YouTube Long Form
Google is trying something new: Allowing YouTube video that is much longer than its previous 10-minute limit. It’s something of a test right now, limited to YouTube’s “content partners.”
YouTube outlined the new policy in an email to content partners last week:
Long Form Content
You now will be able to upload and monetize videos in your account that are longer than 10 minutes. This feature is exclusively for partners. Independent Film makers that partner with us will now be able to upload their feature films on our site. Please note that for long form content, the maximum file size is 1GB.
So what’s Google thinking about here? One obvious answer: Advertising. YouTube sells ads against videos uploaded by its content partners, but there are only so many ads you can sell against a short, under clip. Presumably YouTube wants to figure out if it can sell more of them against longer clips.
The problem I see evolving would be commercialism. The idea of a short independent film overwhelmed with GEICO adds running rampant along the base line of the video player could result in an un-positive reputation for YouTube.
Israel F. Swanson
Director of Community Development
