Happy Halloween! We hope you enjoyed your weekend and find yourself sharing trick or treat goodies around the office. This week’s mashup features YouTube’s new content channels, Klout’s upgraded scores, ASICS’ RFID activation at the ING NYC Marathon, and Facebook Credits testing on outside websites.
YouTube Content Channels
YouTube is launching nearly 100 premium video channels in partnership with some high-profile names. The channels are a way for YouTube to get more premium content on the site with hopes to generate more money from advertising and challenge cable television. Robert Kynci, YouTube’s global head of content partnerships, wrote:
Today, the Web is bringing us entertainment from an even wider range of talented producers, and many of the defining channels of the next generation are being born, and watched, on YouTube.
Some of the channel producers are Reuters, Electus, Slate and The Wall Street Journal. Other high-profile names include Jay-Z, Amy Poehler and Ashton Kutcher. The project plans to create more than 25 hours of new programming a day. The idea has been in the works for months and YouTube has touted the initiative as offering channels from:
well-known personalities and content producers as well as some of the most innovative up-and-coming media companies and some of YouTube’s own existing partners.
YouTube’s goal is to generate major bucks from these content providers, but it might take a little while. It was reported that the video site offered the partners an advance of $5 million for a few hours of programming each week. Once the money is returned through advertising, the revenues will be shared – the majority going back to the partner.
YouTube holds the exclusive rights to the content for 18 months and videos must stay on the site for three years, then they can be taken down.
Here are some of the channels that will soon be launching on YouTube:
- Awesomeness, from Brian Robbins, the producer of “Smallville”
- Car and Driver Television
- “Life and Times,” from Jay-Z
- Pop culture channel from Ben Silverman
- “Smart Girls at the Party” with Amy Poehler, Meredith Walker and Amy Miles
- “Thrash Lab” from Ashton Kutcher
- A dance channel by Madonna
Klout Scores Get an Upgrade
Last week Klout announced new changes in its scoring model that may have affected your score. According to Director of Ranking, Ash Rust:
[The new model] represents the biggest step forward in accuracy, transparency and our technology in Klout’s history.
Klout Scores are computed by the PeopleRank algorithm and determines scores based on 1) how many people you influence 2) how much you influence them and 3) how influential you are.
Almost 3 billion pieces of content are analyzed daily by Klout. The service is expanding with more networks and can be computed faster. The Insights feature will allow you to figure out why your score has changed and what subscore and people caused that change. Not only will you be able to see your Insights, you will also be able to see your friends’.
Your score may change some due to the new scoring model, however, the distribution chart below shows that the majority of users will see only a small change.
NYC Marathon ASICS Activation
ASICS is activating its sponsorship with RFID tags for runners during the New York Marathon with the “Support Your Marathoner” project. Runners can register for the program prior to the event and friends and family can create messages to cheer on the participant during the run. The messages will be displayed on three LED screens placed along the marathon route when triggered by the runner as they run past them by the RFID tags they will be wearing.
The activation started during last year’s marathon, but this year has grown to include Facebook to gather messages, video and images from the participant’s supporters.
After the race, runners will be able to see a gallery of images, video and messages that they may have missed while running. Currently “Support Your Marathoner” has received over 2,750 messages since launching in mid-October.
Facebook Credits Coming to Outside Websites?
Facebook’s form of payment, Facebook Credits, may be coming to a website near you. Last week Facebook developer’s blog reported the following:
We have begun working with a few developers to test the ability to offer Facebook Credits on websites, with the goal of helping them offer a more unified app experience to users beyond apps on Facebook.
The first site to add the virtual payment is Collapse! Blast on Gamehouse.com. Rather than using PayPal or credit cards as payment, users can now use Facebook Credits with 30% of profits returning to Facebook.
The payments are currently in a testing stage, gathering developer feedback. If you are interested in signing up to try out Credits on your website you can sign up here. Do you think Facebook Credits will be the new form of online payment in the near future?
