Adding video to the Internet has had the same impact as adding color to television. Consider this: Last month we celebrated the fourth birthday of online video's most famous offspring, YouTube. Eight months after the video hub officially shared its first video online, after a few tweaks and adjustments, YouTube announced it was getting 20 million visitors a month. Today, it's getting 1 billion views a day.
In the spirit of celebration, say, a belated birthday to YouTube, we bring you the FierceOnlineVideo Fierce 15. I was sorely tempted to add YouTube, a "Plus One" if you will, to the Fierce 15. It's been a heck of a year for the company, and it's continuing to innovate and bring new features to its platform.
The Fierce 15 list we did put together include some of the newest -- and oldest -- players in the space. Some transport video, some host video, some help make it or market it or find it. All are trying to monetize it, which, as it turns out, may be the most difficult task of all.
Take a look at the Fierce 15 for 2009. Let me know which we missed or which you think shouldn't be on the list. After the New Year, perhaps they'll be among the "Top Five Companies to Watch for 2010." (Or, perhaps they'll make the Top 10 Turkeys of 2010 list next Thanksgiving!) Hope you enjoy. Click here to get started. -Jim
P.S. What do you think the top online video-related story of 2009 was? My "institutional memory" is a little short, so, while I have a couple of favorites, I'm very interested to see what you think it was. Drop me a note at [email protected] and let me know. We'll have that next week.