Okay, so YouTube isn’t exactly the devil but NBC and YouTubeare strange bedfellows. NBC has made a deal with YouTube to show video ads for its fall lineup. This deal either is an indication of YouTube’s strength on the web or a backdoor approach by NBC to enforce licensing rights. In the end it may be a little of both.
The deal has NBC creating and providing video clips, backstage footage and interviews to promote the new and returning shows on this fall’s schedule. The plan seems good for YouTube because several of the clips and interviews for new shows are exclusive and it’s a great deal for NBC because it gives NBC access to the 13 million YouTube users per day and settles crucial video rights issues. Included in this deal, NBC will be able to control all of the Saturday Night Live clips and other NBC clips that have made their way on to YouTube.
Digital Journal discusses the positives and negatives of the deal. In the article John Miller, chief marketing officer for the NBC Universal Television Group, according to Associated Press, gives some of the reasons NBC has for the deal, “The distinction between television and video is becoming murkier and murkier…” “Rather than putting our heads in the sand and saying this doesn’t exist, we're trying to jump in and embrace it.”
An added bonus to the YouTube/NBC deal is a fan video contest aimed at promoting NBC’s The Office. NBC will create its own channel on YouTube that will carry the NBC promotion content. YouTube and NBC will also hold a contest for users to submit their own video ad for The Office. The winning ad will eventually air on NBC. The contest ends July 21st.
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