Fierce 15 Online Video Movers and Shakers: Metacafe

Metacafe
Founded:  2003
Investors include Accel Partners, Benchmark Capital, Highland Capital Partners, DAG Ventures
Location: Palo Alto, Calif.
www.metacafe.com 

Billing itself as a "video entertainment" site, Metacafe is currently pulling more than 37 million unique visitors each month (August 2008).  Short-form is the course of the day, with the average video running at a mere 90 seconds.

Unlike YouTube and other sites, Metacafe has its inverted version of "Survivor" going on to rank and promote videos.  Videos are reviewed by a community panel numbering over 80,000 with the most popular videos bubbling to the top and winning cash; Metacafe rewards clips with an ad revenue split, so the more a clip is viewed, the bigger the check. 

However, the initial environment of free-spirited free-for-all of do-it-yourself video clips from no-name talent may be displaced by a glut of Hollywood content trying to cash in on the Internet, with 60 Frames, SXM and YoungHollywood.com cutting deals with Metacafe.  

Next: Mevio

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