Our Place in the Growth of the Internet

I was reading a lengthy article on the Google blog about the importance of their existance in rapid expansion of the internet, and this paragraph stuck out to me as how we fit into their picture:

Systems that facilitate high-quality content creation and editing are crucial for the Internet's continued growth, because without them we will all sink in a cesspool of drivel. We need to make it easier for the experts, journalists, and editors that we actually trust to publish their work under an authorship model that is authenticated and extensible, and then to monetize in a meaningful way. We need to make it easier for a user who sees one piece by an expert he likes to search through that expert's entire body of work. Then our users will be able to benefit from the best of both worlds: thoughtful and spontaneous, long form and short, of the ages and in the moment.

// http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/02/from-height-of-this-place.html

Business Goals

Update this! TMM will go to 2 networking events each month.

By the end of the 1st quarter TMM will create a demo DVD for dance recitals and one for weddings. By the end of the 2nd quarter TMM will create a demo DVD for video biographies and one for theatrical productions. Also by the end of this quarter the company will have added 4 additional dance school recitals. TMM will be processing 200 media transfers per month by the end of the 2nd quarter. Within the 1st year TMM will contract 2 video biographies and will produce 12 weddings.

Industry Overview

Industry DescriptionThe video production, videotaping, photography, and photo editing services fit into the services industry.

Industry Segment Within the services industry, video production and videotaping services form a growing segment. TMM will be targeting video and photo production for dance recitals, dance competitions, theatrical productions, weddings, and video biographies.  Most of the consumer spending for this segment comes from the recreation category and according to the Canadian “Market Research Handbook 2005” this spending category grew by 4.9% between 2003 and 2004 which is a continuation of a longer trend where spending rose by 39.3% between 1998 and 2004 to total $721.2 million dollars.

Growth and Trends The last 5 years have seen video and computer technology become much more affordable.  Rather than requiring $20,000 for professional cameras or computers, they are now available for less than $5000.  Professional internet forums also give access to resources and accomplished people like never before.  This means that one can learn from the experts from home.

Rapid changes in technology offer not only challenges but also opportunities.  Opportunities come when one is prepared for change. Preparedness comes from keeping in the information loop such as online forums, industry conventions, and industry associations.

The next wave of technology will include Hi-Definition (HD) cameras and the other associated hardware, such as Blu-Ray disks and more software to support HD.  Managing the change to the new technology will be an exciting challenge.  When discussing these industry changes with competitors, forums, and others in the business the general consensus is that conversion to HD for most businesses is still two years away.

Barriers to Entry The low cost of equipment now makes it easier for someone to get into the video production business.  The barrier to getting into this type of business is skill and knowledge. One needs the creative and technical skills to film and edit and these skills take some time to develop.  One also requires great marketing skills otherwise the business will never make it beyond a hobby.