Inspiration in the Long Tail

Posted on April 6, 2010

 
 Standard Podcast [6:24m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
Video Inside Logo

Video Insider Logo

This article was authored by Phil Leigh and released by Online Video Insider earlier today. (April 6, 2010)

About five years ago Chris Anderson wrote a Wired Magazine article entitled The Long Tail. Basically it concluded that the Internet’s ability to provide a nearly infinite supply of Digital Media would shift consumer interest and spending toward less popular content merely because it makes such content more accessible.  For example, when out-of-print books are hard to find the very fact that they are scarce tends to make them less popular. If we cannot find a copy we cannot inspect it. Moreover, we might not even be aware the title exists.

To play audio on iPhone, iPad, or iPod, click here.

However, when all books are available as Digital Media, there is never a shortage. Similarly, titles are searchable via Google. This enables readers to discover previously rare books they might never otherwise had an opportunity to examine.
Read more…

Third Generation Television: Third Catalyst (Long-Tail)

Posted on January 26, 2009

Download to Computer, iPod, or iPhone

If you would like to learn how the growing abundance of Long-Tail content is driving consumers to get Internet Video on their televisions, this video is for you.

In earlier podcasts we demonstrated the first two catalysts.  The first is the concept of a “Media Controller”, the initial version of which is the commonly available laptop computer. When a laptop is connected to the television, the TV functions as a giant monitor while the Internet-connected computer enables users to watch Internet Video in a lean-back experience with remote mouse and keyboard.

The second catalyst is the growing availability of popular TV shows and movies at ad-supported websites that are free to the viewer. The best example is www.hulu.com.

Today’s show is about the third catalyst which is the rising interest in Long-Tail content available on the Internet but not on conventional TV. The 5 billion monthly streams at YouTube are only one indication of just how massive the interest really is. Examples include out-of-syndication TV shows, older documentaries, personality interviews, and instructional videos. Read more…

Filed Under Podcast Video | 2 Comments

A New Twist on The Long Tail

Posted on January 17, 2008

Download to iPod Video

In 2004 Chris Anderson popularized an Internet merchandising theory known as The Long Tail. He concluded that the potentially gigantic inventory of Internet merchants would considerably increase sales on items that are seldom stocked by terrestrial competitors. Presumably, the point is even more applicable to Digital Media since there is no physical stocking required and the inventory can theoretically be almost infinite. Read more…