Why are more websites going to pointless video?

albionmoonlight · 03-23-2010, 10:03 AM

It is getting harder and harder to click around sites like cnn and espn without being tricked into clicking on a link to some talking head spouting off for 3:00, basically reciting the story that you could read for yourself in 30 seconds if they gave you a text link.

Why? Doesn't video cost them more bandwith? Is it that they want us to spend more time on the site? Is it because they can sell more expensive ads for the videos?

I think that it is a stupid trend, but there must be some $$ behind it b/c it is happening more and more.

Anyone understand the economics of this?

JonInMiddleGA · 03-23-2010, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by albionmoonlight

I think that it is a stupid trend, but there must be some $$ behind it b/c it is happening more and more. Anyone understand the economics of this?

I doubt there's actually money directly behind it, moreso just the perception that having video is what everybody wants. It isn't, but that's the perception.

jeff061 · 03-23-2010, 10:32 AM

I hate the videos, definitely share your frustration with CNN. I just figured most the mouth breathers out there prefer it.

Ronnie Dobbs2 · 03-23-2010, 10:35 AM

+1 to the whole idea.

Would be interesting to see how many pageviews they get, and how many people actually watch the whole (or even half) of the video.

molson · 03-23-2010, 10:51 AM

I would think it has something to with the fact that the videos are often preceded by ads. Those ads definitely get more views if you're tricked into clicking on them. (And even if you close out the video, they can probably still sell on your click into it)

vex · 03-23-2010, 10:55 AM

I despise videos on news sites and such.

lighthousekeeper · 03-23-2010, 10:57 AM

Good point about forcing to watch ads. That's probably the answer right there. Another thought I had is that they know they only have a small amount of actual content, so placing in a video stretches that content out longer.

Drake · 03-23-2010, 11:02 AM

I just went to a talk for campus web developers and assorted admins because our organizational unit wanted to start doing video on its various homepages. Turned out that the main campus webmaster had commissioned a study of how users wanted to interact with video on the web. They put together a really nice set of data after nine months of research with various focus groups.

Know what they learned?

Users don't want video. They don't click on them. If the videos start automatically, it just pisses them off.

The webmaster shared his own analytics data for the main campus portal. Turns out that out of the literally tens of millions of hits a month the portal received, the hits on video content was measured in the dozens.

Our admins heard this whole spiel and essentially concluded, "So, it's not that people don't want video. They want better targeted video."

So they hired a PR firm to help them decide what sorts of videos our students will want to watch so they can put them on their sites.

JonInMiddleGA · 03-23-2010, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drake

I just went to a talk for campus web developers and assorted admins because our organizational unit wanted to start doing video on its various homepages. Turned out that the main campus webmaster had commissioned a study of how users wanted to interact with video on the web. They put together a really nice set of data after nine months of research with various focus groups.

Know what they learned?

Users don't want video. They don't click on them. If the videos start automatically, it just pisses them off.

The webmaster shared his own analytics data for the main campus portal. Turns out that out of the literally tens of millions of hits a month the portal received, the hits on video content was measured in the dozens.

Our admins heard this whole spiel and essentially concluded, "So, it's not that people don't want video. They want better targeted video."

So they hired a PR firm to help them decide what sorts of videos our students will want to watch so they can put them on their sites.

LOL, that's so typical.

stevew · 03-23-2010, 11:18 AM

When I was doing scouting for the top gun draft I noticed this trend. ESPN is particularly awful.

MikeVic · 03-23-2010, 11:20 AM

I hate this too, and it's the primary reason I installed NoScript. Streaming is frowned upon at work, and I like to check certain sites. I stopped using nba.com because of this (I want to check box scores, and it would automatically stream highlights from the game).

bhlloy · 03-23-2010, 11:24 AM

Yeah it is very frustrating, especially as by far the most news browsing I do is either at work or on iphone. If anyone has an alternative to CNN that still does 100% text news I'm all ears, because I'm just about done bothering with them.

