A Video Website Designed for Children Stays Afloat Using YouTube as Platform
See how a kids video start-up Totlol.com is staying afloat. Economic pressures forced initially close down. Audiences implored to keep it up, and site now features obtrusive ads and registration before they can go any further.
Creators explain: “Totlol is a video website designed specifically for children. It is community moderated. It is constantly growing. It is powered by YouTube. The videos were submitted, screened and rated by parents. The selection is huge and if you like, you can participate too.”
Totlol creators developed an application in which users can create profiles, manage their favorites, and do specific searches. They use YouTube as a video platform. Independent developers can do it so –courtesy of Google/YouTube.
Hundred of parents have submitted more than 15,000 clips. Totlol has received tons of press, was an official honoree in the 2009 Webby Awards, was named in the Top 100 Undiscovered Web Sites in 2008 by PC Magazine, and even has an iPhone application.
YouTube Now Allows 2 GB Uploads
YouTube has doubled the size of standard uploads for regular accounts holders (non partners videos) to 2 GB from 1 GB, but length is still limited to 10 minutes. The move was in order to accommodate user’s HD uploads.
YouTube is also making it easier to share and embed HD videos. There is a “play in HD” option when you’re configuring an embed code to copy and paste elsewhere. Also, any video plays in HD adding ton any URL this code: &hd=1. In the past it was possible only appending &fmt=22.
Video Site Seeismic Turns into Social Aggregation Tools
Seesmic.com, that raised significant funding -$12 million- and made multiple round of layout, has redesigned its size deemphasizing its video conversation service in favor of supporting its social aggregation tool, Seesmic Desktop, and associated products.
Seismic CEO Loic Le Meur posted a video on his site saying that the video community was not growing. He asserted that competitors like 12seconds are not seeing growth either.
At times Seeismic experimented with producing original shows and hosting chat sessions with famous people.
Experts think that quick-upload video from phones and webcams is definitely growing on larger sites like YouTube and Facebook.
‘The Simpsons’ Worth More on Hulu.com than on Traditional TV
This is cool: For the first time, ads presented during shows like The Simpsons and CSI are getting higher ad rates online than they are on TV. Bloomberg reports that The Simpsons got a $60 CPM on Hulu, while a typical prime-time ad on television carries a $20 - $40 CPM.
It means that having a loyal audience is paying off for premium video content portals like Hulu and TV.com in the form of higher CPMs than what the networks are getting.
“The reason people are paying such a high premium for these ads on the Internet is they do have a captive audience,” experts said. “You know you have eyes on the screen.”
However, Web viewing and ad sales while increasing are still too small to replace traditional revenue sources. As the economy improves, it is expected that demand for premium programming on the Internet will increase as well.
Mobile Video Growing Exponentially on YouTube
The new iPhone 3GS –sold out in many stores- is already affecting web video in a big way. YouTube said the new iPhone was responsible for more than half of its mobile uploads in the last week. Since its release, video uploads are up 400 percent per day (no total number of mobile uploads are disclosed).
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