Independent Video Creators Earn $1 Million on Metacafe(R)

Wed Dec 12, 2007 10:07am EST
 
[-] Text [+]
Producer Rewards(R) Reaches Milestone Faster Than Any Other
      Payment Program in the Online Video Entertainment Industry
PALO ALTO, Calif.--(Business Wire)--Metacafe(R), whose more than 30 million(1) unique viewers each
month make it one of the world's largest video entertainment sites, is
celebrating the success of its Producer Rewards(R) program, which pays
video creators for their best original work as judged by the audience.
More than 550 people have now collectively earned more than $1 million
since the program's launch on October 30th, 2006. Reaching this
important milestone in just over a year makes Producer Rewards the
leading payment program for independent video creators.

   "Metacafe is hands-down the best place for talented people making
entertaining short videos to showcase their work," said Erick
Hachenburg, CEO of Metacafe. "We help them reach a large and global
audience. Our unique approach to audience-driven programming ensures
that those videos our viewers find most entertaining automatically
receive exposure. And Producer Rewards pays creators based on positive
response from the audience."

   Since the program's inception:

   --  The top-earning producer has made more than $80,000.

   --  Seven people have each earned more than $20,000.

   --  21 people have each earned more than $10,000.

   --  44 people have each earned more than $5,000.

   To celebrate 2007 and the million-dollar milestone, Metacafe is
currently featuring the "Best of Producer Rewards" channel, showcasing
a countdown of the year's top-earning videos. The countdown is now
underway at www.metacafe.com/bestof07.

   Among the most popular genres on Metacafe are:

   --  MacGyver-inspired how-to videos that bring out the super
        secret agent in all of us and provide hours of amusement using
        everyday household products;

   --  Amazing human stunt videos ranging from break-dancing babies
        to death-defying urban performance artists to fast-footed
        soccer specialists;

   --  Entertaining educational videos that teach you how to do
        anything from give a great massage to tune-up your computer
        skills; and

   --  Laugh-out-loud funny videos, scripted or spontaneous, that
        deliver a punch in a matter of moments.

   "If you would have told me this time last year that I'd have an
extra $80,000 in my pocket from making videos, I would have laughed
out loud," said "Kipkay," Metacafe's top earner. "Of course, the
money's not actually burning a hole in my pocket. I've used it to help
pay my kids' college tuition, make some home improvements, and take my
wife to Las Vegas for a week. Making the videos is good fun in its own
right. Making the money is a great bonus."

   The Metacafe Producer Rewards program is open to any creator of an
original short video, and the payment system is simple and
straightforward - $5 for every 1,000 views, starting at the 20,000
views mark. More information about the program is available at
http://studio.metacafe.com/producer_rewards/.

   About Metacafe

   With more than 30 million(1) unique viewers each month,
Metacafe(R) is one of the world's largest video entertainment sites.
We specialize in short-form original content - from new, emerging
talents and established Hollywood heavyweights alike. Metacafe
delivers an exceptional entertainment experience by engaging and
empowering our audience every step of the way. Our VideoRank(TM)
technology helps expose the most entertaining content, and our
Producer Rewards(R) program rewards video creators for their best work
- all as determined by viewer response. The privately held company is
headquartered in Palo Alto, Calif., and has offices in Tel Aviv and
New York City. For more information - and hundreds of thousands of
entertaining videos - visit www.metacafe.com.

   (1) comScore Media Metrix, October 2007

for Metacafe
Shev Rush, 760-567-4321
shev@shevrushpr.com
Shelley Boose, 408-398-6987
shelley@shevrushpr.com

Copyright Business Wire 2007

 

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