I'd love to see figures on the % of browsing people do either without access to any video streaming or at the very least without access to sound. Seems like these sites are really killing themselves on this.

samifan24 · 03-23-2010, 11:29 AM

I hate any website that auto-starts video when it loads.

I also hate ESPN's recent trend of placing video only on a page. No, I don't want to listen to Andy Katz or Dick Vitale talk for five minutes about their predictions. I want to read a list of predictions and be on my way.

QuikSand · 03-23-2010, 11:59 AM

MikeVic · 03-23-2010, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuikSand

sterlingice · 03-23-2010, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drake

I just went to a talk for campus web developers and assorted admins because our organizational unit wanted to start doing video on its various homepages. Turned out that the main campus webmaster had commissioned a study of how users wanted to interact with video on the web. They put together a really nice set of data after nine months of research with various focus groups.

Know what they learned?

Users don't want video. They don't click on them. If the videos start automatically, it just pisses them off.

The webmaster shared his own analytics data for the main campus portal. Turns out that out of the literally tens of millions of hits a month the portal received, the hits on video content was measured in the dozens.

Our admins heard this whole spiel and essentially concluded, "So, it's not that people don't want video. They want better targeted video."

So they hired a PR firm to help them decide what sorts of videos our students will want to watch so they can put them on their sites.

SI

Ksyrup · 03-23-2010, 12:48 PM

This is a great question, and one that I've been asking myself for at least 6 months, if not longer. CNN is the worst about it. Usually, they'll have 3-5 stories I want to read, but will only have video links, so I just googlenews the general storyline and eventually find an article elsewhere.

On a related note, WTF is up with CNN selling t-shirts with headline titles on them? Who would actually buy something like that? I haven't seen them advertised as much recently, so maybe the response was so minimal they shelved the idea. But aside from Onion-style headlines or purposely funny headlines, what's the point?

cuervo72 · 03-23-2010, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drake

So they hired a PR firm to help them decide what sorts of videos our students will want to watch so they can put them on their sites.

Artsy porn?

sterlingice · 03-23-2010, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

This is a great question, and one that I've been asking myself for at least 6 months, if not longer. CNN is the worst about it. Usually, they'll have 3-5 stories I want to read, but will only have video links, so I just googlenews the general storyline and eventually find an article elsewhere.

ESPN is starting to get really bad about it, too.

Quote:

On a related note, WTF is up with CNN selling t-shirts with headline titles on them? Who would actually buy something like that? I haven't seen them advertised as much recently, so maybe the response was so minimal they shelved the idea. But aside from Onion-style headlines or purposely funny headlines, what's the point?

You could get the one you posted in the health care thread about Obama's package

SI

cuervo72 · 03-23-2010, 12:54 PM

With some of these, it's probably also a matter of already having a video segment produced, so they can just post that rather than being bothered with having to have a writer write up an article (and then have someone edit it, etc).

stevew · 03-23-2010, 12:58 PM

My favorite thing lately was when I had to watch a 30 second ad in order to watch the CC PSA on grenade chucking. Nothing like having to watch a commercial for a commercial.

Ksyrup · 03-23-2010, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sterlingice

You could get the one you posted in the health care thread about Obama's package

SI

Yeah, that one would be worthwhile. The random "Alabama prof to cops: 'it wasn't me'" headlines are complete head scratchers.

DanGarion · 03-23-2010, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

This is a great question, and one that I've been asking myself for at least 6 months, if not longer. CNN is the worst about it. Usually, they'll have 3-5 stories I want to read, but will only have video links, so I just googlenews the general storyline and eventually find an article elsewhere.

On a related note, WTF is up with CNN selling t-shirts with headline titles on them? Who would actually buy something like that? I haven't seen them advertised as much recently, so maybe the response was so minimal they shelved the idea. But aside from Onion-style headlines or purposely funny headlines, what's the point?

