27Feb2007
BitTorrent is planning to use its widely used file-sharing software to launch a legal download site, called the BitTorrent Entertainment Network, that will distribute more than 5,000 titles including digital movies, TV shows, games and other media.
Considering that BitTorrent have got a well-deserved reputation for quickly file distribuition and an existing user based of 135 million, they could be a serious competitor for the increasing online video market, which current heavy players as YouTube, Joost, Babelgum, Brightcove among others.
The battle’s just begun and another important issue is to reach agreements with content owners. Joost has just partnered with Viacom so has BitTorrent with Hollywood studios like 20th Century Fox, Lions Gate and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios. What comes next? Only time will tell.
15Jan2007
It’s well known that there is a lot of copyrighted material from Hollywood Studios available for free on YouTube. It’s also well known that the Studios also have taken advantage of YouTube in order to get their films more popular at low cost.
But the real challenge has arrived and Hollywood is wondering whether YouTube is friend or foe. Being aware of the potencial benefits they could get, all of the major studios are negotiating licensing agreements with YouTube, but in the meantime they are also pressing YouTube to adopt filtering mechanisms faster to keep unlawful material from even showing up. Even more, some people think that Studios will sue if they don’t get the licensing deal they want.
On the other hand, Google’s is being pressed by their own investors who are willing to see whether YouTube is worth the $1,65 billion they paid for it or not. What comes next? Only time will tell.