NBC TV is “old media”, trying to find a way to thrive and survive in the age where you and I want “video on demand”. Trying to modernize.
Many feel that old media is doomed. That NBC will be too slow to change in trying to compete against smaller, newer rivals.
Yet NBC got a lot of good press for their online product called Hulu launched March 2007. It is a video on demand service offering streaming TV shows and movies, primarily from NBC and FOX. The slogan is “Watch your favorites. Anytime. For free.”
Hulu is free. Later they can find ways to monetize it. NBC and FOX are real players on the web.
Right?
For me Hulu has been a disappointment. Too many restrictions.
But the real evidence that NBC wants to chase away their customers to competitors is happening right now. First Jess. Then the Live.Breath.Love.Gymnastics blog reported that NBC is taking down gymnastics video clips on YouTube. The very same day, Gymnast.com is uploading their videos to YouTube. Using YouTube to promote the new website. To attract people to Gymnast.com. Using YouTube as free advertising.
Gymnast.com “gets it”.
At VISA Championships in Houston the Gymnast.com cameraman stood right beside the NBC cameraman.
With hopeful optimism I’d initially given NBC’s new website a positive review. Later I learned I could not watch their videos from Canada.
NBC sucks, for me.
After the Olympics, I’ll go back to boycotting NBC productions as much as possible.
Those of us who want to see Olympic video clips online will find a way, even if it’s not on YouTube.
UPDATE: NBC and CCTV in China have Olympic broadcast rights. Seems even Beijing is getting serious about preventing copyright infringement. This will only work if those networks offer a way for fans to see gymnastics legally. If not, fans will find a way to post clips.
UPDATE: I tried again today. Something NEW was on the site. It said that IF I download silverlight2 BETA from Microsoft that I could watch NBC video on my new Mac. I did. And did get a preview video to play. Nothing else.
Nice user experience NBC. You suck.
Gymnastics Coaching.com 