Heard a familiar parable today and thought it applies nicely to the conundrum of web-video and digital disruption:

Two campers are relaxing around the fire, intoxicated from a long meal and lots of beer. All of a sudden, a young, hungry, bear appears. The two campers look at each other. It’s clear that they’re about to become bear food. The first camper starts to lace up his shoes. The second camper says: “what are you doing? You can’t outrun the bear!” to which the first camper responds: “No. But I can outrun you.” (more…)

My recent post “Economic Constipation and Digital Malnutrition” was an attempt to critically analyze Mark Cuban’s provocative May 4th post entitled “The Ala Carting of Video on the Net - Will it lead to disaster?”.

Incidentally, it was my most trafficked day and much to my surprise, I received a comment from one of my favorite bloggers, Hank Williams, who writes the influential whydoeseverythingsuck.com?”

Mark’s post has sparked a debate that has spilled over from the circle of web video bloggers into a broader conversation. Next week I’m in New York for the Advertising 2.0 event and plan to bring Mark’s position, and my rebuttal, to the panel on which I’m speaking. (more…)

Let’s make a bet.

I’ll bet that by the time you’re halfway through watching the below video your commercial instinct will suggest that what you’re watching is a piece of marketing material. I’ll also bet that you’re going to keeping watching until the video is over. It’s that good. (more…)

Anyone else notice that NBC.com’s traffic has taken a dive since Hulu launched?

I’ll bet the folks that run NBC.com did. In fact, they mention it, but Hulu represents a threat to NBC.com and all network vertical sites. But as we know, a threat is opportunity unspun, which might be why I found last week’s Ad Tech Keynote discussion with NBC’s Chief Digital Officer, George K. so interesting.

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Lew Henderson, who oversees the William Morris Agency’s digital business, is one of the most respected players in the digital entertainment business. And for good reason. He’s been making deals during every cycle of convergence fever: from the CD-ROM to Bubble 1.0 to the Dot Com Bust to Web 2.0 to Rise of the Social Nets to the M&A Frenzy of ‘05/’06 to Video Site Landgrab of ‘07 to today. That depth of experience translates to a sophisticated perspective of the ways things work. When Lew talks, I listen closely.

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