Issue date: 3/8/07 Section: A & E

Media Credit: Matt Donato Screen shot of YouTube, which has become a haven for old school television shows.

YouTube.com and Digital Music Group, Inc. have made a deal that gives faithful YouTube watchers the opportunity to watch classic television shows whenever they want. "I Spy," "Gumby" and "My Favorite Martian" are some of the television shows that will be available along with a selection of DMGI's music collection.

"I think it's a good idea because they're not played anymore. If there was a good show I wanted to watch for old times sake, I would like it to be available," freshman elementary and special education major Kelsey Marcoccia said.

DMGI, an online entertainment group, that, according to an article on CNNMoney.com, "owns or controls the digital distribution rights to over 4,000 hours of video and controls the publishing rights to roughly 40,000 music recordings," benefits from this agreement since their ads will be shown before any of these shows can be played.

"Shares of DMGI soared on the news, climbing over 27 percent in Nasdaq trade" CNNMoney.com stated on Monday, Feb.12.

Jon Moore, a senior graphic design major, said, "I think that older TV shows won't be that big of a deal. They would make out better if they were showing newer shows."

According to an article by Clint Swett on popmatters.com, industry analyst Phil Leigh sees DMGI as a helper in drawing the "older demographics to the young-skewing YouTube audience."

"In my opinion, if DMGI and YouTube are benefiting from these showings then that's great for them. I won't be watching 'Gumby' or 'I SPY' on YouTube next time I sign on, but power to the people who will," Laura Capper, a freshman elementary and special education major said.

Lindsay Runyen, a freshman history and secondary education major, agreed and said that she personally wouldn't watch the new shows, but that it's great for the people that do enjoy them and that it's good attention for YouTube and DMGI.

According to an article found on seekingalpha.com by Jonathan Liss, Tuhin Roy, chief strategy officer for DMGI, said, "This is the step that needs to happen for YouTube to start monetizing its audience."

YouTube, a Google Inc. video-sharing site, hit troublesome waters recently. "Earlier this month, Viacom Inc. ordered YouTube to yank more than 100,000 unauthorized clips that users had uploaded to their website," Swett said.

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