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the user's perspective
Page history last edited by Drew Peifer 9 mos ago
- users want to get the content they like easily and with the least cost to them.
- 99% of users will respect your need to make money from your content. They will be willing to watch a reasonable amount of ads, or pay a reasonable fee to get the content without ads.
- If you will not provide the user with a legal/monetizable option they will either not watch your content, or they will get it in a way that does not generate revenue for you (e.g. piracy or streams without ads, etc.). Both options are not good for the content owner.
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- Content providers aren't really interested in maximizing revenue; they are interested in controlling the channel
- Streaming content, as opposed to downloaded content, eliminates the need for perpetually-increasing user storage capacity. A portal to streaming content like Hulu (or Boxee) acts as an on-demand index of content that sits at a user's fingertips 24/7 -- just like an enormous hard drive. In this way, portals like Hulu and Boxee will always provide a valuable service and alternative to piracy. For example, a user with limited storage will probably refrain from downloading the movie "Jaws" because it's available in Hulu's catalog at a decent resolution, and Hulu content streams efficiently. However, limiting the outlets for this content (i.e. region codes, subscription services, de-integration from external streaming sources like Boxee) simply cuts down on the convenience and speed with which users can access that content.
- Having data accessible off-line and transferrable to anyone (such as storing a movie on your hard drive, and having the ability to upload it to someone else or send them a link to stream it) is the ultimate convenience. Providing services and features that mimic this convenience will ultimately make piracy obsolete; the degree of convenience which each outlet achieves will ultimately determine its success/popularity, as well as its impact on "pirate communities" (Yarr!)
- If an external source in its Alpha-stage infancy can generate a significant number of streams for a site's content, the projected user-base should be reason enough to stick with it, at least for the near-future.
- Upon stable release, easy streaming and a sleek interface will eliminate a significant portion of users who decide to illegally download the content that previously wouldn't stream properly. Giving wider, easier access to content on your terms deters from users accessing it by other, less-desirable means
the user's perspective
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Comments (7)
kylemurphey said
at 12:31 am on Feb 22, 2009
I would like to avoid using bit torrent negatively, or using it as an example of piracy, because there are legitimate uses for it. Some podcasts are distributed through bit torrent by smaller podcasters to alleviate the need to lots of bandwidth.
Jerry said
at 12:43 am on Feb 22, 2009
The points on this page reflect my perspective exactly:
* I respect that those who produce content deserve to get paid for it, through fees or advertising.
* In general, I don't mind paying a fee for content that becomes "mine" to use and watch as much and as long as I'd like. I generally buy DVDs or video downloads from iTunes for this purpose.
* I don't mind advertising for more casual content that I'm going to watch once. I had very much been enjoying Boxee for this, especially the Hulu chanel.
* I'm not interested in watching TV and movies on my computer (other than when I travel). The reason I have a big-screen television and an Apple TV is to watch this content.
* I used to look down on "pirates", but when providers make it difficult or impossible to legally watch their content, especially when they take away legal, convenient means, my opinion begins to change.
joe.liedtke said
at 8:44 pm on Feb 22, 2009
I think the point I would add, if the page wasn't locked by someone else... is that:
1. Hulu is designed to be a way for content providers to enable computer users to watch their content + ads [thus adding a profit element for Hulu and the content providers] Apple TV is, essentially, a computer with a very limited front-end and Boxee is a tool that enables users on this platform to watch content on Hulu.
2. Does it really matter all that much which monitor I decide to watch Hulu on? Is my TV all that different in nature from my computer monitor?
Tom Haviland said
at 11:03 am on Feb 23, 2009
From my perspective, I don't see what the difference is between watching shows on Hulu from my laptop hooked up to my TV and watching it from my Apple TV hooked up to my TV. They're both computers, they both will show the content (the shows) on my TV, with the same quality, and in both cases I'll see the ads.
So if I can hook my laptop or other computer to my TV and watch the shows in the exact same manner as on my Apple TV, what's the difference?
Tom Haviland said
at 11:05 am on Feb 23, 2009
Actually this might make a good demonstration. Bring in a computer and TV and show them how to watch hulu content on a TV by hooking the computer up. Show how simple it is. Then ask what the difference between this and using Boxee is.
rahmin sarabi said
at 7:56 pm on Feb 23, 2009
re: hulu, i wonder if they are charging advertisers for the ad unit that appears on the page? could that be the issue?
Gordon Mattey said
at 8:23 pm on Feb 27, 2009
@rahmin
There are no ad units on the page, just in the video.
At least I have never seen an ad unit on the page itself.
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