• by Mark Walsh  @markfwal, June 16, 2009

With the demise of online video studios like 60Frames and Stage and end of an brief era of original video stars (remember LonelyGirl and Rocketboom), it begs the question of what the future holds for original Web video producers. Fred Siebert of Next New Networks, one such company on the original content panel, says the question is not whether, but hwich will survive the inherent difficulties of being pioneers in a new medium.

He likens the early online video experience to his early days at MTV, when the nascent network prided itself on being the "low cost" provider" on the TV landscape. "We paid intern wages until people stopped making fun of us." He admits they did put Flock of Seagulls videos in heavy rotation at the time...