YouTube Dusts Off “Ghostbusters” to Make a Point: We’ve Got Movies!
by Peter Kafka
Posted on August 14, 2009 at 3:00 AM PT
Got a couple hours to kill? Want to enjoy a pleasant blast from the past? Head over to YouTube and check out “Ghostbusters,” which is running at its full length on Google’s (GOOG) video site, and prominently displayed on its homepage.
YouTube says it’s highlighting the Bill Murray/Dan Akroyd/Sigourney Weaver classic because this summer is the movie’s 25th anniversary.
Which is true! But I’m pretty sure the site is also trying to remind both Hollywood studios and run-of-the-mill YouTube users that the site can and does run more than just short, home-brewed clips–it’s got a bunch of movies, TV shows, and other “premium content,” too.
Not nearly as much as Hulu, of course, but YouTube is still trying to figure out how to change that. One way is by simply creating special sections to highlight movies and TV shows, which is one of the reasons it got Sony’s (SNE) Crackle on board last spring. Another is to offer content owners special incentives to hand over their stuff to the world’s biggest video site.
If you do watch “Ghostbusters,” for instance, note that the traditional YouTube player has been replaced by one from Crackle. YouTube also recently agreed to let Disney’s ESPN.com (ESPN) use its own player as well.
On the other hand, there’s still plenty of other “premium content” on YouTube that doesn’t appear to be sanctioned by the contents’ owners and that doesn’t appear to be generating any revenue or other benefit for them, either. Like this grainy, but still excellent, “Ghostbusters” excerpt:
Comments
Damn, Peter, you ratted out that excerpt to the copyright cops. It’s now dead. T’anks for nuttin’ Guess I’ll have to watch the whole movie for free now.
Posted by Edward Barrera at August 14th, 2009 at 2:54 pmReally? That stinks. That clip has been up there forever. In fact I think I’ve embedded it in an earlier post.
Posted by Peter Kafka at August 14th, 2009 at 6:20 pm