CNET Networks, the parent company for CNET.com, MP3.com, TV.com, GameSpot and several other web destinations, has released a set of widgets for embedding their videos on non-CNET websites.
The widgets are well-designed and currently available for BNET, CHOW, CNET.com, GameSpot, and TV.com. Whichever the source, they show some branding, a video clip, a selection of other video clips, and an advertisement. We’ve embedded one from GameSpot below (although they say it can take up to 15 minutes for the widget to start working).
In CNET’s words, these are meant to “offer publishers the opportunity to integrate quality editorial and programming from five CNET Networks brands into their site environments.” Will CNET share revenue from the advertising with participating sites, or pay them for spreading their brand? That doesn’t look like the case, especially since CNET insists that the widgets are meant to “enhance their users’ site experience, increase user engagement, and expand their ability to offer quality video.”
We’ve submitted an inquiry to CNET for more details, but I don’t think they’ve provided enough incentive for publishers to spread these. Perhaps they expect that only publishers with which they have formed customized partnerships will use them.
absolutely no one as long as they display the following message
For consumers (not for publishers), to get a widget should be no registration and take a minute to embed it.
That’s insane. Why don’t they just offer an embedded player like other sites? Whoever came up with this idea is completely deluded.
Well, I suppose they got one onto TC at least. Maybe that was their aim.
I waited 3 minutes, and still no content appeared. That’s 2 and a half minutes longer than what most people who wait for content.
This is actually very interesting in reverse.
Seems they need to plan a good marketing strategy, to attract users.
Works perfect from here, plays directly. I guess it was just the 15′ setup time Mark warned you about that caused the problem. I think it looks neat, and I don’t find it strange that they try to capitalize some revenues on their well-produced content.
If they were to share their revenue, i’d ‘consider trying out’ their widget.
Other than that, if there isn’t any incentives, who would in the right mind place a widget on their site?
Ad spaces on your site = $$
Oh, good. Can I embed a video of them giving the sack to respected Gamespot reviewers because they gave less than 8 of 10 to games whose publishers paid them lots of advertising money?
Looks like a legal (and my opinion: a fair) way to get content for free that fits blog posts etc.
“Please be patient – your post from FSB will take a few minutes to appear.”
First, why would it take so freakin long to set up? Who is going to put ads on their site and not get a piece of the action? That Madden Video is really old, so unless you forced that in there, those aren’t even the newest videos. The thing is HUGE! There is nothing good about this. Go to You Tube or Game Trailers and just grab the embed code if you want content…Hell YouTube will even give you the option to make money with theirs! These guys are so out of touch now.
I agree with stupid police. Seriously WTF is up with that HuuuuuuUUUuuuuge widget. Why would I want that thing on my site???
Was this the big widget/outreach plan for CNET? Weak. Weak. Weak. So out of touch.
A weak effort to get free advertising from bloggers. Boo Cnet I say Booo!
C-NET’s logo looks like somebody created it in 12 minutes.
I agree. The widget is too big. I got a widget made at http://vortexme.com and see the video is played in a smaller box and the widgets are smaller. Size matters.
I just used this widget to view a RON PAUL video on a blog somewhere… g4 did some interview with him. It was actually quite good…
Check it out:
http://www.g4tv...video_key=19026