Creators Take Note

No doubt. Monty Python folks just touted their 23,000% sales increase from putting their stuff up in high quality versions for free, and the South Park guys haven't released numbers, but I'm sure that "we got tired of having to watch crappy uploads of our show" wasn't the ONLY reason that they're now hosting their own high-quality streams for free. YouTube is where the people are, and the lower quality leads to seeking out higher quality video elsewhere. I think that Mad Men would sell even better if it were also on Hulu or hosted in full high-quality streams elsewhere.

Yes and no Chris. I think it may be hurting the industry because of the fact that the videos are up there for free but many content providers chose this route to begin with so that the viewers would be seeing high quality version of their content that may ultimately persuade them to go out and buy the DVDs if they like that show enough.

The way I see it these digital versions of these series' and movies are basically only previews or samplers that help the viewers determine whether or not they want to go out and buy the real product. If these companies are so worried about it they should limit the amount of episodes you may watch online so that way you must go buy the rest to get full enjoyment out of the series.

As far as movie companies go that is a tough one because providing an entire movie online is a big deal but as a consumer I would say that I would buy a movie I already watched online if it was really good because at that point I would want to view it in it's full glory on my television screen. I mean, how many people wouldn't buy the Dark Knight even if they already saw it on the web? In the end it's really about the consumer, just like most things these days.

~Freddy G.

Mad Men is an outstanding television series, smartly written and perfectly stylized to reflect that time in history. YouTube as a sales platform has certainly helped drive interest in our cookbook, as well as attract a wider audience to our regularly scheduled national TV series "Organic Living with the Hippy Gourmet." Although in terms of free, shorter segments at a lower quality video output driving higher quality DVD sales, we haven't seen that as much. Rather, we think it's going to be all about the promotional value of having our huge content library going mobile, surrounded by ads that help folks eat and live healthier lives.

Well the clip is definitely interesting. That was a powerful and insightful speech. I wonder if Netflix or Hulu has it.

To answer your question though, I don't think Youtube is bad for TV and filmmakers at all. If they hop on board the train maybe they could make some extra cash. I just posted yesterday on SheGeeks Why the Entertainment Industry might want to start paying more attention to Twitter. The same goes for Youtube, Imeem, Brightkite and other location awareness services.

Social media is perfect for TV and filmmakers. Why? Because this is just another way to virally market yourself. 18 year old rap phenom, Soulja Boy, used Youtube, Myspace and other soc nets to virally market himself and his music. Now he's a platinum selling, Grammy nominated artist, with over 400 million Youtube views, over 12 million views to his channel, and over 100k subscribers. I'm pretty sure it's helping his sells quite a bit. TV and Filmmakers could benefit in the same way, especially TV!

A lot of rappers are starting to get on Youtube and Myspace for more promotion and marketing. It's damn near free marketing for goodness sake and not that hard to accomplish if you're good at what you do. Soulja boy has already moved on to Twitter. :)

Youtube, streaming, sharing, etc al is a detriment to the business because Hollywood, TV studios, Music Companies made a lot of their money on bad product. Let's be generous and say that all these companies made 80% work whose quality, when exposed to the masses, would increase sales. They still have 20% that would hurt - so it becomes a balance and their bottom lines are impacted.

Shows like Mad Men benefit because their quality is so apparent even in quick snippets. It sparks curiosity, intrigue - perhaps even nostalgia. It makes you want to go learn more and, more often than not, spend your money. Sadly - it's the exception. Until the entertainment industry starts focusing on quality - they will always be wary of free distribution of their product.

Good sells more with exposure - Bad sells less... Mad Men is definitely one of the most amazingly written shows to ever hit television. The ensemble cast? Also amazing. You'll enjoy the DVDs.

But we're going to end up in a question about how to monetize things successfully in the days of easily copied & transferred information, aren't we? ;)

Hi Chris,

I don't think YouTube is bad for TV, or filmakers. . .I rely on it constantly to preview movies and learn about TV shows like you did with Mad Men. Same goes for finding new music. . .gotta' hear it first, then I'll buy it.

It may however, hurt TV as a MEDIUM, because advertisers are bearing, or will bear, the brunt of the impact. . .at least in the interim. As acceptance of YouTube and other type platforms grows, and advertisers realize there are eyeballs online that they're not capturing via traditional means, they'll gravitate there instead.

...think of it as an evolution more than a runaway change we can't understand or desire. The river always discovers its natural path, and humans are pretty adaptable creatures. We'll figure it out.

On a side note, as someone who also hasn't seen Mad Men (no cable!), I just loved the portrayal of emotion in the character delivering the presentation. Clearly he's speaking not solely of Kodak's creation, but of something more dear to him. . .that appears to be lost (?) Brilliant acting. . .slow in release and delivery and strikingly well written.

Now that would be an amazing presentation in real life.

Cheers,
Doc

The one thing we've learned about producing television is that monetization occurs a little bit in product placement and sponsorships, but mostly after the fact in ancillary product sales (books and merchandise that people find value in). So long as free content has the hooks in it to promote the brand(s) and raises awareness, it's good for folks like us who are interested in brand building.

I've never bought anything because of YouTube, but then again I'm not really a TV or movie person. I have, however, bought two CDs as a result of hearing the songs on last.fm. Put that in your pipe and smoke it, RIAA.

(The CDs, for the...um...record, were Sarah McLachlan's "Bloom" and Midnight Juggernauts' "Dystopia.")

YouTube is great for all kinds of businesses - not just media. In the sales funnel, people arrive at 'Try' just before 'Buy' and video provides a great way to test something/someone out. This is especially true in professional services, public speaking and consulting. If you get to hear and see a potential consultant in action, you are in a better position to bring him/her in. YouTube is one of the best personal branding tools ever.

