CNET TV's debut
Today I've mostly been watching the first UK site to put professionally-produced video content at its heart. CNET TV is the latest from what claims to be the largest online-only publisher in the UK, whose sites reach 9 million unique users across the country. Its aimed at enthusiasts in technology, music, computergaming, film and tv - all of which have there own 'channels'. Here's the trailer:
Unsurprisingly, there's not masses of content up there yet - it is day one, after all - but it's still enough to get the idea of what's going to be on offer. Each channel has weekly episodes of its own flagship programmes, as well as interviews, news reports and packages from around the place. Its all highly-polished stuff and unashamedly modelled on tried and tested TV techniques. So on the technology channel, for example, we get Rory Reid's review of the Toyota Prius in a package that wouldn't look out of place on Top Gear. Likewise Andrew Lim's news report of the iPhone's arrival in London could grace any television news bulletin. Less slick (and less expensive) is the pair of silicon.com journalists discussing social networking - but you've still got to love that image quality.
What's perhaps surprising is that there's little evidence so far of huge innovation in the form that this wealth of content takes. That may come with time as CNET lets its people loose on some more experimental storytelling techniques.
Revenue will come from advertising - HP is signed up as exclusive launch sponsor - and sponsored links (including some from the BBC: are they allowed to spend our licence money on such things?) at the bottom of each video page.
Let's hope it'll be enough to pay for all that expensive production and on-screen talent.
Unsurprisingly, there's not masses of content up there yet - it is day one, after all - but it's still enough to get the idea of what's going to be on offer. Each channel has weekly episodes of its own flagship programmes, as well as interviews, news reports and packages from around the place. Its all highly-polished stuff and unashamedly modelled on tried and tested TV techniques. So on the technology channel, for example, we get Rory Reid's review of the Toyota Prius in a package that wouldn't look out of place on Top Gear. Likewise Andrew Lim's news report of the iPhone's arrival in London could grace any television news bulletin. Less slick (and less expensive) is the pair of silicon.com journalists discussing social networking - but you've still got to love that image quality.
What's perhaps surprising is that there's little evidence so far of huge innovation in the form that this wealth of content takes. That may come with time as CNET lets its people loose on some more experimental storytelling techniques.
Revenue will come from advertising - HP is signed up as exclusive launch sponsor - and sponsored links (including some from the BBC: are they allowed to spend our licence money on such things?) at the bottom of each video page.
Let's hope it'll be enough to pay for all that expensive production and on-screen talent.
Labels: CNETTV launch
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