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Online Video Big Willie Style

Written by Frank Smith
Wednesday, April 16. 2008 at 10:20 AM EDT 2 comments
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Entertainer Will Smith's Overbrook Entertainment has launched the startup PluggedIn, an online hub for music videos with a $2 million investment.

PluggedIn has deals with Universal Music Group , EMI Group plc (NYSE: EMI), and Sony BMG . At launch, the site has about 10,000 high-def and broadcast-quality videos, delivered by Move Networks Inc. , which just closed on $46 million in funding.

Streaming videos in HD requires installing a software download from Move, but once it's loaded the quality is pretty dazzling. The library has yet to fill out beyond some major-label-approved acts and the videos are ad-supported with banner ads on the site.

PluggedIn combines artists' pages with community features and videos, putting it in competition with music-based social network MySpace (still the No. 2 video site, according to Hitwise) and the reigning hub of online video YouTube Inc.

Along with Will Smith, PluggedIn's team includes Brett O'Brien, founder of Xdrive; Kevin Welk, CEO of Vanguard and Sugar Hill Records; and Jeff Somers, a former Amazon exec.

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Comments
More video please!
Eve Bergazyn

Rank: Caliph

Wednesday April 16, 2008 11:32:21 AM
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These videos really are higher quality than YouTube, but the current champ of online vid has more videos. Many, many more videos. Not high quality, granted, but when it comes to online music videos, it's about quantity, not quality. With a format nearly identical to YouTube's, albeit more polished looking, I just can't see the benefits of thenew  site.

 

If you combined high-def video with higher quality sound, though, I think that'd be enough to convert me, a single user.

Re: More video please!
donaldleegraham

Rank: Caliph

Wednesday April 30, 2008 4:56:33 PM
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Very interesting to see someone else come into the world of music video and online streaming, but it seems kind of late to get into the game.

Plus I just went to the site for the first it requires the end user to install a special plugin... lame! Yes, the videos look great in quality and yes, they have deals with the major labels, but what is their niche? What sets them apart from everyone else that add value to the site?

For me personally... nothing. I'd rather watch it somewhere else that streams it via Flash. A wannabe video site.

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