Features

Social services

Although it's very easy to think of internet TV as simply TV watched over the internet on a PC, it is fast developing into much more than that. The internet has always been a two-way medium, with a heavy emphasis on dialogue rather than the one-way communication of broadcasting. This is starting to play a major role in the most popular video-sharing sites, which have varying amounts of 'social networking' alongside the video content. Indeed, Facebook has come from the opposite direction, bolting video sharing to its pure social networking.

In other words, the chat that accompanies the video is almost as important as the video itself, so be prepared to field comments about your videos, and don't get too upset if anything nasty is posted. Maintaining calm, two-way communications will help you to build and maintain the interest in your work. On some sites, such as YouTube, your videos may also be downloaded and used in other people's video creations if you allowed this option. This could bring you more attention, and more viewers, which is presumably why you make video

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in the first place. With the current trend towards paying the most popular online video-makers, you could not only become an internet TV star but you get paid to be one, too.

Couch potatoes TV over the internet

The most exciting thing about internet broadcasting is its ability to put you, the consumer, in the director's chair. But you may be more interested in remaining on the sofa as a viewer. Internet video has provided a new avenue for established broadcasters as well as bedroom Steven Spielbergs.

Channel 4's video-on-demand service, 4oD, is available online at www.channel4.com/4od, and Channel Five's is at http://download.five.tv. Sky also has its Anytime download service, although this is available only to Sky subscribers.

But these established channels aren't your only option. As befits the democratic nature of the internet, newcomers abound. One of the most exciting is Joost (www.joost.com), created by the people who brought you Skype and Kazaa. Joost already includes content from Channel 5's Fifth Gear, Sports Illustrated, Aardman Animations and other not entirely unknown names. Another interesting newcomer is www.babelgum.com. Its portfolio includes GONG anime and short films from the Rushes Soho and Giffoni festivals.

Both Joost and Babelgum offer levels of quality from streaming video that you wouldn't have believed possible over a regular broadband connection, and point the way to the couch potato experience of the future.