Over at alvear.com, I mentioned that that I’m conducting a research report on how Internet video can impact social change.

I’m inviting non-profits, independent filmmakers and other organizations interested in social change to discuss how people can widen their distribution (to DVDs, theaters, etc.) and how they can earn additional revenue.

If you’re involved in Internet video delivery or social change, I’d like to invite you to fill out this survey. Responses will be anonymous and I’ll be able to share top level results publicly.

As an incentive for participation, I am offering a $150 Kiva gift certificate to one random person. These certificates allow you to log in to Kiva.org and micro-lend money to entrepreneurs all around the world.

The survey will close on July 7th, 2008 and the winner will be contacted privately soon afterward.

Please contact me if you have any questions. Thanks!

Popularity: 7% [?]

Comcast said that it has over 6 billion views for its video on-demand (VOD) service after four years from it first launched. This year alone, Comcast has over 1 billion hours of on-demand content watched, which comes out to 250 million views a month and 100 views every second.

In fact, Comcast touted how it is beating Apple’s iTunes by 2 to 1, with its 100 views every second.  iTunes has had over three billion music downloads so far or about 58 downloads a second, said Comcast.

That’s an interesting comparison. I mean, there are obvious differences. Such as:

Number of Customers. As of September 30, 2007, Comcast has over 24.2 million cable subscribers. Numbers on iTunes aren’t easy to find, but it is probably over 10 million. So this comparison doesn’t really mean much. Comcast subscribers are already paying a monthly fee. iTunes customers buy a la carte songs or shows, without a monthly fee.

Content. iTunes sells mostly music. Comcast sells mainstream VOD Hollywood movies.  Many more people are likely to buy VOD from their TV screens, than buy digital music over the Internet. Not a very good comparison as far as content.

Computer vs. TV.There’s also the case of the screen. With Comcast, it’s people watching TV. With iTunes, it’s computer users. Naturally, VOD usage will be higher. At least for now. iTunes is getting more Hollywood hits. And iTunes is available in 19 countries, as opposed to Comcast’s 1 country.

Comcast has over 6 billion VOD views because it is a cable giant in the U.S. And because VOD is much easier and more convenient than renting videos at a store. And because people are seeing the benefits of watching TV on your own schedule, like Tivo DVRs.

So expect VOD trends to continue to grow, but keep an eye out for iTunes. They’ll be growing too.

Technorati Tags: Comcast, VOD, iTunes, Apple

Popularity: 39% [?]

According to research company Parks Associates, the number of broadband households that pay for online video is about 12 million. That’s up dramatically from 2005 to 2006 when there were about 3 million.

It looks like this 300% growth in paid video content is the result of a) having video content available and b) having good content. The growth of paid video sites like iTunes, Amazon and even NetFlix is what’s driving this. Consumers want brand-name TV and movie entertainment that they can rent or buy and take to their portable devices, or TV screens.

Parks said that the market for online video is still in flux: “With issues surrounding content rights, the role of incumbent video providers, business models, and questions about how consumer electronics manufacturers and other service providers will actually succeed, the space is very fluid at this point.”

Case in point: Apple’s iTunes and how NBC Universal decided to take their content to their own Hulu.com and even Amazon.

Another interesting development is the adult entertainment market which could very well be a huge factor in paid video content. I don’t know whether Parks Associates is looking at this market, however, but it’s definitely where a lot of technological innovation happens.

Popularity: 48% [?]

Over at DVR Bulletin, my other blog, I posted a story from Forbes titled: “How Apple Got Apple TV Wrong“. It’s a pretty good look at how Apple’s new Apple TV box hasn’t fared as well as say, the iPod.

Essentially it comes down to money and technology: Disagreements between Apple and Hollywood on pricing video downloads. And putting out a product that lacks functions found in competitors like Tivo and Vudu.

Popularity: 24% [?]

A story from the AP called “New Web sites aim for TV experience” gives a rundown of some of the major companies looking to compete with TV. It’s a pretty basic article targeted at those who are new to Internet video, but I just wanted to pull out some tidbits. Like slogans of three new companies, Joost, Babelgum and Veoh:

• Joost: “The new way of watching TV”
• Babelgum: “TV experience, Internet substance.”
• Veoh: “VeohTV makes watching Internet as simple as watching television”

The article talks about how people are not ready to watch long-form video online. But it fails to note the “lean forward” aspect of watching TV over the Internet. That’s why PCs are better suited for short form video.

And people are getting accustomed to interacting with their computers differently, like doing work or checking e-mail. Watching videos isn’t something people sit down in front of their computers and expect to do for two hours.

Another good tidbit:

A poll conducted last September by The Associated Press and Time Warner Inc.’s AOL found that only one in five online video viewers have watched or downloaded a full-length movie or TV show.

Popularity: 20% [?]