at AdvertiseMe today showing off my favorite footballer of all time, Thierry Henry. Henry is showing off his new Reebok boots in explosive fashion....that was a hint to what goes on in the commercial for anyone keeping track.

Henry and The Reebok Valde

Let's All Make Fun Of Twitter

Because I just starting twittering, tweeting, or whatever the hell the verb is, I thought it a good chance to make fun of it. Here's my two cents on Twitter:

As a brand/company/artist, this is a great way to speak directly to your brand loyalists. They've chosen to follow your brand more intimately and what a tool to speak to them directly.

As an individual, this puts narcissism into a whole new category.

Gatorade Through The Ages

A great retrospective of Gatorade's ad campaigns through the last couple decades over at Oldest Living.

The Pole Dancing Bear

Or maybe he just needs a good scratch...