This semester my blog will be switching its focus to online communication. I'll be posting weekly about the best and worst of email, web sites and online advertising.

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Myspace expands TV offerings

In an effort to surpass its major competitors, Facebook and YouTube, Myspace has been expanding and diversifying its TV content. Mediaweek reports that they announced their newest branded channel from TMZ on Wednesday.

TMZ, according to comScore, is one of the most heavily trafficked gossip sites, attracting nearly 11 million unique visitors last month. They will be providing Myspace with two to three exclusive clips per week, along with several nonexclusive clips.

The TMZ channel will join several other branded channels on Myspace including BBC, National Geographic and the New York Times. The TMZ channel will be competing with Myspace's current Celebrity channel which includes content from People magazine and Getty images.

This effort to broaden content offerings seems to be a trend among the social networking sites recently. Sites that began with a specific purpose and niche market, such as Facebook which was originally only a network of college students, are now diversifying in an effort to become the favorite "one stop shop" for viewers.

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Hulu.com shakes up the world of web video

Hulu.com, the newest face in the world of online video, offers viewers a new realm of content. This joint venture from NBC and News Corp provides "premium content" from networks like Fox, USA, E! Entertainment and the like, all at no cost to viewers.

Launched just last year, the site continues to add content and increase its availability across the globe.

Along with full length TV shows from popular series like Heroes and The Office, Hulu also offers popular commercials (like those from the Super Bowl) and movie clips and trailers. Their video player is completely customizable, and you can easily share and embed your favorite clips and videos, as well as view them from other partner sites like MSN, MySpace and Yahoo.

On top of all this, Hulu's CEO, Jason Kilar, seems to know what viewers want and need from embeded advertising. Mediaweek.com reported that during a recent presentation, Kilar urged online advertisers to "deliver creative that is suited to the environment." He went on to say that producing original creative placements that are shorter in length was the best way to do this.

After poking around on Hulu.com myself, I've determined that this newcomer has a lot going for it. If they're able to keep the content free and updated it wont' be long before Hulu.com is as widely known as YouTube.