Amazon launches YouTube Competitor.

Amazon have launched 'Amazon Video Direct', a self-serve video platform (like YouTube is) but lets creators earn money on advertising share (a 'per the minute streamed' payment). 

It's a big head-to-head with Google's YouTube.
YouTube make 2 Billion dollars a year and have 20% of the market.

It's directed at professional creators (like Streamabout) with only HD formats allowed (so targeting Vimeo quality we'd guess). You can select various ways to have your video monetised - streamed, download, rent, buy - even subscription.

And they're promoting it through their 'Stars' programme giving a share (small we'd think) of a million dollars a month fund, based on engagement. It's all about quality, all about Premium - good video.

But of course, this way it's a lot cheaper than buying content and Amazon spend circa 3 billion dollars a year doing that. Better to get quality video on a revenue share.

They'll also give full analytics so you know how well you're doing.

It shows yet again, the growth in online video viewing and the need for corporates to be involved. Perhaps with a programme series?

Yes we can.

Hulu Mounts a challenge.

Hulu, the digital video service owned by Disney, 21st Century Fox and Comcast, seems to be mounting a challenge to market leaders Netflix and Amazon.

Buying up content, such as 'Empire' and 'Seinfeld', their subscriptions (9m+ subscribers v Netflix 43m) are up +60% yoy and therefore viewing is up +85%. On foot of that, Hulu are looking to expand internationally and move from loss making into profit.

They are of course, late to that international market and face internal competition as Disney talk about their own streaming service (meaning content may no longer be available solely on Hulu), nevermind pressure from Netflix on pricing.

Still, it's a streaming market that's growing as 'cord cutting' becomes more likely from traditional TV as better online options emerge. Meanwhile, traditional TV broadcasters simply sit on their hands.....and keep delivering their own home content in a way that nobody wants.