RSSGoogle Offers Some Videos for Free
By the Betanews Staff | Published June 23, 2006, 11:55 AM
Google this week began offering for free selected content from its Google Video library that normally costs between 99 cents and $4.95. The company is testing out embedded advertising in the videos to see if it can bring in more revenue than charging per view.
An advertisement is displayed above the content, while the commercial appears at the end of the video. Google says it has signed on less than ten advertisers for the initial trial. Free videos include episodes of the Charlie Rose show, classic movies, documentaries, and extreme sports.
Hold your horses, folks!
Google is pretty keen on capturing advertising revenue. Something for "free" may actually have a hidden cost.
Given the Apple iTunes pay methodology versus a Disney/ABC free content model being beta tested currently, an interesting piece of data crucial to advertisers emerges. Viewers are more apt to remember a commercial if the content in which it was placed, was downloaded for free.
So is Google nuts, or are they testing the waters as to develop the technology needed to compete in this "free" space.
"Mister Marc" Asturias
http://www.wizardsoftechnology.com
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It continues to amaze me that [supposedly] intelligent people cannot comprehend that things actually cost money in this world -- whether online or not, and whether "poop" or not. I assume you protest your internet access, rent, and utility bills each month, too.
And, who's forcing you cry-baby whiners to download Google's free "poop?" You have your Netflix subscriptions, right? Oops, I forgot. You don't have a Netflix account because it wasn't given to you for free.
Here is the advice your parents should have given you: Either take it or leave it. However, say thanks either way. To do so is only common sense and common courtesy. Remember, those "Dummies" at Google Video don't have to give *anything* away to any of you.
Yea, "dummies" indeed. (I think they are also known as "spoiled brats" and/or "freeloaders.")
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Yay.....they give away crap.
If you give away poop for free it still doesn't change the fact that it's poop.
Great job Google.
Dummies.
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As always, your keen insight astounds me. ;)
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Hi PC_Tool,
Did you look at the content though? It positively sucks. The only cool thing is Charlie Chaplin silent films, everything else on there I wish was silent, because they look so bad I don't want to watch them at all.
Cheers,
Christian Blackburn
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FTFA:
The company is testing....
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What do you mean cheasy content, they got Rocky & Bullwinkle. I cut my teach on R&B.
BullWinkle: Hey Rocky, Watch me pull a rabbit out of my Hat.
Rocky: Again?
/something invariably goes wrong/
Classic cartoons at thier best.
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Bah.
I listen to internet radio here (on my own DSL connection, not the LAN) because the building blocks outside signals. Most radio stations (that exist outside the internet) use something similar.
You are forced to listen to a Pontiac Ad, and during commercial breaks, they teach you chinese (wtf??). The Pontiac ad says 'Hi' every once in a while, but never interrupts the music.
Mainly, I think they just need more advertisers. Their salesmen must suck.
The ads don't annoy me. It's the damn chinese lessons I can do without.
*grins*
Looks like Google is being even less intrusive. Probably a text-ad (noticed the article left that out, so we cannot be sure), and the commercial at the end? Just close the damn window?
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