I’ve always said that targeting the education market is one of the best…almost surefire ways…to profit from web video.
Now a new wrinkle has been added to this by a site called YOUniversityTV. What do they do? Well, they sent casts and camera crews to over 400 major four-year universities in the United States. Then they made videos that showcase the universities.
The idea is to give college-bound students an all-access pass to these universities…online…without them having to travel to each university (saving parents considerable time and money).
“YOUniversityTV.com is about promoting higher education, about offering students the resources they need to make an informed decision about where to go to school,” said Ron Reis, co-founder and CEO. “We hope to become the premier online destination for prospective college students, motivating them to enroll in a school that fits their needs, wants and interests.”
But what sets YOUniversityTV apart, is that the universities gave them their “blessing”…they were given complete campus access. What’s more, YOUniversityTV receives no compensation from the schools, so their reviews are unbiased. And college-bound students can use the site for free.
The site also features user-generated videos…both from students attending the universities and from the school’s themselves. And user’s of the site can also create profiles (ala Facebook).
It’s an interesting web site and one you should check out. It’s also an excellent model on the use of web video and new media. One that with a little creative thinking, could be duplicated in numerous other niche markets.
You can visit YOUniversityTV by clicking here.
This is an amazing site and a huge investment!!
But what’s the business model if there is no charge to the universities or prospective students??
John