The economics (and the future) of web video

All Your Video Is Belongs to Us - Blog Maverick

Mark Cuban is the owner of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks, as well as HDnet (a digital media company) and a popular blog author.

Today's link is an excellent post on the current state of the business of web video, and where it will go.  Mark argues that most independent video producers do not understand that Google/ Youtube currently subsidize the distribution of online videos.  Google is still working on developing a better business model to monetize video, and Mark Cuban argues that monetization will come at the expense of producers, either with pay-per-post or by requiring producers to license their videos to Google.

The best quote:  "At some stage in your life, asking your friends to work for free is no longer 'hanging out', its imposing or freeloading. Its at that point you are going to realize that you are working really hard and scared shitless about whether you will be able to make a living doing what you love. Then it will hit you that you are subsidizing the cost of video advertising inventory for Google or MySpace or whoever, while not being able to make ends meet."

That wouldn't be very encouraging if I was trying to start a career in video production.