Following Google's purchase of Youtube it seems like we have finally ushered in the age of the online video. And with search still being the cheapest method of customer acquisition it seems Google is really trying to position itself as the media company of the future.
However, what with the enforced removal of several thousand copyrighted clips from Youtube, now might be the time for other online video services to take advantage.
Along with sites such as Metacafe, there appears to be an opening for more sites such as Videojug which currently caters to more specialised niches. In the past, niche markets would be traditionally seen as being somewhat limited, however with the growth of the web we are beginning to see the creation of meganiches. These mean that even if sites don't manage to gain overall cultural acceptance, their reach with their core audience can still be very large, and more importantly, incredibly loyal.
Still, even with the continued growth of online video services, they would be wise to keep an eye on their demographics. According to a recent report from Comscore the audience for internet streaming media is starting to skew older and therefore any attempt to monetize this audience will have to adapt accordingly.
So, while Gootube has become the main focus of attention for the major media companies, now could very well be the time for specialised video services to carve out their own space.
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