Joost Screenshot
Are the big media guys turning into content sluts, willing to throw their content anywhere they might get an audience? The big Joost/Viacom announcement makes me wonder. Not that Joost isn’t potentially a wonderful service (I haven’t tried it), and not that big media shouldn’t spread its content far and wide, but it’s an interesting change to the business model.
While the end of the 20th century was all about syndicating specific shows, it may be that the beginning of the 21st century is all about making aggregated content, even entire networks available across multiple distribution channels.
There’s also a point to be made here about CE makers and service providers who try to woo consumers with exclusive content. The strategy may work in the short term, but in the long term I doubt it will be terribly successful. Consumers want flexibility and media producers want consumers to have broad (if paid) access. More distribution means more money, so why not sell to anyone who will pay you well? (Unlike YouTube, apparently…)