A very recent AdWeek article (YouTube Stars Represent Massive Media Shift) alerted me to an oped piece by Hank Green (Vlogbrothers, VidCon, etc.). It’s titled “Lessons Learned From YouTube’s $300 Million Hole.” Hank observes the success rate of the YouTube creator grants, and how most of the channels failed. Go read it.

What do you think? Do any of the new channels strike you as being successful? Hank mentions SourceFed.

Wow I’ve let my blog go dark. It’s like a serial killer’s basement.

As you’ve no doubt heard, the new YouTube channel design is available for us unwashed masses. You shall like it, so proclaims some YouTube luminaries in this promotional video. So how do you activate the new “YouTube One Channel” and customize it?

1. First you need to activate the new channel. Visit YouTube One’s overview page (which describes features), and scroll to bottom. Press button. You’re in business.
2. Now you’ll need one photo that will serve desktop, tablet and television. The specifications are described on YouTube’s blog. You want an image that’s 2120 by 1192 pixels. You can download a png template here. The image that appears on this page is a condensed version.

   template for 2013 redesign of youtube channel

3. To customize your image in Photoshop, here’s a YouTube Channel One Photoshop Template I created. Obviously you’ll want to delete the images from mine, and keep the template page visible so you can size things. Be sure to leave space for your thumbnail, which automatically appears over the image. If mine doesn’t work, here’s a nice YouTube One template.
4. Note that your logo needs to be in the middle of this giant rectangle. The entire image shows up on TV, but only the center rectangle appears on desktop and mobile.
5. While you’re editing your new channel, go through the checklist in the upper right corner to customize links and ensure the correct icons are overlaying your image.

Stickam is dead. Another casualty of the online-video sharing market. Said the company via e-mail:

After seven wonderful years we are incredibly sad to have to say goodbye. We did everything we could to keep this dream alive, but unfortunately you are reading this message.

When Stickam launched in 2005 we were the very first website devoted to live streaming, user generated video and chat. There was no blueprint, no roadmap to follow. We didn’t know where you would take us.

Users have until Feb. 28, 2013 to save their media. Meanwhile, here are 10 sites like Stickam. Which will survive?

An odd survey by the Interactive Advertising Bureau shows that 92% of us share video via mobile, but in ways you wouldn’t expect. 56% of us post it on Facebook. 44% show it on the phone the old fashioned way… in person. The next two most-common methods are text and e-mail. Only then do we see YouTube sharing… apparently YouTube has failed to become a mobile tool.

The article referenced is by eMarketer, which points out the latest player in the short-video mobile sharing space… Vine by Twitter. It’s getting crowded, folks, and history has taught

us that there can only be one survivor.

Who will lead mobile-video sharing? Facebook? SocialCam? Viddy? See this post for an overview of the mobile-video apps.

Prank your bro, friends. The folks from College Humor are issuing a prank challenge. Check out the video for details. And don’t forget these are the folks that brought you the amazingly funny basketball half-court prank (check it out if you haven’t seen it). 

Here’s some historical highlights (2005-2013) of YouTube, and some stats on current 2013 activity — like 800 million monthly users. From the folks at ShortyMedia…

A YouTube

A new YouTube documentary, “Please Subscribe” debuts in February, and another titled “I’m Vlogging Here” is fundraising for its coming production.

• Dani Dobi’s “Please Subscribe” features YouTube vlogger Wheezy Waiter, Joe Penna (MysteryGuitarMan) and dozens more. See the “Please Subscribe” trailer here. 
• Shaycarl and CoreyVidal announce donors to “I’m Vlogging Here,” a documentary on YouTubers.

  YouTube weblebrity ShayCarl (Shay Butler) is joining Corey Vidal in “I’m Vlogging Here,” documentary that is going into production. ShayCarl recently invited viewers to submit 2-minute videos about how YouTube changed their lives and dozens have already responded (see videos). Butler and Vidal announced the documentary days ago in a live broadcast of “What’s Trending.” They established a fundraising site, and here’s there response to my humble donation.

• And don’t forget the classic “I Want My Three Minutes Back,” which chronicled my evolution in 2007-2008.

Are you gonna watch?

It’s an embarrassing statement about marketers in 2012. I’d like to apologize on behalf of them all. According to Kantar media, 77% of brands aren’t using online video; they’re exclusively national TV. Says Clickz:

• A new study from Kantar Media has found that 77 percent of brands are using national TV advertising exclusively.
• According to the study, only 23 percent of the brands surveyed were using online video.
• About 12 percent of brands reported that they were using both online video and national TV advertising.
• While another 11 percent said they were using online video advertising only.

So what’s the poop? And could this mean that online-video advertising spending will see even larger jumps as marketers come to the realization that the medium actually works?

Hitler doesn’t like the new YouTube design because it doesn’t look good on his large monitor, it recommends his own videos, and causes him to miss videos from those to which he subscribes… like Stalin. See video below or here.

What do you non-sociopaths think? Or heck. Comment even if you are a sociopath.