Slashdot Log In
Monty Python Banks On the Long Tail Via YouTube
Posted by
timothy
on Wed Nov 19, 2008 03:31 PM
from the finally-a-perfect-use-for-the-foot-icon dept.
from the finally-a-perfect-use-for-the-foot-icon dept.
JTRipper writes "Monty Python seems to have done the right thing. Instead of issuing take down notices of their videos on YouTube, they are doing it better themselves with their own YouTube channel. They are putting all their clips (including snips from their movies) up in a decent resolution, with the only caveat being a link to buying the movies and TV episodes from Amazon."
Related Stories
Firehose:And Now For Something Completly Different by Anonymous Coward
This discussion has been archived.
No new comments can be posted.
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.
Full
Abbreviated
Hidden
Loading... please wait.
Well, Not ALL of Them Really (Score:5, Informative)
They are putting all their clips (including snips from their movies) up in a decent resolution ...
Um, that's kind of misleading. There are 24 clips as of this posting. That's not to say there isn't more to come but the channel description clearly states:
What's more, we're taking our most viewed clips and uploading brand new HQ versions.
Their announcement video shows more video clips than they have up right now (man with a recorder up his nose from And Now for Something Completely Different, etc) so hopefully there's more to come. I'm a bit disappointed the general populace doesn't watch The Flying Circus more often ... it's a shame every time I see a banana at a corporate function I have the urge to hand it to someone while instructing them to "come at me with that banana like you really mean it!" And they just continue to treat me like I'm insane.
And where's The Crimson Permanent Assurance [youtube.com] (opening feature to The Meaning of Life)?! That single skit was probably more expensive than all other Python works combined--and a gold mine for office humor to send to your coworkers!
Re:Well, Not ALL of Them Really (Score:5, Funny)
Parent
Re:Well, Not ALL of Them Really (Score:5, Funny)
That's because they only put up the good ones.
(Don't worry, Mr. Karma, I'll do this one anonymously)
Parent
Re:Well, Not ALL of Them Really (Score:5, Funny)
Did you come here for an argument?
Parent
Re:Well, Not ALL of Them Really (Score:5, Funny)
Parent
Re:Well, Not ALL of Them Really (Score:5, Funny)
Parent
It's good to see some people are getting it... (Score:5, Insightful)
All your old business models are dead... it's time to find a better way and stop treating potential customers as the enemy.
(I have the entire flying circus on DVD bought and paid for... what a wonderful waste of time.)
Re:It's good to see some people are getting it... (Score:5, Funny)
Nah, they're just resting.
Parent
Re:It's good to see some people are getting it... (Score:5, Funny)
Nah, they're just resting.
Look, matey, I know a dead business model when I see one, and I'm looking at one right now
Parent
Re:It's good to see some people are getting it... (Score:5, Funny)
No no it's not dead, it's, it's changin'! Remarkable business model, the MPAA, idn'it, ay? Beautiful Portfolio!
Parent
They 'get it' - but today's audience does not. (Score:5, Insightful)
to wit: "with the only caveat being a link to buying the movies and TV episodes from Amazon."
caveat? -caveat-? Holy crap. The people behind the actual stuff can't put a f'ing "BUY THIS NOW" link with their videos without being chastised for it now?
The "me me me" generation needs to move along and die - the sooner the better.
I've always said (search my comments - I'm sure I've ranted on this topic here before) that the content owners should have a two-part strategy..
1. yes, by all means, send DMCA takedown notices of clear rips (if for no other reason than that I am tired of the leading title sequences for clips saying "video made by GangFunksta!!!!" in bright yellow on blue put together in windows movie maker, followed by the actual video overlaid by "made with unregistered hypercam" in the corners all over, and the sound too quiet to hear without setting the volume to 11)
( Note that I say 'clear rips'; somebody playing some stupid song in the background of their kid dancing shouldn't get a DMCA takedown. Somebody putting up a still image with the artist name and title of the song with the music in good quality -should- be DMCAd left right and center. )
2. Make an official and -good- quality version available themselves. Doesn't even need to be high quality or HD - leave that for sales if you want, but just set up good quality versions, add links to other productions of yours, add links to amazon, to swag, insert special promo codes - whatever you think would bring you more customers instead of driving them away (and to those crappy rips).. heck, put in an actual ad at the end of the video.
