RTCRM

You Tube “views” may be small compared to other media, but those views are from active, engaged consumers seeking out content. Compare that mindset to the average television consumer, TiVo remote in hand, distractions abounding. Also, keep in mind the sheer breadth of content on YouTube. One video with a million views may not seem impressive, but what about a thousand videos that a million people have chosen to watch? The most popular video on YouTube has 76 million views (and counting); the hundredth most popular has 13 million (and counting). Those figures are up dramatically from 40 million and 3 million, respectively, a year ago. Imagine those numbers when YouTube’s been around for a decade or two. Compare this to television. Ten years ago, Bruce Springsteen sang “57 channels and nothing on…” A decade later we’ve got more channels… do we have anything more to watch? Do you know anyone who channel surfs any more? While Viacom may have slapped the hand of YouTube, other companies are embracing it. Search for any Letterman appearance you may have missed and you’ll find it uploaded by CBS itself. Like any medium, the Internet and YouTube in particular, has more than its share of tomfoolery, but watch some of the videos mentioned in this Washington Post article and see if you don’t come away with new respect for the emotional impact potential of this nascent art form (did he just say art form?).