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Nice! I can't wait for Lon live!
The underlying question here is how long does online video hold a viewers attention for?
There is not a study (that I can find) to give you concrete evidence, but I suspect that Youtube does not hold attention beyond 2 minutes. I don't think it's the format of the medium but rather the content itself.
I don't think that a 45 minute This Week In YouTube would be "too long". However, I think that you'll want to be careful about how you transition your segments and make sure that there are both common themes (to connect the video) along with different segments to keep it interesting throughout.
I'd use this first lengthy TWIYT as a test. Insert actionable (clickable) queues throughout that aren't just fluff but real motivators. Take careful analytics from the unique landing pages and carefully review the loyalty and absolute unique visits. This is rarely done in live streaming and if you can pull it off will likely convert well.
Generally though I think most people use the (somewhat new) ability for flash video to skip around the timeline, so even with short videos, I think most folks skim episodal youtube videos.
My only other comment is that serialized content makes more money online. If you can split apart your video into separate videos you'll encourage more views, clicks and in the end revenue.
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Is it possible to split it down into shorter videos. Maybe 4 or 5 10 minute videos? This would appeal to most people as it isn't time consuming, it will not bore people (but who would be bored of your shows!) and also makes us anticipate for the next one.
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I can't imagine anything about youtube being that interesting.
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jeffhoard
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Basically you need to keep it interesting and people will watch it. The puppy cam kept sucking us in because there was always something going on.
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Before each show you could post your scheduled topics with times. If you think the show is too long, people can tune in to hear the parts they care most about.
I think the key thing to pay attention to with live stream shows is whether the user has to keep full attention to the video aspect of the stream in order to know what is going on. Obviously it is a show about YouTube so there are going to be videos to watch/features to see, but being able to listen to the audio while multitasking seems important. I really enjoy listening to Leo Laporte's stream while working on other projects, surfing the web, checking/replying to email, etc. Those shows, in my opinion are VERY GOOD, and just because I stop watching, doesn't mean I'm not listening or that I am no longer interested.
The other option is to take as long as you need, and post the entire show in parts for people to go back and watch at a later time.
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I notice when livestreaming online its almost best to start... then wait before you actually "begin" because you want to "peak" your audience in a way. Sometimes it takes a few moments for the word to get out and for people to get in a room.
I guess it depends on how much content you have, I am sure plugging the Mahalo Comedy Playoff will only take a couple minutes...
http://www.mahalo.com/answers/funny-videos/mahalo-comedy-challenge-what-comedians-should-be-included
After that it depends on how much content you have and how many people are interacting with you. I think 45 minutes sounds great and if your having a good time let it run to an hour. We'll be watching here at Mahalo North.
Source(s):
http://www.mahalo.com/answers/funny-videos/mahalo-comedy-challenge-what-com...
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Answered Question
M$2
April 23, 2009 08:58 PM
How long is too long for a live streaming video show?
We're broadcasting This Week in YouTube live tomorrow morning here:
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/this-week-in-youtube
We have A LOT of stuff planned, and I'm afraid it may go over the planned 45 minutes.
I'm wondering how long is too long. At what point would you stop watching a streaming podcast and go do something else (assuming the show was good...obviously, if you didn't like it, you'd tune out quickly).
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/this-week-in-youtube
We have A LOT of stuff planned, and I'm afraid it may go over the planned 45 minutes.
I'm wondering how long is too long. At what point would you stop watching a streaming podcast and go do something else (assuming the show was good...obviously, if you didn't like it, you'd tune out quickly).
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Best Answer Decided by Votes
| April 23, 2009 09:48 PM |
The underlying question here is how long does online video hold a viewers attention for?
There is not a study (that I can find) to give you concrete evidence, but I suspect that Youtube does not hold attention beyond 2 minutes. I don't think it's the format of the medium but rather the content itself.
I don't think that a 45 minute This Week In YouTube would be "too long". However, I think that you'll want to be careful about how you transition your segments and make sure that there are both common themes (to connect the video) along with different segments to keep it interesting throughout.
