Junk Food For The Soul

I know that Google and YouTube are two of the sexiest names on the Net and many people would love to see what Google could do with YouTube, but I’m not buying all the rumors that Google is working on a deal to buy YouTube.

We all know Google has the cash to do the deal. And we all seem to think that Google could apply advertising to the videos ten times better than YouTube.

But I can’t stop thinking that if they could, why don’t they do that today on their videos? Just because they don’t have anywhere close to the traffic that YouTube has doesn’t mean they couldn’t make the advertising on Google Video better than it is today. Looking around Google Video, I don’t see any advertising. If they have a great idea, why don’t they use it? I’ve long said that they stand the best chance of bringing an Internet-style of advertising to TV so I’m not doubting their abilities. I’m just not sure they have one yet.

And if they don’t have some brilliant idea that is just hinging on this deal, why make this deal when there are so many negatives? YouTube is blowing through cash right now and everyone knows it. Does Google really want to take on those costs? Do they want Wall Street penalizing their stock for such a deal?

Bigger than that is the whole copyright issue. Sure there are some good stuff on YouTube that isn’t copyrighted, but YouTube wouldn’t be where it is today if not for all of the Family Guy, Daily Show and Colbert Report clips out there. Even some of the hilarious dubs might not be considered fun parodies to corporate lawyers.

I’m guessing that the RIAA, MPAA and whatever other greedy groups out there are just waiting for someone with deep pockets to buy YouTube. Then the suing begins. Don’t think Google wants to be the deep pockets in that equation.