IDC analyst Josh Martin is predicting that hard times are ahead for YouTube.

Martin issued a report on YouTube Thursday that says that YouTube will struggle to translate its video-sharing business into profits, because its audience is used to paying nothing for the service and getting it ad-free since the site’s launch.

“YouTube must implement myriad changes,” according to Martin. “The truly difficult task for YouTube is to change the entire culture of the viewers that propelled it to overnight success.” (more…)

MTV Networks and Apple today announced that they are renewing their vows, adding new television programming from Spike TV, Nick at Nite, TV Land, Logo, MTV and The N to the iTunes Music Store.

The new round of programming available for purchase and download includes Spike TV’s action series ”Blade: The Series,” MTV’s prank-comedy show “Viva La Bam” and TV Land’s “Sit Down Comedy with David Steinberg.”

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It appears that the editors at Valleywag think that the Washington Post is being too easy on video bloggers.

The Post recently summarized video blogging as the amateur hour on video.

According to Valleywag, “Vlogging’s a worthy medium, but a crippled one, as the vlogging in-crowd fiercely protects the weaknesses of the medium as it starts becoming profitable.”

Their article goes on to describe vloggers as self-obsessed, self-righteous, awkward sell-outs. And that’s the nice part…..
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Vloggercon has published the Video Archive of events at the recent video blogging conference. There are even video podcast feeds available….

Akimbo Systems, described as the first “Internet video-on-demand service for television”, today announced that it has closed a deal for $15.5 million additional investment. New investors include Cisco Systems, AT&T, and venture capital firm, Blueprint Ventures.

Akimbo offers users a collection of more than 10,000 videos and movies provided by a network of approximately 200 mainstream and specialty content partners. Akimbo’s video collection spans 100 categories, including genres like independent film, foreign language, anime, sports, children’s entertainment, travelogues, lifestyle shows, music programming and video blogs.

Akimbo is currently accessible through the Online Spotlight area of Microsoft Media Center Edition 2005 PCs and through the company’s own Akimbo Player set-top box. (more…)