NewTeeVee Live: Brief Q&A with YouTube's Steve Chen

VCs predict an uncertain future for Internet TV startupsNewTeeVee Live co-hosts Om Malik and Liz Gannes hosted a brief chat with YouTube co-founder and wunderkid Steve Chen.

On the key to YouTube’s success, Chen stressed the idea of YouTube as a platform where the focus is creating a simple experience so users can put whatever content they want on the site and get help from YouTube in syndicating it. Which sounds straightforward enough. Except when you consider one of the other topics Chen fielded: how to handle concerns about copyright infringement.

Chen talked about a two-pronged approach that includes using digital fingerprinting technology to try and identify unauthorized clips, as well as a monetization strategy that entices content owners (think Viacom) to allow their clips to be posted on the site. Legally.

In terms of what’s next for YouTube, Chen talked about a future with easier tools for sharing content and better video quality, especially on cellphones.

last100 is edited by Steve O'Hear. Aside from founding last100, Steve is co-founder and CEO of Beepl and a freelance journalist who has written for numerous publications, including TechCrunch, The Guardian, ZDNet, ReadWriteWeb and Macworld, and also wrote and directed the Silicon Valley documentary, In Search of the Valley. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.

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