Take a look at this article from today's NY Times (if you haven't already seen it.) Bud.tv is a bold experiment in deja vu: advertiser-generated, "broadcast-quality" content. Only this time, the advertisers own/control the distribution channel. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/04/magazine/04BudTV.t.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1170688684-71YdRBP69Z3o1gKpx9gzZQ

You Tube "views" may be small compared to other media, but those views are from active, engaged consumers seeking out content. Compare that mindset to the average television consumer, TiVo remote in hand, distractions abounding. Also, keep in mind the sheer breadth of content on YouTube. One video with a million views may not seem impressive, but what about a thousand videos at a million active views each. The most popular video on YouTube has 40 million views (and counting); the hundredth most popular has three million (and counting). Imagine those numbers when YouTube's been around for a decade or two. Compare this to television. Ten years ago, Bruce Springsteen sang "57 channels and nothing on..." A decade later we've got more channels... do we have anything more to watch? Do you know anyone who channel surfs any more? While Viacom may have slapped the hand of YouTube, other companies are embracing it. Search for any Letterman appearance you may have missed and you'll find it uploaded by CBS itself. Like any medium, the Internet and YouTube in particular, has more than its share of tomfoolery, but watch some of the videos mentioned in this Washington Post article and see if you don't come away with new respect for the emotional impact potential of this nascent art form (did he just say art form?). http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/02/AR2007020200358.html

Let me try it this way: YouTube seems to be the right platform for all those, who didn't make it into any season of Big Brother. Of course this concerns just people, who use the platform it was ment to be used initially. Sharing own homevideos. On the other hand, would YouTube be that successful, if you'd find only homevideos of people you don't know? I absolutely doubt it.

Great comments -- Bud-TV is Deja Vu -- its a new twist on TV's first days of existence -- also note broadcast quality......the key as far as active engaged consumers -- active, engaged in what? I think the issue is not that they dont view -- its the why and wherefore. Sharing Letterman and shows of that sort is not new -- in fact even in the days of Johnny Carson the content was shared -- not in the same way -- but still shared. Having said that it doesnt take away from You Tube -- its about not letting the hype skew yoru thinking. How do we use itfor real???