Best.
William
www.williamarruda.com

Free content is like a free sample, a taste. If done right, it works on you like this clip worked on you Chris. You want more. Sharing sample content drives demand. Just the opposite of what the license police would tell you.

I had to smile when I saw the clip you chose - I use this clip in presentations on "thinking from a different angle of approach." While the series can be a bit soap-operaish at times, I'm definitely hooked. Loaded both seasons into my iPhone and couldn't get enough. I know you'll like it - there are some gems in there.

Chris,
I am so glad that I am subscribed to your blog!
What a powerful video!
Thank you!
The Franchise King

Cool video - certainly makes you think! I just re-themed my blog, and now I'm wondering if I should try and create a nostalgic carousel template for Drupal! Nostalgic Carousel would also be a great name for a blog.

Chris,

Terry Gross did a piece on the Mad Men series and used this clip on the radio. I had not seen the visual. I must say hearing it on the radio with the clicks of the carousel and not knowing what was on the screen (but imagining) was quite powerful, even more so than seeing it. You might want to look that up. Here's the link http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?st... That interview also discusses the founding of the show and it's creation. It's quite interesting. Thanks for sharing this.

Though the analogy isn't quite accurate, if we look at pirates and people who ONLY watch videos on you tube, then the TV stations and show creators haven't really lost anything.
Generally speaking these are people who would have never bought the dvd or paid for cable anyway, so they were never your customers to begin with.

So you tube is undoubtedly good for creators IMHO
Patrick

YouTube isjust a tool. It can be used to promote and market TV shows and films. AMC does tons of advertising for Mad Men and it has won all kinds of awards, but it to a You Tube video for you to hear the buzz about this show.

btw-Mad Men is the best thing on TV. It is a smartly written, well acted show. You will love it!

Crhis
I strongly suggest that you do watch the show form the beginning because, aside from the excellent writing, this is that rare series where some characters do grow, evolve, do unexpected things and yet show a continuing thread to their character. Yes i am a fan and so very grateful for tivo so our friends can gather at a time we choose to dine and watch 2 or 3 (well, sometimes up to 4) episodes.

Plus we can stop it at anytime and discuss what we saw and felt - talk about turning TV into social media!

"Is YouTube bad for TV and filmmakers?"

Technologies and tools are not inherently "good" or "bad" for anything or anyone. They simply "are". Is the iPod bad for radio? Radio was terrible as it was and people who enjoyed listening to music never listened to the radio anyway. Radio could have innovated and played DECENT music and had GOOD programming, better than the iPod - but they didn't. Thus they failed and now everyone is their own DJ.

Mediums that don't change or evolve doom themselves. The internet was here quite awhile ago. The TV and film people sat in their ivory towers and didn't bother to think things could change. Meanwhile the world went right along without them.

YouTube could be the best thing to happen to film and TV if they embrace it. It is all so much free PR and promotional content for them. There is some great thinking about this over at Techdirt if you want to read more. Here:
http://techdirt.com/articles/20081230/193639326...

Isn't this the same argument about watching a movie at a real theater vs watching the one we buy online or at some other store?

First--so glad you finally found Mad Men! It's such a fantastic show on dozens and dozens of levels.

Secondly, YouTube is fantastic for media producers. You can share bits and pieces that inspire you with people who trust your authority. It's viral marketing at its best. I know from personal experience that even when I find something I like online and watch it for free on my computer, when it's something I care about, I also buy the real deal. I do this with music, with tv shows, with movies. I know I'm not the only one. Granted the generation that came after us might not feel the same way and seems to have this sense of entitlement that things ought to be free, period. But ultimately, this sharing of things we've seen and like is nothing but good for the creator when credit is given to the source.

Is YouTube bad for TV and filmmakers?

Chris,
I am thinking that you probably heard that the Pope will be broadcasting on You Tube via the Vatican's new channel who's address is http://www.youtube.com/vatican .
I take this as a sign that even those in high places are adapting to their people's ways. If it's good for the Pope, then TV and filmmakers should follow their lead and find a way to make the technology work for them.
I have followed Mad Men since it's premier and thoroughly enjoy the show. I subscribed to TiVo because of this show. I find this show interesting on so many levels. The show depicts my parents generation. A generation some claim is the time to have lived, (the high life, when the living was easy), and I chuckle when I see them drinking and smoking in work, and even the women (pregnant women) smoke and drink in the middle of the afternoon. I think this clip is a significant representation of the whole idea of the show Mad Men, and to what the show it self hopes to achieve with it's audience.
I think that You Tube is a call to action to TV and filmmakers to step up to the plate and utilize the tools at hand to shake hands with their people and woo them for more.

You just said you're going to buy the season of this show that you discovered on Youtube. You wouldn't have otherwise, right? I'm thinking its good for film makers.

First- Mad Men is a brilliant show! That scene you watched was one of the more powerful scenes I've seen in either film or tv in years.They simply nailed it.

Secondly, I don't understand why YouTube isn't used more by both tv and movie people to preview their shows / movies. As I was writing this, I wondered how much of a frenzy it would have caused if the people behind LOST posted, say, the first half of the season's premiere on YouTube a week before it televised? Granted, they had little clips everywhere before it premiered but I think a big bite of it would have feed the frenzy even more.

Wesley
The Geek Entrepreneur

I would say yes because people can watch their favorite shows on the internet for free and they will have lesser sales offline. Their profit is lesser with the growth of the internet as the media to upload free videos.