I'd use this first lengthy TWIYT as a test. Insert actionable (clickable) queues throughout that aren't just fluff but real motivators. Take careful analytics from the unique landing pages and carefully review the loyalty and absolute unique visits. This is rarely done in live streaming and if you can pull it off will likely convert well.
Generally though I think most people use the (somewhat new) ability for flash video to skip around the timeline, so even with short videos, I think most folks skim episodal youtube videos.
My only other comment is that serialized content makes more money online. If you can split apart your video into separate videos you'll encourage more views, clicks and in the end revenue.
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Other Answers (7)
April 23, 2009 09:11 PM
Unless it is REALLY good @lon - I would say I would stop watching at about 20-25 minutes. Is it possible to split it down into shorter videos. Maybe 4 or 5 10 minute videos? This would appeal to most people as it isn't time consuming, it will not bore people (but who would be bored of your shows!) and also makes us anticipate for the next one.
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April 23, 2009 09:28 PM
I would have to say anything more than 5 minutes for youtube had better be interesting. Evolution of Dance is awesome and around 8 minutes long and it is almost too much. I can't imagine anything about youtube being that interesting.
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Voted as best: philipy
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jeffhoard
April 23, 2009 09:39 PM
Evolution of Dance is a viral video, @lons is talking about a live streaming broadcast.
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April 23, 2009 09:32 PM
It depends on the content. A show like This Week in Youtube can run longer because it's a bunch of interconnected segments so that if one item doesn't really catch your fancy you know you only have to wait a few minutes until another item comes up. If you are watching it after the live recording you don't have to watch it all at once, you can pause the podcast and watch a few segments later the same day or even the next day.
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April 23, 2009 10:43 PM
We will be cutting the live broadcast down into a regular-length (well, maybe a BIT longer) episode of TWIYT. So if you can't watch all of the live version, you'll still get to see the best bits. Thanks for the response!
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April 23, 2009 09:43 PM
We keep a private IRC server for all of the programmers in my company. When the Puppy Cam came out, one of us posted the URL in the chatroom and for about four hours all we did was watch the puppies and comment on them. Basically you need to keep it interesting and people will watch it. The puppy cam kept sucking us in because there was always something going on.
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April 23, 2009 09:45 PM
For an online video show, I would say 30 minutes is a good target. With no commercials, a lot of content can be squeezed in to 30 minutes. Before each show you could post your scheduled topics with times. If you think the show is too long, people can tune in to hear the parts they care most about.
I think the key thing to pay attention to with live stream shows is whether the user has to keep full attention to the video aspect of the stream in order to know what is going on. Obviously it is a show about YouTube so there are going to be videos to watch/features to see, but being able to listen to the audio while multitasking seems important. I really enjoy listening to Leo Laporte's stream while working on other projects, surfing the web, checking/replying to email, etc. Those shows, in my opinion are VERY GOOD, and just because I stop watching, doesn't mean I'm not listening or that I am no longer interested.
The other option is to take as long as you need, and post the entire show in parts for people to go back and watch at a later time.
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Voted as best: bbrookin
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April 23, 2009 09:57 PM
Hey @Lons, great idea, what time is it at? 10am PST? or EST? the UStream channel doesn't mention. I notice when livestreaming online its almost best to start... then wait before you actually "begin" because you want to "peak" your audience in a way. Sometimes it takes a few moments for the word to get out and for people to get in a room.
I guess it depends on how much content you have, I am sure plugging the Mahalo Comedy Playoff will only take a couple minutes...
http://www.mahalo.com/answers/funny-videos/mahalo-comedy-challenge-what-comedians-should-be-included
After that it depends on how much content you have and how many people are interacting with you. I think 45 minutes sounds great and if your having a good time let it run to an hour. We'll be watching here at Mahalo North.
Source(s):
http://www.mahalo.com/answers/funny-videos/mahalo-comedy-challenge-what-com...
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