News Roundup: Web Video Tops Up for '08

Written by Frank Smith

Thursday, January 3. 2008 at 11:00 AM EST Post a comment

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In 2008 is off to a frothy start for digital video, as the money spigots opened up. In today's news: Netflix and LG Electronics are teaming up to stream movies to your TV; how-to site 5min has raised $5 million; Revision3 claims over 100 million views in 2007; and American Eagle is leading the way on "Webisode" product placement.

Netflix, LG Electronics bringing movies to TV: As it stands right now, Netflix customers can stream movies on their PCs for $17 a month. This same model could soon apply to an LG Electronics device with the Netflix service baked in. Videos would be delivered through the Internet onto the box. This could be the one that puts the Apple TV into the grave, or is Steve Jobs going to pull something out of his hat at Macworld next Tuesday? [WSJ]

5min raises 5mil: The video how-to site 5min has raised $5 million from Spark Capital. It raised $300 thousand last April from undisclosed investors. The company now plans to move its headquarters from Tel Aviv to New York. 5min (which takes its name from the length it suggests an instructional video should be) will also update its video player with increased how-to features. Unlike YouTube, it offers enhanced how-to-ish video features in its player like slow motion, rewind and fastforward, zoom, printing screens, and a storyboard. [NewTeeVee]

Revision3 claims over 100 million views: In the fourth quarter of 2007, Revision3 says 11 million shows and 44 million clips were viewed on the site, up 440 percent from the first quarter of 2007. The company says it delivered more than 25 million shows and more than 103 million clips throughout the entire year. Competitor Next New Networks has also recently claimed to have hit this mark. Seems like a strong start for Web video in 2008. [Release]

American Eagle leads the way on Webisode product placement: Viral video marketing is on the rise with more sponsors going to high-profile production studios to create Webisodes featuring their products. American Eagle Outfitters launched a channel on its Website to feature Webisodes pushing its clothing products and has also brought in Milo Ventimiglia from NBC's Heroes to produce Webisodes. Says Ventimiglia: "We’re trying to tell a story and associate the great feeling that you get from that with American Eagle." [NYT]