We have long discussed the idea that every account on Hive is a business. This stems from the fact that one can monetize any activity. Therefore, we move from the realm of social media engagement to business opportunity.
Naturally, not all take advantage of this yet the prospect is there.
As we advance further along with technology, it is time to take this concept one step further. In this article we will discuss that simply having a Hive account can make one a media company.
Image generated by Ideogram
We have covered the idea of the media world being fragmented. For that reason, will not go deep into here.
The reason for media fragmentation starts with the Internet. In the past, the distribution channel was monopolized by traditional media entities. The movie studios and television networks had full control.
This changed with the Internet. We saw the first wave affecting the world of text with the introduction of platforms such as Wordpress. Blogging became a new form of media. Over time, things improved where, in some instances, the quality of the content rivaled (if not surpassed) traditional journalism.
It was a situation that saw a major shift with the explosion of YouTube.
Video followed a similar path. The distribution of this media became as simple as uploading a file on a website. Suddenly, everyone with a webcam was potentially in the game.
As the years passed, smartphones came into being, allowing for instant filming. Communication networks improved to increase upload speed. The capabilities on laptops and PCs grew, offering a better option for people.
This was the first wave of disruption.
The next wave is AI tools.
While the last few decades saw the disruption of the distribution of video, the quality was still mostly resident with the major players.
The average person lacked the skills or the capabilities to produce feature film quality work. This was still generated by highly trained people using expensive equipment.
For example, scriptwriting is something that is still done by professionals. Therefore, the idea of producing a movie is stalled if a script cannot even be written. Here is where things end up bogged down from the start.
Filming on scene in Toronto is not possible unless one lives there. Companies spend a fortune filming on location. This is coupled with the building of elaborate sets.
Even a newscast has many components. Some of these were duplicated by the YouTube channels, albeit without the quality.
This is all changing with the introduction of AI tools. As we see with something like Sora, from OpenAI, the ability to generate shorts simply from prompting is not far away. We still have a large gap between a 90 second video and a feature length film.
It is something, however, that will likely close over the next couple years.
So how is a Hive account potentially a media company?
If we concentrate on the idea of fragmented attention, we can see how the network starts to become a vital concept going forward. What is going to pull people together. Right now, we see how platforms fulfill this. In the future, when Web 3.0 starts to flex its muscles, we might see people assembling around the network.
This means that we have a built in audience.
With different applications, we see the ability to distribute the content outside of the traditional media realm. Videos can be uploaded to 3Speak. Actually, they can be posted on YouTube and shared on the different applications. This could help to enhance the "media brand".
There are a variety of applications being developed that address some of the media needs.
Of course, we also have AI. Here is where the entire media industry is facing disruption. Web 3.0 stands to benefit due to the potential on the network-state.
Individuals have the ability to learn how to use tools to improve the quality of their output. Between video, images, and other graphics, anything can be enhanced. We are looking at interactive technology which, eventually, will be akin to a personal assistant. This can help in the coding of things such as websites, games, or anything else that one wants to add to his or her business.
"Shows" can form around this concept. We already see how recording something using Zoom with a preset background adds a more professional look. Something as simple as that removes the scuffed wall or the messy room behind the one on camera. Of course, many took the opportunity to have a "news set" behind them.
Software can help with editing. For example, it will be easier to take a full length video and cut it up in smaller pieces. Shorts are extremely popular due to platforms such as TikTok.
AI generated music can be added at the beginning of each video. If this is handled autonomous by the software, we simply increase the product with little effort. Of course, a song can help with the branding.
We can only surmise how things will unfold in the future.
That said, it is likely that we will see mixed reality becoming popular at some point. Here is where positioning can really help one in the future endeavors.
Let us use travel as an example. We will presume that my company is one that focuses upon travel productions. I put together content discussing different areas including the history and important landmarks of the area. Over the next couple years, this is the focus.
After that, the technology for immersive experiences becomes possible. My focus then shifts from two dimensional video to 3-D, virtual reality products where one can actually feel like he or she is in the country (town). No longer is one passively viewing.
Perhaps this can be compounded by altering the time period. For example, we could have Rome as one of the areas. However, there is the choice of visiting Rome in 2024, or 1884. With the help of AI, in addition to the VR, maybe the experience can be created for another era based upon the historical documentation that exists.
We have all seen pictures of cities in the early days of automobiles. How would it be to "visit" them?
Naturally, I cannot say how technology will evolve and what is possible. This is simply an idea to provide some contrast to what potential there is.
Something like this could lead to a host of businesses built on top of it. People could even combine their efforts to create an even bigger "media company".
One example is to team up with a "news" entity. Perhaps someone is doing a daily news show for Rome. This would be a natural pairing, assisting both businesses.
Distribution. Creation. Storage.
The tools are starting to appear to provide anyone with the resources to produce what they want. Web 3.0 is going to see a lot of this. As these "companies" appear, the entire network benefits.
It is what separates this from something like YouTube where the Google shareholders are the primary financial beneficiaries.
