Amazon steps up
April 17th, 2006
Google’s got video, Yahoo’s got video, eBay users are starting to use video – and now Amazon is entering the game.
They signed humorist Bill Maher to host a soon-to-be launched Internet TV program called "Amazon Fishbowl."
The launch date is still several weeks away, but you can take a sneak peak here:
Let me know what you think…
Categories: Selling Physical Products
Don’t know. It doesn’t seem to be working for me.
Could just be my browser or configurations with streaming video?
It’s interesting but I’m very unsure about where it will all lead. Just how many people will actually watch a “broadcast” like they do with TV is still unknown. I think the video links like your own Ask A Grad makes sense, it’s education or information on demand just don’t ask me to tune in on Thursday nights at 8:00 to see it…
Ken, I’m not surprised to see Amazon using videos. It’s just a matter of time before someone cracks the code.
Who’s going to be the next eBay of online videos?
Patrick
I can’t get it working in Firefox, but it does work through Internet Explorer.
I’m sure there is a place for video online but I don’t think I’ll be making a special trip to watch Amazon adverts.
I think there’s also a danger of internet marketers selling the idea that’s it’s possible (and necessary) for anyone to jump on this particular bandwagon.
This one worked fine for me in Firefox BTW.
Bill Maher is a draw for me and probably many other bibliophiles, but I agree with other comments here. I won’t be waiting breathlessly for 8 pm every Thursday night on Amazon.com.
My initial take on internet video is that it will work out best in the long run as a short clip medium. Longer entertainment pieces may fly, but not soley informational ones. We’re all in information overload as it is.
Pam et. al.
I tend to agree… until it become seamless to port Internet video to our TV sets.
Right now, it is doable and not that hard, but it is by no means push-button easy But when it is…
Right now, I download long programs to my Video iPod and then plug it into my TV set to play them back (the iPod works like a mini-VCR.)
I can also watch Google Videos on my TV set. It is a little bit too much work, but in a year or so it should be as easy as flipping a switch.
Re: Amazon. I think FAR more interesting than a general purpose show, would be to able to see and listen to authors of specific books that I am searching for.
The economics will not work out for every title, but for some, it should be a slam dunk.
Ouch! That TV makeup doesn’t work quite as well online. 🙂
I’m not likely to wander over to Amazon every Thurs to watch it. On the other hand, I like Bill Maher and if he’s interviewing an author I like…
Definitely some promise there. I’m sure Amazon will be fine-tuning it as time goes on. I can certainly see where someone buying a Stephen King novel would click on an interview with him.