Monty Python Banks On the Long Tail Via YouTube 222
JTRipper writes "Monty Python seems to have done the right thing. Instead of issuing take down notices of their videos on YouTube, they are doing it better themselves with their own YouTube channel. They are putting all their clips (including snips from their movies) up in a decent resolution, with the only caveat being a link to buying the movies and TV episodes from Amazon."
Who ordered this? (Score:5, Interesting)
I wonder who had the power to make this decision since most artists sell their work to a label/studio. According to Wikipedia for example, The Holy Grain is currently produced by Fox and EMI in the UK and Cinema 5 in the US (who I've never heard of). But the others seem to have other distributors. It's strange that they would upload portions from the entire collection when it seems that different parts are owned by different companies....
But it's welcome news. Maybe it will set a precedent for others to do the same.
Re:What I'd like to see of Python: laugh-track fre (Score:2, Interesting)
I hate laugh tracks.
You must understand that these shows were produced almost four decades ago, when producing a comedy without at least a live audience was not only unheard of, but unthinkable.
That said, I always hated laugh tracks too, even back when Monty Python was new (and I was young); particularly LOUD laugh tracks. Monty Python doesn't seem to be a particular offender here. But if it's funny it doesn't need a laugh track; there isn't any laugh track to my stupid slashdot comments but I regularly have people telling me I owe them a new keyboard.
Lack of a laugh track is one reason I like My Name Is Earl so much. That show is hilarious (Patty the Daytime Hooker with her hand caught in a soda machine: "I'm not trying to steal a soda, I have a client who's into dead people").
I was telling a guy at Felber's (a bar here) who hardly watches any TV about it.
"What's it called?" he asked.
"My Name Is Earl."
"I thought your name was Steve?"
south park (Score:5, Interesting)
This policy has encouraged me to watch South Park. And what do you know: I even watch it on TV sometimes. +1 viewership by enlightened understanding of digital distribution.
Re:What I'd like to see of Python: laugh-track fre (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Well, Not ALL of Them Really (Score:5, Interesting)
At least it's a step in the right direction!
If we want to talk about steps in the right direction, how about Hulu.com [hulu.com]? You sit through something like 60 seconds of commercials per episode of whatever you want to watch, but otherwise everything is perfectly free. The service is designed very well and is well implemented. As far as "new business models" go, I think the people in charge of this site really know what they're doing.
I'm happy enough with the service that I gladly advertise it for them. I regularly watch Colbert Report episodes one or two days after they air there.