Does Live Video Matter?

SAI has some numbers on the users and viewers of the many free live-streaming options that have been popping up and sucking up VC rather rapidly.

Turns out the numbers are quite equaling the investment, yet.

“The biggest site, LiveVideo, had 1.13 million unique viewers in February, according to Nielsen’s VideoCensus. That’s enough to earn it 49th on Nielsen’s list of top video sites — and to beat Sony’s Crackle (nee Grouper). But it drops off dramatically from there.

Second-place streamer uStream, supposedly a Microsoft buyout candidate, ranks 142nd among the top video sites. That puts it between iVillage Network (141st) and one above Atom Films (143rd), in terms of unique viewers of video. And Justintv, the supposedly redhot home of iJustine? Just 82,000 unique viewers, Nielsen says — enough to earn it #369.”

This isn’t especially surprising to anyone who has spent time watching the average live-stream.  Like most of the videos on YouTube, it isn’t that interesting.  And, unlike the video’s on YouTube, these “broadcasts” never really end.

Sure, there are some exceptions and it is here that we will begin to see some growth.  The first issue is figuring out what NEEDS to be live.  Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should.  Think how few things are actually live on TV.

The news. Morning shows. Sporting events. SNL.  That’s about it aside from the rare stunt programming.  As the tech gets better and the streams get more clear sports will be a big part of the live-streaming world – look how well CBS did with their live NCAA games.  I’ve even heard anecdotal reports of people “broadcasting” sporting events of their own tv, via webcam, to the web for those who can’t get it in their region.

Pop17 Goes Live

I’ve really been enjoying the first week of Sarah Meyer’s daily web show Pop17.  Yesterday’s episode was a nice fast look at what’s going on in Livecasting, a pretty amazing technology whose ramifications are just peaking over the horizon.  Sites like Justin.TV and, more recently Mogulus, have begun to make some noise.

Sarah actually breaks the news that UGC giant YouTube has plans to add Livecasting sometime this year.  Considering their market share that could be the proverbial tipping point.

Check out Sarah’s show if this is all new to you or just to get up to speed.

Then check out Sarah herself doing some lifecasting of her own today at 3pm.  Head over to Pop17.com/live to check it out.

CNN or YouTube?

There is a pretty amazing post over at Neatorama that features a YouTube video of a group of young women looting a store during the riots earlier this week in Belgrade.

“It’s yet another peek into another world that we would be less likely to see before the age of internet and YouTube. How is society changing with the barrier to entry for broadcasting to millions of people around the world set so low?”

I’d say that is a pretty excellent question to consider.  I’m actually reminded of a book by Christopher Buckley called Little Green Men (it was made into a bad movie with Randy Quaid).  In the book, the Earth is invaded by little green men from Mars.  Instead of bringing horrible weapons or disease, they have the ability to teleport instantly to anywhere.  This allows them to spy on anyone they want to.  Once they’ve finished spying they immediately go and share what they’ve learned with the offended party.  The effect of all of this is that secrets become impossible and all the world powers are forced into a completely open position.

(Actually, I am not totally certain that is actually the plot of the book, but that’s how I remember it… )

I really wonder if this isn’t sort of what is happening with the combined proliferation of the internet along with mobile phones that capture video.  There are phones now that can capture and post the video simultaneously, making anyone capable of becoming a live, uncensored, on-the-scene reporter.

CNN can kiss my ass.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VWZoKWBYXE&rel=1]