To the Media, YouTube Is a Threat and a Tool

TO THE MEDIA, YOUTUBE IS A THREAT AND A TOOL
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Yuki Noguchi and Sara Kehaulani Goo]
Media companies are of two minds about Internet video-sharing site YouTube, which rocketed to fame by letting users share homemade videos along with copyrighted clips from movies, TV shows and music videos. They are unsure of whether YouTube is a friend or a foe -- a threat that could siphon off their TV audiences and ad dollars or a powerful promotion machine that could generate buzz for the shows. While users have had virtually unfettered freedom to post and watch whatever clips they want, big media companies are starting to reassert control by seeking removal of some shows. If all or most of the bootlegged content disappears from YouTube, some users wonder whether YouTube can live up to the promise Google Inc. saw when it agreed to buy the site for $1.65 billion in stock this month.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/30/AR200610...
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YOUTUBE & MYSPACE PULL DOWN PROTECTED CONTENT
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com/Reuters, AUTHOR: Candace Lombardi]
YouTube is removing from its site all copyrighted content from the Comedy Central Network after receiving a request to do so. Meanwhile News Corp.'s MySpace.com on Monday said it had licensed a new technology to stop users from posting unauthorized copyrighted music on the social networking Web site and oust frequent violators of its policy.
* YouTube takes down Comedy Central clips
http://news.com.com/YouTube+takes+down+Comedy+Central+clips/2100-1030_3-...
* MySpace to block illegal use of copyrighted music
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=technologyNews&story...

COMPANIES HAVE BROAD AIMS FOR TV ON WEB
[SOURCE: Associated Press, AUTHOR: Brian Bergstein]
Eyebrows went up when Google recently agreed to spend $1.65 billion for YouTube, the most popular Web site for free video clips. But that figure could be blown away one day if some emerging companies achieve their much broader visions for the future of online TV. These companies -- like Brightcove and Maven Networks -- are building flexible online networks that can host content, serve up ads and dish out interactive features. While "viral" video-sharing sites like YouTube focus on individual clips - many pirated - these new Internet TV platforms are designed to host full-fledged channels that content creators can control.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/I/INTERNET_TV?SITE=VTBEN&SECTION=HO...