BlogTV launched toady their new homepage with the following sections:
1. Improved subscription process – with email and twitter alerts, and future SMS integration. Though this feature was already in earlier in previous versions, now users can easily subscribe to new shows from almost any page at the site
2. “Upcoming” section – the most interesting feature is the new Upcoming part of the site. Sources in the company see this part as key to success of their site.This section will show in the feature shows users might like based on their preferences, their friends preferences and editors choice.
3. Featured shows section – handpicked by the editor, this section will help to promote new shows.
Company sources believe that these features will create what they refer to as the first live Internet TV listing, and improve their position in the market.
It is interesting to see that BlogTV see content discovery as key to their success. Time will tell if this is another battle in the feature war against Ustream and operator11, or a knockout from BlogTV side. Somehow it seems to me that switching costs are so low in this market, that only brand and strong community tools can create a real differentiation in this market.
UPDATE – the company also launched a new Facebook application. The most interesting feature there in my opinion is the ability to see if any of your contacts are now live, and the ability to notify your friends easily on your show. See Techcrunch post for more details.
7 Comments
Hah, I go for knockout. Look at the homepage, it’s almost a clone of ustream’s. And the upcoming shows? That has been in operator11 forever. So what’s new?
I just wonder if there is something that these companies can do in order to dominate the market.
The big drawback—They don’t archive split screens (or at least last time I checked). If they are going to offer split screens, that’s a deal breaker.
It seems like ustream.com has the teenage crowd / facebook and blogtv has focused on bloggers/adults. But making this distinction clear is tough when the sites are open to all members. What is the target content creator audience? Are the content creator targets similar to thoses on blogradio.com?
why do people always compare, want to win etc?
what’s wrong with just existing and serving? – the police do it, old business do it. if it works it works. tweak it, but dont compete. online that’s just nuts. more stress than it is worth. pump in the passion but dont forget about what your doing it for – now who your doing it for.
Love
dm
http://me.dm
Ultimately, the presence of multiple players in the market is good for the users–it provides choice, and keeps all the players on their toes. Everyone working on live video should be trying to learn from what others are doing.
Barlow – great observation. This is a major problem in this market.
Phil – I agree with you as a content creator – but what will a potential BlogTV investor will think?
Chris – great seeing you here again. You are right in your comment – but how do you believe ustream can dominate the market? or is it not the point for you?