Study: YouTube Saps TV Watching, Other Activities (Candidates Spend Big, But Watch Out for YouTube)

A recent Harris Interactive study found that about 42 percent of online adults in the United States said they have watched a YouTube video and 32 percent of frequent YouTube users said they watch less TV as a result.

Harris also reported that about 66 percent of YouTube users are blowing off other activities too. They say they spend more time on the video-sharing site to the detriment of visiting other Web sites, e-mailing, social networking, playing video games, watching DVDs and spending time with friends and family, as well.

The study also found that YouTube should think twice before it runs ads in front of its videos: Harris reported that 73 percent of frequent YouTube users say they would visit the site less if it started including short video ads before each clip.

"Spending on the presidential race over the next two years could reach $1 billion dollars, up more than 50 percent from 2004's $659 million, said Evan Tracey, COO of TNS Media Intelligence."

Ad Spending in States With Early Primaries Set to Rise in 2008

What should be noted in the linked TV Week stories above on the predicted flood of political ads coming our way from networks, media outlets, etc. is that these outlets worry they may not be able to fill the advertising needs of ALL candidates. So which candidate will win those time spots? TV/media outlets claim they will strive to be fair.

"My concern is if we get 20 of them at the same time," said Jeff Bartlett, general manager of Hearst-Argyle's WMUR-TV, an ABC affiliate in Manchester, N.H. "It's possible that we could end up with a lot more candidate ads, but a lot fewer issue ads" as political action committees' spots are moved into less desirable time slots."

Mel Stebbins, general manager of Raycom's WIS-TV, the NBC affiliate in Columbia, S.C., said he anticipates being forced to limit the number of ads any one candidate can buy in order to allow everyone equal access... "We are going to be traffic managers."

One slip up by a Presidential hopeful will surely wind up on YouTube. The candidates should understand that YouTube is Big Brother watching -their every move, their every conversation....the next two years should be very interesting. "Is that a video camera in your pocket and/or are you just happy to see me?" each candidate and their handlers should be thinking.

Web sites are a tricky thing. It costs nothing for the user base to migrate and if YouTube starts upsetting the apple cart with compulsory advertising before clips its user base might just leave it (and investors) in the lurch.

Local news channels often try this stunt. I simply mute and tab out of the ad window until the actual clip starts. Do they think I need to see the latest scream-and-shout used car ad again?

I was listening to a radio talk show today and one of the speakers said, "I hate to say it, but I don't think anyone except parents care if children are abused."

I thought, "I am not yet that cynical."

After listening to that telephone conversation, I am that cynical. What a damn shame.

I'm not surprised. I've been on boards where people just post links and people are viewing them all night, giving their opinions and posting links of their own. I usually don't watch 'em all the way through if they're more than 4 or 5 minutes, but I've killed an hour or so at a shot on threads like that and I'll go back later and watch some of them again.

YouTube will be more helpful to Democrats than to Republicans.

The availability of broadband connectivity is greater and more affordable in blue states and urban areas, where liberals are concentrated.

Red states and rural areas have less access to broadband. A large percentage of people in those areas cannot access YouTube.

YouTube starts upsetting the apple cart with compulsory advertising

That's where YouTube will flourish as advertisers have to change their old way of thinking and from the above expected expenditure of a billion war-bucks by giddy networks article; they are still thinking within the box. On YouTube, average Joe or Jane will be watching everywhere a candidate goes waiting for that million dollar moment to catch a misstep of a candidate.

YouTube will act as a real time based expose', so no need for staged political ads.

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