BUSINESS WEEK — Dec 1 — Google and YouTube are dangling nine-figure sums in front of major programming and network players (Time Warner, News Corp, NBC). 'Don't sue us over copyrights. Take this (substantial) payment, and trust us to figure out how we'll all make serious money once we get advertising and revenue sharing worked out.' No publicly traded media company today is in a position simply to dismiss, say, $100 million. Such a sum far exceeds what any single broadcast network can extract from the online world–and drops straight to the bottom line. But taking the dough fortifies an already threatening rival.
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Mark Brooks: Who will take the bait? One of these companies will surely take Google/YouTube's deal, and then YouTube will meet it's true potential. These are landmark, society morphing deals. TV will unify with the internet as wireless technologies mature. The wireless internet will become pervasive and everyone will watch TV on mobile phones, and SONOS type receivers at home within the next ten years. Rhapsody partnered with SONOS to deliver music on demand. Movies and TV will be available on similar delivery systems shortly, I think. I'm intrigued with the battle between Netflix and Blockbuster. Blockbuster must realize it's brick and mortar stores are doomed. Netflix should also realize that 'movies-by-mail' will have a five year half life. What are the implications for online dating? Video on the net will become part of the paradigm of the masses. Video communications have been a long time coming but are perfect for the online dating experience. Webcams don't lie. Dating site users will demand seamless video and voice offerings.