What’s Happening To TV? Are Internet Networks the New Hit For Viewers?

There’s a new star in town… the Internet. All right, it’s not new but TV Networks on the Internet are a fairly new concept that takes some warming up for some, not only to get used to but also to comprehend. See our TV network for an example, PCIN.TV and Live Fit Magazine on YouTube.

“Really, I’m going to watch a TV show on my computer,” they say. “Yes,” I say. And then I add, “Or you might watch it on your flat screen, Internet-ready TV through services like Direct TV or on your iPad or iPhone.  Or you might even watch a live broadcast streamed via the Internet and TV Networks on the Web using multiple devices and from anywhere you like.” The point here is the TV world is changing and insiders are scrambling to keep up.

The pros and cons of Internet TV.

At one time TV production was for the elite few (relatively speaking) who had the skill-set, technology, and lucky opportunity to be part of it. Today, nearly anyone can make a video or even a slide show (and call it a video), post it to YouTube and–bamb!–it’s on TV. Well, kind of…it’s not being broadcast over the traditional airwaves but the digital world is putting many people on the map. And that’s equalizing the playing field for those who have a story to tell.

Today, multimedia journalists like myself can go anywhere in the world with a fairly small bag of gear, shoot a story, and get it to the Internet and also to traditional TV without needing a big, expensive camera or full crew. The story can be produced quickly, efficiently, and effectively.

However, that also means that as the barrier to entry drops for an industry, the standards of that industry may drop as well. Today, you have people with cameras who don’t know much about TV, journalism, or even videography producing videos that make their way to the Internet. That’s not to say that an amateur can’t create a very viral video. It happens all the time. But what we’re talking about here is reliable high-quality TV programming but on the Internet instead of only on TV.

Let’s explore the numbers. Since there is a saturation of video content why should anyone pursue this medium? Just think about these mind-blowing statistics from YouTube.

• 60 hours of video are uploaded every minute, or one hour of video is uploaded to YouTube every second.
• Over 4 billion videos are viewed a day
• Over 800 million unique users visit YouTube each month
• Over 3 billion hours of video are watched each month on YouTube
• More video is uploaded to YouTube in one month than the 3 major US TV networks created in 60 years
• 70% of YouTube traffic comes from outside the US
• YouTube is localized in 39 countries and across 54 languages
• In 2011, YouTube had more than 1 trillion views or almost 140 views for every person on Earth

Skate to where the puck is going, said Wayne Gretzky. Go to where your viewers already are–the Internet.

You can hold off on building your Website with quality videos or you can be an earlier adopter and capture the growing audiences on the Web. The integration of TV and Internet TV will collide in a big way in the future. I believe viewers will switch seamlessly from one source to another just as they do today between what used to be “standard TV” and cable.

The future is in Social TV. Apps like ZeeBox in the UK are helping viewers watch programming online while linking them to their friends through their Facebook page. This same app puts information about what you’re watching just a click away. So if you are viewing an online program and a particular book is mentioned, a link will pop up and you can click that link to view, purchase, and download the book to your device.

Having online video content will be one of the main sources of viewer consumption. Look around the coffee shops, libraries, shopping malls, restaurants and you’ll see people are already watching online via iPads, and smartphones. But online audiences are not the same as traditional TV audiences where they are forced to watch commercials (unless they skip over them via their pre-recorded programming).

Great online video content consists of at least three critical components:

A compelling story that matters to the audience

Information that provides help, tips, and added value

Special offers, discounts, where to go for more knowledge, support, or social interaction

While these points may seem self-explanatory, it’s important to note that most of the videos watched online are NOT ads. That doesn’t mean they don’t brand, market, create consumer awareness, and urge viewers to take action. It means that viewers are watching videos that tell stories rather than just a basic ad like you see on TV.

A Video News Story shares information, telling viewers about a subject that they want to learn more of. It entices and encourages them to reach out for more information. It is the connection that makes Online Video News Marketing successful. Take a look at these two stories.

You’ll notice that each one has a message about a product or a company. It contains an offer or supplies knowledge about a particular topic and, in the end, if the viewer has an interest in this subject, it can be the catalyst to seek out more information. And that’s when the company has the opportunity to make a unique connection unlike TV.

When these Video News Stories are placed on Websites that are surrounded by other engaging information that adds value, visitors stay on your site longer and are many times more likely to pursue your company or product simply because they have the knowledge that they couldn’t gain elsewhere such as in a brief 30-second ad that they see on TV.

This knowledge (the video or written blog post) can be shared easily via the click of a mouse. It’s spreadable and archivable, which makes the content highly useful for consumers. They can bookmark it and return again and again to digest your message.

Want to learn how you can make Video News Stories part of your business messaging? Visit http://LiveFitFilms.com. Also, see our online video lifestyle magazine to see how you can have your story featured in our media publication and Internet show.