Parent
Who ordered this? (Score:5, Interesting)
I wonder who had the power to make this decision since most artists sell their work to a label/studio. According to Wikipedia for example, The Holy Grain is currently produced by Fox and EMI in the UK and Cinema 5 in the US (who I've never heard of). But the others seem to have other distributors. It's strange that they would upload portions from the entire collection when it seems that different parts are owned by different companies....
But it's welcome news. Maybe it will set a precedent for others to do the same.
Outside convent with half naked women... (Score:5, Funny)
Sir Galahad: I don't think I was.
Sir Lancelot: Yes, you were. You were in terrible peril.
Sir Galahad: Look, let me go back in there and face the peril.
Sir Lancelot: No, it's too perilous.
Sir Galahad: Look, it's my duty as a knight to sample as much peril as I can.
Sir Lancelot: No, we've got to find the Holy Grail. Come on.
Sir Galahad: Oh, let me have just a little bit of peril?
Sir Lancelot: No. It's unhealthy.
Sir Galahad: I bet you're gay.
Sir Lancelot: Am not.
And now for something completely different (Score:5, Funny)
'es watching youtube
Oh.. uh... a man with three legs!
'es run away
Seems like a better model to me (Score:5, Insightful)
I was a huge fan of the way id released their games back in the day, first episode is long and free, the next two will cost you something. Now with Monty Python, the last show went in the can years ago and they're not likely to produce anything new. But for newer shows, I think the PBS model would work. Give the content away for free but let the fans who really like it become direct patrons to support the arts. Let's face it, stamping out piracy is pretty much impossible and not every pirated copy is really a lost sale to begin with. Better to support the culture of patronage and count on the real fans to help you turn a profit.
One thing the networks are struggling to contend with right now is gaining an accurate measure of just how popular a show is. We know about Faux's surprise when Family Guy was canceled for poor ratings and the DVD set went on to become the #2 selling show ever. This sort of performance gap is continuing with geriatric-targeting CBS having great Nielsens while shows skewing towards younger demographics seem to be under-performing but this does not reflect the interest on p2p sites. ITunes only depicts a portion of the overall success online. And DVD sales aren't figured until long after the current season is over.
I'll be happy when the middle-men are completely done away with and first-run shows are produced with no need for networks. We're already seeing quirky comedies doing well on Youtube but those are extremely low-budget. It'll take some bucks to put together something like Firefly on a fan-funded basis.
Re:Seems like a better model to me (Score:5, Informative)
The PBS model doesn't really even work for PBS. When I worked at WGBH in Boston, I got to see the budget numbers - about 90% of the budget comes from the corporate sponsors. Those commitments are arranged and planned for years in advance.
The remainder of the budget comes from "viewers like you," and since it's impossible to predict those donation amounts in advance, it goes only into a discretionary spending fund. Every project plan has a few "would be nice" items in case there's enough in that discretionary fund to build them by the time the project is being produced.
Parent
Oh you Barstewards (Score:5, Funny)
Why did you have to tell me that. Bang goes the rest of the week...
A terrible decision (Score:5, Funny)
Oblig XKCD (Score:5, Insightful)
Going WAY back on this one...
http://xkcd.com/16/ [xkcd.com]
south park (Score:5, Interesting)
This policy has encouraged me to watch South Park. And what do you know: I even watch it on TV sometimes. +1 viewership by enlightened understanding of digital distribution.
Re:explanations? (Score:5, Informative)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monty_Python [wikipedia.org]
Parent
Re:Well, I didn't expect this. (Score:5, Funny)
Biggles! Fetch... THE COMFY CHAIR!
dastardly music
Parent
Re:Yes, it is! (Score:5, Funny)
No, I'm pretty sure this is abuse...
Parent
Re:Let it begin (Score:5, Insightful)
I'm as big a Python fan as the next, but let it not.
Parent
Re:Long Tail? (Score:5, Funny)
No one expects the...
Oh, bugger.
Parent