Kent Newsome on technology, music and life

6/09/2007


Don't You Mean Television vs YouTube?

Duncan Riley has a post entitled Joost vs Babelgum, in which he compares Joost and Babelgum, two stupidly named applications that allow you to watch TV-like programs (and other lame content) on your computer.  As you might imagine, I have a couple of questions.

First, why would I want to watch TV on my computer when I have an HD television connected to an HD DVR right here in this room?  A TV that has hundreds of channels, as opposed to the crappy selection at Joost?  I haven't tried Babelgum, but if it's the "poor man's Joost," I can't imagine how bad it must be.  Just because you can do something, doesn't mean you should.  See the recent video blogging rage where people upload home movies that even their moms would find horrifyingly boring.

Joost's slogan is "a new way of watching TV."  That's factually true, I suppose.  But walking backwards could be branded as a new way of walking too.  New doesn't equal better.  Or necessary.

And a couple of follow up questions.  If I really wanted to watch TV-like programs on my computer, why wouldn't I do it at YouTube, where the interface is logical and the selection epic?  Or in the case of actual TV shows, at the network web sites?

And if I were going to waste hours making some video that no one wants to watch, why wouldn't I simply upload it to YouTube and serve it from my web site, where I get the juice instead of Joost?  More importantly, why would the content producers of content we actually want to watch donate all that juice to Joost when they could serve the content themselves?  Let's not forget, DirecTV was TIVO's best friend until DVRs became mainstream.  Then it kicked TIVO to the curb and did its own box.  Joost and Babelgum, like TIVO, are too far downstream from the content producers to keep a grip on the content that matters.  Once you get past that, you're a homeless man's YouTube.

People have been trying to push the rock up the convergence hill for years.  Anyone remember the Yamaha RP U-100?  I still use one, but the product line died on the vine (and store shelves) because people didn't see the need to merge an audio receiver and a computer.

In sum, I just don't get it.  Do you?

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Posted by Kent @ 6/09/2007 11:32:00 AM | Permalink

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5 Comment(s):

Hey, this is actually video people want to watch!...www.thenewsroom.com.

By Anonymous Anonymous, at 6/09/2007 6:11 PM  
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I actually do think I get it. While many people have cable, HD TV's, and DVR's. I don't, nor have I ever. I do have a TV, but no on the HD, cable, or DVR. So, for me, the question is, "Where can I get good content to watch?" One method has been to amass a decent DVD library. Another method has been to subscribe to Blockbuster's Total Access. But a third way, and my favorite, is to use IPTV based solutions.
These include ABC Launch, CBS InnerTube, Fox on MySpace, NBC Rewind, CWTV, Joost, Babelgum, etc., etc.
But, let me more directly approach the question. Why use Joost? The answer at this point is that there isn't a compelling reason - but there is a compelling reason for content producers to distribute their content through Joost. Joost integrates advertising into each show thus providing a reliable source of income for major networks while not requiring the back-end infrastructure of running one's own website. This is especially important for the many shows that are constantly canceled. These shows probably could attract an audience - but aren't on at convenient times, would be watched by a demographic that doesn't have cable, etc., etc. Joost takes away the time effect....
Yada, Yada...Now I'm rambling.

By Anonymous David Mackey, at 6/09/2007 10:16 PM  
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I wouldn't be surprised to see Joost being built into a set-top-box. Like with skype, the company could start a licensing programme to allow third party manufacturers to build 'Joost Certified' hardware.h

By Anonymous steve, at 6/10/2007 7:25 AM  
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For any one keeping track. I have no HD TV. I have no DVR. I watch most of my TV in the computer room...normally DVDs played on the computer itself. As for why people might want Joost instead of YouTube. The picture quality at Joost seems to be better from the "What Is Joost" video they have. Pretty much everything on YouTube looks like crap.

By Anonymous Mike, at 6/10/2007 3:16 PM  
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you're right dude. you really DON'T Get it.

You'll see.

By Anonymous Anonymous, at 6/12/2007 3:08 AM  
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