Filed under: Internet, Video, Beta
YouTube, NBC not happy with VeohTV
No one has filed a lawsuit against VeohTV yet, but it could just be a matter of time. The service is something of a cross between YouTube and Joost, giving you the ability to surf for online videos without using a web browser.The problem is that many of those videos don't come from Veoh, but from sources like NBC, CBS, and YouTube. That includes full length streaming episodes of shows like 24, Heroes, and 30 Rock. And Veoh doesn't ask for permission to distribute those videos.
The company's argument is interesting. Since the networks and other sites are streaming these episodes for free, Veoh says all its VeohTV player does is provide a new interface for streaming the content. Any video advertising included by the content owner remains intact.
But NBC and YouTube officials tell the New York Times that they're not too happy with the service. If viewers can access their videos without going to their web sites, they lose out on potential advertising revenue. So either Veoh's going to have to work out licensing agreements with content owners, or we're going to see this battle headed to court. Unless of course Veoh fails to make a dent in the marketplace. Then we doubt anyone will really care. VeohTV is still in private beta.
So, just how good at time waster games are you? Think you've got the stuff? Well, The World's Hardest Game 2.0 doesn't think you do.
Yes, amazingly, it's possible to have a sequel to a game called "The World's Hardest Game". It doesn't seem logically possible, since if the first one was actually the world's hardest, how could another one come along and share the moniker? It made me doubt the name in the first place. That is, until I tried the game.
The mechanics of the game are very simple. You are a small red square, ...
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Chris Moroz said 12:50PM on 7-16-2007
Put a Wii interface on this and make it compatible with the Wii's Opera browser and they'll have an even bigger killer app on their hands. Man, that would be absolutely amazing!
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Squiggy said 12:48PM on 7-16-2007
I have to agree with NBC here, this is exactly the same as hotlinking to images and stealing bandwidth. Sue these jokers...
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James said 4:58PM on 7-16-2007
Is hotlinking actually illegal? I thought it was just a rude thing to do. I mean, one could start a video "aggregator" service that just provides a list of links to e.g. NBC-hosted TV show episodes, such that you don't have to browse through their website to find them, or such that you can read the list in an automated way (e.g. with an RSS reader).
Would such a thing be illegal? If so, what law does it break? If not, should we want it to be?
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Chris Moroz said 6:31PM on 7-16-2007
The truth is that it would actually HELP NBC and such. I'm sure they track streams, not pageviews and whatnot when selling the ads that STILL appear in these videos. While it will detract from pageviews on their site, it will increase the viewership and thus they can increase what they charge their advertisers.
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Steve said 7:56AM on 7-17-2007
Seems they're just afraid of a little competition.
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gary powell said 8:29PM on 7-29-2007
this is great. we definitely need services like this especially low income users like my self. thank you very much.
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gary powell said 6:00PM on 7-29-2007
thnk you very very much.
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