There’s a saying in the internet marketing realm. If you’re not on Google, you don’t exist. I believe this same saying goes for YouTube. If you have a video that’s not on YouTube, you may as well keep it in your sock drawer next to your “One Night In Paris” videotape.
Recently Viacom has told YouTube to take down all of their copyrighted videos, which was around 100,000+. This includes anything on MTV, Comedy Central, BET and VH-1. That means all those Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart videos, poof.
Let’s rewind real quick back to “Lazy Sunday” from SNL. No one gave a damn about SNL because they’ve not had anything funny in years. They were old, stale and as much fun as Tim Hardaway at a Gay Pride parade.
All of the sudden, Lazy Sunday burst on to the scene and spread faster than the salmonella in my peanut butter. What’s this? SNL is cool again? Even more amazing is that it happened overnight. They regained their clout because of a video of two white guys rapping about the Chronic, what? -cles of Narnia that was spread virally by a bunch of stoned college kids.
So what did NBC do? They sent YouTube a C&D telling them to remove the video immediately. IDIOTS! Gahh. The only reason why anyone gives a damn about Saturday Night Live or you, is because of this video. If it weren’t for this, SNL would be about as interesting as watching E True Hollywood Story: The Life and Times of Anna Nicole Smith. No one cares!
Long story short, the people revolted, NBC realized their mistake, and the myth that white people can’t rap, was solidified in history. Lazy Sunday continued to blaze a trail as one of the most viewed videos in YouTube history.
Fast Forward to February 2007.
Stephen Colbert is the internet. The internet is Stephen Colbert. This is the man who inspired half the world to edit the Wikipedia entry for African elephants. This is the man who recreated the Star Wars kid video with a green screen and encouraged people to take it and do what they will…where? YouTube.
Jon Stewart also had his career pumped full of speed and inserted directly through an iv into his blood stream solely because of the the video giant, GooTube if you will. To be honest, I just got done watching both programs. I’ve never religiously watched either of these guys and frankly, didn’t even know who Stephen Colbert was until about four months ago.
Why am I watching now? Simple. I saw clips on YouTube that made me burst at the seams with what is normally bland political humor.
That is what you people don’t understand. I was not browsing Comedy Central’s website, I was browsing YouTube. That’s where I go for videos. That’s why they are viral. I see it on YouTube and then go to Comedy Central.
On YouTube. One more time, say it with me this time. Yooooooooou Tooooooooooob (just remember that’s a long ‘o’).
You’re defeating the purpose of the viral video by putting it on your own site, and not allowing it to spread. So, congratulations on being retarded.
So now where am I going to watch the best cuts from past episodes, or scenes from episodes that I missed because I was busy writing bitchin’ blog posts about jackass TV networks who are about to disappear from the face of the Earth as quick as a box of milk duds next to a Rosie Odonnell?
Am I going to go to Comedy Central’s website? Hell no. YouTube is etched in my brain. Google = Search. Family Guy = Hilarious. YouTube = Videos. Oh, and in case you missed it, The Internet != A Dump Truck.
What is it going to take to get traditional media up to speed with the 20th century…or maybe we should work on one century at a time. The television networks haven’t changed their business model one bit since their incarnation. Isn’t it time you listen to the people who pay your bloated paychecks that bought you that private jet you use to impress your trophy wives because you lack in other areas?
I refuse to stop watching The Colbert Report and The Daily Show because I do not believe that either of these two characters had any say whatsoever in this. I do however promise that I will absolutely not be visiting any Viacom related website and encouraging their backwards attitude towards today’s internet culture.
Here’s the deal, if you’re worried about advertising, put ads in the videos. I understand that the business model of the TV networks is advertising based. I understand that asking you to even consider changing that model would probably send your over-aged and under-educated executives to their grave.
No one wins here. If fact, I would be very surprised if the ratings for at least the two aforementioned shows didn’t drop in the coming weeks.
But in closing, if you don’t exist on YouTube, you don’t exist. Period.
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