Come on you know you want this headline on a shirt...

gstelmack · 03-23-2010, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

On a related note, WTF is up with CNN selling t-shirts with headline titles on them? Who would actually buy something like that? I haven't seen them advertised as much recently, so maybe the response was so minimal they shelved the idea. But aside from Onion-style headlines or purposely funny headlines, what's the point?

I've bitched about this before, but primarily from the "it gives CNN a vested interest in creating witty rather than informational headlines and pushing oddball stories at the expense of real news". It sure detracts from what little journalistic integrity they may have once had.

Solecismic · 03-23-2010, 04:45 PM

Follow the money.

CNN spends a lot to put up a web site. Rates for web advertising continue to fall, because no one clicks on ads any more.

So the ads on the videos represent a desperate attempt to gain revenue.

The buzz these days is about gaining value from targeting ads. Google is making a mint doing this. Problem is, no one else is having much success.

There's talk about Hulu and embedded, forced ads in its content. But obviously that's been a total failure, since Hulu is talking about charging for its content.

I think people are scrambling for ideas, and having trouble understanding that if you're active in front of a computer, you don't want the distractions that come from advertising.

Fidatelo · 03-23-2010, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cuervo72

With some of these, it's probably also a matter of already having a video segment produced, so they can just post that rather than being bothered with having to have a writer write up an article (and then have someone edit it, etc).

I think the above quote is very likely true. I also think it helps sites like ESPN to sell 'personalities'.

JediKooter · 03-23-2010, 05:04 PM

What's the old saying? "Customers don't know what they want, so we have to tell them what they want."

albionmoonlight · 02-27-2017, 12:42 PM

This is still a pet peeve of mine. There is so much information out there that could be presented as text that is instead made with videos.

03-23-2010, 10:32 AM	#3
jeff061 Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: MA	I hate the videos, definitely share your frustration with CNN. I just figured most the mouth breathers out there prefer it. __________________

03-23-2010, 10:35 AM	#4
Ronnie Dobbs2 Pro Rookie Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Bahston Mass	+1 to the whole idea. Would be interesting to see how many pageviews they get, and how many people actually watch the whole (or even half) of the video. __________________ There's no I in Teamocil, at least not where you'd think

03-23-2010, 10:51 AM	#5
molson General Manager Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: The Mountains	I would think it has something to with the fact that the videos are often preceded by ads. Those ads definitely get more views if you're tricked into clicking on them. (And even if you close out the video, they can probably still sell on your click into it) Last edited by molson : 03-23-2010 at 10:52 AM.

03-23-2010, 10:57 AM	#7
lighthousekeeper College Starter Join Date: Oct 2000	Good point about forcing to watch ads. That's probably the answer right there. Another thought I had is that they know they only have a small amount of actual content, so placing in a video stretches that content out longer. __________________ ...

03-23-2010, 11:29 AM	#13
samifan24 Pro Starter Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: NC	I hate any website that auto-starts video when it loads. I also hate ESPN's recent trend of placing video only on a page. No, I don't want to listen to Andy Katz or Dick Vitale talk for five minutes about their predictions. I want to read a list of predictions and be on my way. __________________ "You spend a good piece of your life gripping a baseball...and in the end it turns out that it was the other way around all the time." -Jim Bouton Last edited by samifan24 : 03-23-2010 at 11:29 AM. Reason: typo

03-23-2010, 10:55 AM	#6
vex Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Tulsa	I despise videos on news sites and such.

03-23-2010, 11:02 AM	#8
Drake assmaster Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Bloomington, IN	I just went to a talk for campus web developers and assorted admins because our organizational unit wanted to start doing video on its various homepages. Turned out that the main campus webmaster had commissioned a study of how users wanted to interact with video on the web. They put together a really nice set of data after nine months of research with various focus groups. Know what they learned? Users don't want video. They don't click on them. If the videos start automatically, it just pisses them off. The webmaster shared his own analytics data for the main campus portal. Turns out that out of the literally tens of millions of hits a month the portal received, the hits on video content was measured in the dozens. Our admins heard this whole spiel and essentially concluded, "So, it's not that people don't want video. They want better targeted video." So they hired a PR firm to help them decide what sorts of videos our students will want to watch so they can put them on their sites.

