We’ve always wondered how Google would monetize the Web’s most popular Video destination – YouTube, after the $1.6 bn buy out. Google has unveiled Video Ad Units for select publishers who can choose to play Videos on their sites and depending on the content, Google will display overlaid ads. The revenues will now be split between the Content Creator, Publisher and Google [This is my guess].
Google had earlier tested inline ads prepended to a YouTube video just like any other non-innovative network. However, the current release lacks the Google Touch / WOW factor but can be rated above average. This is a significant development mainly for two reasons – More individual content creators can monetize using YouTube and applying BillG’s thoughts of establishing a platform [Windows], Google is using their YouTube / AdSense platform to make more money and reach wider audience. Now that Google has shown the way, Facebook, eBay, Yahoo, etc can all derive necessary variants.
In a desperate move to make a come back, Steve Ballmer has said that Microsoft aims to derive 25% of its revenues from advertising. Steve can get it right, only if he has some innovators with Web 3.0 ideas and developers 🙂
If content creators are to be paid, don’t you think the current content on YouTube needs to be legit unlike what it is now ?
My experience says, WOW factor cannot be repeated by the same model. It has to be something new, only then you can hear a WOW from everyone.