Just 24 hours after Microsoft announced their CEO, Google announced it’s new YouTube leader. She will replace it’s current boss Salar Kamanger, whose held the position since 2010, and is now off to other Google ventures.
The new You Tube boss is Susan Wojcicki. She was one of the first Google employees, even had the headquarters in her own garage. For years, Wojcicki has been looking for a major leadership role. Now she has one, though she’s stepping in a whirlwind of uncertainty. There’s a tug-of-war going on between those who complain they’re not making enough money and those who want to turn it into a the next TV network. You Tube attracts over a billion visitors a month and has rumored to have profited over 5 billion in 2013 alone.
It’s interesting to see where this goes. I see Google stuck with one of their first and most loyal employees. I think that’s saying a lot. If you can’t trust someone whose been there since the beginning, who can you trust? And there are many who are actually watching YouTube channels as much, maybe a little bit more, than network TV. Plus, Wojcicki is an ad exec. Who better than an ad exec to clear up the ad problems and bring more revenue? Of course, I can’t even watch a YouTube video without an ad, but oh well. What do you think YouTube’s future will hold when Susan Wojcicki takes over?
Ever hear of the Hashtag Bowl? It’s a contest of which social media sites see how many times they’re mentioned in Super Bowl ads.
Hastags were mentioned in 57% of all Super Bowl commercials that aired last night. Of the social media sites, Facebook was mention five times, Twitter four, and? You Tube three. The percentage of hashtags in Super Bowl ads have gone up. Social media sites Instagram and Google Plus weren’t mentioned at all, for what it’s worth. Hyundai and Subway had the most mentions. Budweiser had a lot. Nearly half of Super Bowl ads, 41% had a URL in them.
What’s to make of this Hashtag Bowl? It seems to me Instagram and Google Plus needs to step up it’s promotion skills. Speaking of You Tube, I saw many of these commercials on You Tube even before the Super Bowl. For instance, the Budweiser commercial that celebrated the soldier coming home: I saw that one on You Tube several times. It was a wonderful ad and message, but by last night, it already felt old to me. That’s my other point: don’t let social media spoil your Super Bowl ad. Keep these ads secret. We consumers love the element of surprise. And if you You Tube, Facebook, or Tweet your ad too much too early, you’re going to ruin that surprise. What did you think of last night’s commercials?
What did you do for your 10th birthday? Did you have a party in your backyard? Did you get the latest video game system or game, maybe go to a concert? Guess who is about to turn another decade ?
On February 4, 2004, Facebook was founded in Mark Zuckerberg’s dorm room at Harvard University in Cambridge, MA. But don’t expect Zuckerberg to throw any parties or attend any concerts to mark the occasion. You’ll probably find him writing memos to better his company and better himself. In an interview with Bloomberg Businessweek, though he is critical of himself, he is grateful of where and the company is right now. With over half the world’s population online and with competitors like Twitter, and with many teenagers logging off Facebook for good, there are many challenges ahead. Zuckerberg wouldn’t have it any other way.
On the other hand, he has a lot to be grateful about. He’s a billionaire before the age of 30. Facebook is used by over 1.20 billion people worldwide and is expected to be the first company ever to reach $150 billion worth in the shortest amount of time. Not long ago, Facebook’s stocks were struggling to reach $20 a share. As of today, a share will run you $61. And let’s not forget about the impact it’s had on it’s users. As for me personally, I’ve reunited with people who I thought I’d never hear from again. Where do you think Facebook will be by it’s 2oth birthday?
Last Thanksgiving, I visited my cousin’s family. A question about jazz came up. Back in my day, I would have had to get an encyclopedia, maybe even research it at the local library. All they had to do today is go to Wikipedia and their question was answered…just like that!
That shows you the power of Wikipedia on the Internet today. And it’s getting more powerful: Wikipedia is adding celebrity voices to preserve their legacies long after they’re gone. The project is called WikiVIP. They’re also calling on scientist, artist and other people who have made their mark on this generation to record their stories. One of the first to agree is Stephen Fry. He’s a British TV star and activist. They hope Fry’s influence and popularity, will inspire others to follow his lead. The BBC is giving Wikipedia short clips of it’s long history for perseverance.
I’m glad Wikipedia is taking this step. I hope?American celebrities follow this cause. Let’s face it, none of us are going to be here forever; none of us are even going to see 150. We have a rich history and culture. This is a great way to honor it and teach future generations.?What if George Washington, Fredrick Douglas,? Abraham Lincoln, or Elizabeth Cady Station had the voice technology we had today?
We all know about the triumphs of online streaming TV giants Netflix and Hulu. Even World Wrestling Entertainment is producing it’s own TV network. What’s Amazon doing?
Amazon is talking to major?media companies, asking their licensing permission to?possibly?start their own pay TV service. Amazon hopes to take advantage of those giving up on cable TV and other pay TV services. Yesterday, Amazon insists they aren’t starting a pay TV service. But they?plan to build their Prime Instant Video library and?start their own shows, produced on Amazon’s own studio lot. While Sony and other companies?are trying to do likewise, Amazon?is already building relationships with the right media companies?and have their?own studios.
I don’t know if Amazon will start their own pay TV or not. But I do know this is another nail in the coffin of traditional cable and/or satellite TV.?And if Amazon produces their own shows, that means more shows and stars will be stolen?from mainstream cable companies. And what if Amazon?produces an?Emmy award winning show? Netflix did.?Why go to the movies?when you know?it will be on Amazon, perhaps the?next month? Will Amazon go?Pay-TV? The way cable is going, will it even have to for it’s continued downfall?
We’ve turned to premium cable stations like HBO and Showtime to bring premium entertainment, from the latest movies to shows like Sopranos and Sex and the City. Not only is online streaming challenging their popularity, they seem to be taking it over.
According to an independent research firm called NDP Group, subscriptions to premium cable channels six percentage points between spring 2012 and summer 2013. Meanwhile, on-demand services like Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime Instant Video increased by four percentage points. But HBO says it gained a million subscribers since January 2013. Starz says it added 1.2 million. But Netflix alone has increased subscriptions by 24% in a year difference.
Let’s look at some other stats. I read somewhere that cable companies are among the most hated companies in the US. They’re definitely among the most expensive for what you’re getting. Some are switching to satellite. Yes, the service and product is better, but you’re often at the mercy of the weather. But you can get Netflix at $7.99 a month. So is Hulu Plus. Netflix is already producing their own shows, and winning awards for those shows like House of Cards. Whether they want to admit it or not, online streaming is the wave of the future. People are even hooking up systems so they can watch You Tube on the big screen. Maybe cable companies can lower their rates, treat customers a little better, or produce better shows. Does premium cable have a chance against online streaming TV?