03-23-2010, 11:18 AM	#10
stevew Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: the yo'	When I was doing scouting for the top gun draft I noticed this trend. ESPN is particularly awful.

03-23-2010, 11:20 AM	#11
MikeVic Head Coach Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Hometown of Canada	I hate this too, and it's the primary reason I installed NoScript. Streaming is frowned upon at work, and I like to check certain sites. I stopped using nba.com because of this (I want to check box scores, and it would automatically stream highlights from the game).

03-23-2010, 11:24 AM	#12
bhlloy Coordinator Join Date: Nov 2003	Yeah it is very frustrating, especially as by far the most news browsing I do is either at work or on iphone. If anyone has an alternative to CNN that still does 100% text news I'm all ears, because I'm just about done bothering with them. I'd love to see figures on the % of browsing people do either without access to any video streaming or at the very least without access to sound. Seems like these sites are really killing themselves on this.

03-23-2010, 11:59 AM	#14
QuikSand lolzcat Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Annapolis, Md

03-23-2010, 12:48 PM	#17
Ksyrup This guy has posted so much, his fingers are about to fall off. Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: In Absentia	This is a great question, and one that I've been asking myself for at least 6 months, if not longer. CNN is the worst about it. Usually, they'll have 3-5 stories I want to read, but will only have video links, so I just googlenews the general storyline and eventually find an article elsewhere. On a related note, WTF is up with CNN selling t-shirts with headline titles on them? Who would actually buy something like that? I haven't seen them advertised as much recently, so maybe the response was so minimal they shelved the idea. But aside from Onion-style headlines or purposely funny headlines, what's the point? __________________ M's pitcher Miguel Batista: "Now, I feel like I've had everything. I've talked pitching with Sandy Koufax, had Kenny G play for me. Maybe if I could have an interview with God, then I'd be served. I'd be complete."

03-23-2010, 12:54 PM	#20
cuervo72 Head Coach Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Maryland	With some of these, it's probably also a matter of already having a video segment produced, so they can just post that rather than being bothered with having to have a writer write up an article (and then have someone edit it, etc). __________________ null Last edited by cuervo72 : 03-23-2010 at 12:54 PM.

03-23-2010, 12:58 PM	#21
stevew Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: the yo'	My favorite thing lately was when I had to watch a 30 second ad in order to watch the CC PSA on grenade chucking. Nothing like having to watch a commercial for a commercial.

03-23-2010, 04:45 PM	#25
Solecismic Solecismic Software Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Canton, OH	Follow the money. CNN spends a lot to put up a web site. Rates for web advertising continue to fall, because no one clicks on ads any more. So the ads on the videos represent a desperate attempt to gain revenue. The buzz these days is about gaining value from targeting ads. Google is making a mint doing this. Problem is, no one else is having much success. There's talk about Hulu and embedded, forced ads in its content. But obviously that's been a total failure, since Hulu is talking about charging for its content. I think people are scrambling for ideas, and having trouble understanding that if you're active in front of a computer, you don't want the distractions that come from advertising.

03-23-2010, 05:04 PM	#27
JediKooter Coordinator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: San Diego via Sausalito via San Jose via San Diego	What's the old saying? "Customers don't know what they want, so we have to tell them what they want." __________________ I'm no longer a Chargers fan, they are dead to me Coming this summer to a movie theater near you: The Adventures of Jedikooter: Part 4

02-27-2017, 12:42 PM	#28
albionmoonlight Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: North Carolina	This is still a pet peeve of mine. There is so much information out there that could be presented as text that is instead made with videos.

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