901am

New Media News Every Morning

Spout brings full length film to YouTube

By

Spout, an online community for film lovers, announced today they’ve collaborated with the makers of the independent film Four Eyed Monsters to make it available for free through YouTube. This reportedly marks the first ever full length feature film released through the online video Web site.

Spout, with exclusive advertising and a financial commitment to the film’s makers Susan Buice and Arin Crumley, has established a $1 donation to the filmmakers’ next independent project for every new Spout member who signs up at its Web site. Spout sees this YouTube distribution as a step in “creating a grassroots alternative to Hollywood’s promotion and distribution model.”

Four Eyed Monsters, for those unfamiliar with it, apparently “has been causing offline and online buzz with its creative approach and unique filmmaking collaboration.” It premiered at the Slamdance Film Festival and most recently won the Undiscovered Gems Showcase Sundance Channel Audience.

Originally posted on June 8, 2007 @ 5:25 pm

Justin Timberlake signs YouTube star to record label

By

Internet phenomenon and singer/songwriter Esmee Denters is the first to sign with Justin Timberlake’s Tennman Records.

“In completely unpredicted news to all YouTubers and bloggers, we are proud to announce that Esmee Denters has signed to Tennman Records and she will be joining me on tour this summer. Esmee is the real deal and I cannot wait for the world to hear her, but all of her fans on YouTube should not worry… we will keep you in the loop every step of the way,” Timberlake, Chairman/CEO of the label, announced.

“Words can’t describe how amazing it is. I am so excited! It is something I have always dreamed of doing. I have to thank YouTube and its viewers for giving me the opportunity to show the world my voice. I also have to thank Justin, one of the biggest artists in the world, for believing in me and making my dreams come true,” says Esmee Denters.

Denters, 18 years old from Holland, first began to gain awareness by posting cover performances of Beyonce, Alanis Morrisette and Alicia Keys on her YouTube account. Her page has so far generated 21 million views since she posted her first performance less than 9 months ago.

Originally posted on June 8, 2007 @ 12:04 am

Rocketboom launches new sponsorship model, gets YouTube as first major sponsor

By

Rocketboom on YoutubeRocketboom launches its new sponsorship model and gets YouTube, the biggest online video site when it comes to audience share, as its first major sponsor.

Andrew Michael Baron, Rocketboom’s founder and video publisher, announced in his blog this new sponsorship model, along with his personal account of the company’s rocky history detailing the site’s financial struggles and successes.

With the new sponsorship model, advertisers basically get (1) a 7-seconder post roll sponsorship gratitude with its company logo and byline, (2) company name and link that travels as metadata to most platforms, (3) sponsor blog page with text, graphics, audio & video, and (4) quicktime chapter marker that allows viewers to easily access sponsor message from chapter drop-down box. All these on top of a high-value audience that Rocketboom has accumulated through the years, as well as archived pages that can easily be searched. Cost per episode is at $3000 until Sept. 1 when it raises up to $5000. Startups get discounts.

“I’m extremely proud to kick off this Monday with YouTube as our first sponsor,” Baron said in his blog. “Regarding the broad topic of video online, in my personal opinion, there is not a single other group in the world that has done more to democratize the moving image.”

With YouTube as its first major sponsor, Rocketboom does not only get in front of a wide online video market, its videos can now also be easily syndicated, shared, embedded, and commented and subscribed to, through Youtube’s web browser. Apparently, Rocketboom does not have a YouTube account prior to this sponsorship deal.

You can view Rocketboom’s YouTube account here, and its new sponsorship package here.

Originally posted on June 5, 2007 @ 2:18 am

YouTube and Hearst-Argyle Television signs licensing pact

By

hearst.jpgHearst-Argyle Television and YouTube announced an agreement to distribute and monetize select Hearst-Argyle television content with Google and YouTube. Starting today, local Hearst-Argyle television stations in five local markets — Boston; Manchester, N.H.; Sacramento; Pittsburgh; and Baltimore — will begin posting local video content to dedicated Channels on YouTube.

“This innovative deal with Google and YouTube fits perfectly within our overall digital strategy of distributing our content on all three screens — the TV, the PC and the mobile phone,” said Terry Mackin, Executive Vice President of Hearst-Argyle Television. “We have invested significant resources in our growing digital media efforts. With Google and YouTube, we can now better engage users and advertisers with our award-winning local video content and with new user-generated content while further broadening our reach beyond the boundaries of our media markets.”

“We’re constantly looking at innovative ways to not only bring the YouTube community the best content out there, but also to find ways to bring them the most relevant programming,” said Jordan Hoffner, Head of Premium Content Partnerships for YouTube. “Local creates relevance and this agreement will ultimately deliver Hearst-Argyle’s programming to an even broader audience looking for local content. We look forward to continue working with the Hearst-Argyle team as we launch new products and services on the local level.”

Originally posted on June 4, 2007 @ 10:01 am