• by Ross Fadner , May 2, 2012

Happy hump day, everyone!

We start off today’s VideoDaily Roundup with a report that CBS is reconsidering a content deal with Hulu, in addition to eyeing other Web video destinations as possible distributors of its content. Next we’ll look at a crowdfunding company that has joined forces with a popular video-sharing site to create a social video funding destination. After that, NBC moves its Olympics site behind a TV Everywhere-type authentication wall. Don Cheadle brings his talent to online video, and finally: The Top 20 Most-Shared Video Spots in April.

CBS Eyes Hulu, Other Web Video Distributors

The Hollywood Reporter reports that CBS Corp. President and CEO Leslie Moonves says the media giant will consider a content deal with Hulu if the reports are true that the joint video venture is exploring a TV Everywhere-type authentication model. "We will take a look at [Hulu] under the authentication model," Moonves said during CBS Corp’s Q1 earnings call. "Right now we are very pleased with our digital strategy without Hulu." He added that CBS has been in talks with virtually “everyone” that has or is launching a digital video distribution service, including Intel Corp and Comcast Corp. CBS currently has content deals with Netflix and Amazon.

Dailymotion and Flattr Align for Crowdfunding Video Experiment

Here’s a first: video-sharing site Dailymotion is joining forces with crowdfunding company Flattr to create a social video network that is completely funded by its audience. ReelSEO's Christophor Rick believes the partnership “could revolutionize the TV and Web series” worlds by incentivizing audiences to participate in the success of pilots they like. All they have to do is watch the content, and if they like it, donate directly to its creators and producers.

Flattr powers the donation piece -- just as they do for music, videos, software, games, podcasts, photos, blogs and news, charities, and other areas worthy of funding. Flattr keeps ten percent of the money that each project receives. It also (strangely) imposes a monthly preset spending limit of 100 euros. According to Rick, the main shortfall of the service is that there is no return value, meaning that you are not investing directly in the project --you’re just giving it money because you like it.

NBC Olympics Site Moves to Authentication Model

NPR reports that this year, for the first time ever, NBC will stream live video of all 302 events at the 2012 London Olympic Games both online and via mobile devices -- something consumers and media critics alike have long been calling for. Fans will have the option of watching highlights or following one discipline’s events on the NBC Olympics site.

However, according to a guide posted last week on NBC’s video site, you must be a cable or satellite subscriber to get full access. Your TV provider will supply you with a user ID and password. But NBC is still banking on making most of its money during prime-time viewing hours, for which the network plans to save most of its interviews and features.

"Funny or Die" Bows New Series Featuring Don Cheadle

At its Digital Content NewFront on Monday, popular online comedy destination "Funny or Die" showcased a host of new branded entertainment initiatives, including a new original Web series starring actor/producer Don Cheadle. Called “Don Cheadle is…” the three-part series features Cheadle reenacting a character from pop culture’s past. According to Tubefilter, this could be any character -- human or otherwise -- from Captain Planet (see the trailer) to Scrooge McDuck or Alf.

There’s no word yet on when “Don Cheadle is…” will debut or which brands will be on board, but Tubefilter says the “Don Cheadle is Captain Planet” trailer has already racked up 3.7 million views on "Funny or Die" alone.

The Top 20 Most-Shared Video Spots in April

ReelSEO profiles the Top 20 most-shared video ads in April, as reported by Unruly Media’s Global Ads Chart. The top spot goes to TNT’s excellent “Dramatic Surprise,” an experiential ad created by Antwerp-based agency Duval Guillaume Modem, which was shared a whopping 3.14 million times last month. Incidentally, only VW’s 2011 Super Bowl commercial “The Force” has been shared more (5.06 million). “Dramatic Surprise” should easily eclipse that total over the next few months.

Second place went to P&G’s “Best Job” spot, a moving tribute to Olympians and their Moms, which racked up 1.3 million views in April (Note: it was only released on April 11). The 2-minute video spot was directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, best known for the Oscar-winning film "Babel."

Google nabbed 5 of the Top 20 most-shared video spots, with “One Day” -- which shows a day in the life of a Google Glass user, who sets reminders, searches for directions and video chats through the headset -- racking up 542,846 shares in April, making it the third-most-shared video spot last month. For the full list, including links to the videos themselves, see the ReelSEO story.