I've been trying to collect some thoughts regarding Google's recent acquisition of YouTube and its general implications regarding the future of digital media. While I don't have any real problem with the acquisition, it did make me think about my involvement in the digital media community over the past couple years. The internet has always made it possible for communities to form and voices to emerge without the elevation of corporations, and more recently than ever, we've seen this embraced by the major media conglomerates. In 2005, Al Gore launched CurrentTV - a network built around short programs, a third of which were created by viewers, uploaded to their website and subsequently voted on. I was initially excited by the network, but eventually found them to be rather out-of-touch with the youth market they were trying to market to. Several of their programs were created with Google, who were (and still are) beta testing their own streaming video site - Google Video.YouTube managed to bypass both Google and Current and create something truly revolutionary - a space where artists could share their work, a space where copyright law was irrelevant, and a space where the cheapest form of media was as important as the most big budget. It was when I started exploring all the wonders of YouTube that I thought about using the internet as a means of distributing my own show, New and Used Records, which I had initially considered pitching to Current.
Last month, Yahoo (also developing their own streaming video site) teamed up with Current to create a You Tube-like site. The only difference being that their site would be a tad more selective about its content. With Google's acquisition of YouTube, three powerhouses in the digital media game - Google/Current, YouTube, and Yahoo became not competitors, but all part of one large circle. It was only a matter of time before the major media outlets embraced YouTube, and we have yet to see any drastic changes. Yet, as one who has read and written extensively on the mainstream media's ability to anesthetize once rebellious art forms, I can't help but feel a little cynical.
3 comments:
I understand that restrictions will be forthcoming now. It was free and open before because YouTube had no fear of being sued, since they had no money. Google on the other hand, has scads and people know they can make a pile if they sue them.
My thoughts exactly. I think its going to become a game of who sues who first. Which completely takes away from YouTubes goal.
Well said, lots to think about. My initial reaction was happy that youtube would have a continued life (since I am so dependent on it) but there are wider implications..
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