This story is from November, but one of my favorites from 2006. I predict that in 2007 media companies will start to set their fears of the social web aside and experiment more and more with social media spaces.

Analysts have long been saying that YouTube is a gift for the TV networks: now we have the stats to prove it. CBS announced today that viewers are flocking to their TV shows after seeing the clips on YouTube. “Letterman” has gained 5 percent (or 200,000 new viewers), while “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson” is up 7 percent (or 100,000 viewers) since the CBS YouTube channel debuted a month ago. They’ve uploaded 300 clips so far, which have averaged 857,000 views per day in total – that’s 29.2 million views on YouTube this month.

The YouTube Effect: CBS Gets Massive Boost – Mashable!

CBS did two key things right here: put your content where people are already (don’t expect them to come to you, even if you are a major brand), and put up content that people want to see (comedy is a no brainer, tech shows are another easy win online). Imagine if a media company really pushed to get their stuff on the other social sites that aggregate media like Digg and Videosift; and created profiles for properties and personalities on MySpace. This whole video on the web thing is just getting started, 2007 is going to be quite interesting.

technorati tags:cbs, youtube, media, socialmedia, video
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My Dad, Stephen Pate, is using social media to fight the power in our home province of Prince Edward Island, Canada. When the provincial government cut $600,000 in funding for people on disability support, without public notice, he decided to take them on using the power of the internet. He’s blogging about the sad story of disability on PEI and posting clips on YouTube of question period in the legislature and news coverage. He’s already third on Google for “PEI disability”.

Despite implementing the Disability Support Program (PEI DSP) in October 2001, the Province of Prince Edward Island has failed to meet the needs of Islanders with disabilities. Only 1 in 19 Islanders with disabilities receives assistance from the Province and Seniors are excluded from any help. Further, the Province recently cut back $600,000 from the budget for the DSP without public notice. As a result, 50% of the complaints to the Information and Privacy Commissioner are concerning the DSP program.
Disability Alert Blog – Province of PEI Gets Failing Grade for DSP

I’m so proud of my Dad, I never would have guessed that he’d learn all about the stuff I work with every day. This gives me great hope that social media can empower the little guy to have a voice and be heard. Godspeed to my Dad and everyone using these tools to make positive change in the world.

technorati tags:disability, pei, socialmedia, princeedwardisland, activism

I love Merlin Mann’s new series of 30 second clips where he plays Phone Guy. You know, that annoying guy in public with his cell that you both want to smash and record at the same time. The best part is that he’s speaking into his wallet.

technorati tags:merlinmann, phoneguy, youtube, funny, video
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Props to my PEI homegirl Amber Mac for pointing this out. Congrats on your new job at CityTV!

Parkour – an art to help you pass any obstacle; to go from point A to point B using only the possibilities of the human body. This art originated with French soldiers in Vietnam and was developed by David Belle, inspired by his father.

Home – Parkour.NET – THE Official Parkour Portal powered BY Traceurs, FOR Traceurs

technorati tags:parkour, ambermac
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Just because very few people actually know how it works. Oh, and the best suppliers are people that work in offshore companies hired to do subtitling or movie theaters.

technorati tags:piracy
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