Length of typical Web video at DVinfo.net

Charles Penn · April 7th, 2007, 06:05 PM

Everywhere I look I hear people saying that you should keep your Web videos to three minutes or less. Is there anyone producing projects that are 30 minutes in length for their Web site?

I'm not buying into the short attention span paradigm. If your project is compelling, people will sit through a 30-minute piece. At least, that's what I'm banking on. Your feedback is valued.

Chuck

Liam Hall · April 8th, 2007, 05:16 PM

Charles,
Stick whatever length video, at whatever quality you see fit. Pretty soon people will be watching more video and live streaming video on their PCs than on their TV.

As I often said to my first wife, "It's not a question of length, it's quality".

Cheers,

Liam.

Nick Royer · April 8th, 2007, 08:59 PM

If the content is good, people will watch it.

Art Willig · April 8th, 2007, 09:42 PM

I still make mine for dialup viewers
30 min? you're limited to high-speed viewers

Emre Safak · April 8th, 2007, 09:43 PM

Realize that people are watching your video on a dinky little monitor with poor sound and other distractions ("You've got mail!")

Art Willig · April 8th, 2007, 09:48 PM

you could also make different versions....say large and small resolutions, SD and HD, teaser and full version, etc...

Steven Davis · April 13th, 2007, 09:08 AM

I've recently been hacking away at my site trying to get the video decent and yet not too long. Compression will have a large bering on it. I have the same video in quicktime and wmv, and teh wmv is a 1/3 the size less.

So I would say compression is probably a more honest question, rather than length.

Dana Salsbury · April 13th, 2007, 10:13 AM

...and then it comes to watching a 30 minute video with lower quality. I'd be wanting the video at that point. You could post the 30 minute clip with an offer to order the DVD.

That is fascinating to think that one day we'll watch more video online than on TV. Could be.

Mark OConnell · April 13th, 2007, 10:42 AM

The two or three minute model is from the days when 56k was as fast as it got, but even then there were sites posting full length movies (of course they were 240x180 10fps cinepak jobs). Things are changing quickly but it still makes some sense to keep the vids on your site shorter. Even though people are watching more video on their computers the experience is not the same as sitting on your couch and watching the TV. I wouldn't watch a half hour movie at my desk for pleasure. But in another year, if things like Apple TV catch on, longer pieces will probably become very common.

April 7th, 2007, 06:05 PM	#1
Charles Penn Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Port St. Lucie, Florida Posts: 103	Length of typical Web video Everywhere I look I hear people saying that you should keep your Web videos to three minutes or less. Is there anyone producing projects that are 30 minutes in length for their Web site? I'm not buying into the short attention span paradigm. If your project is compelling, people will sit through a 30-minute piece. At least, that's what I'm banking on. Your feedback is valued. Chuck

April 8th, 2007, 05:16 PM	#2
Liam Hall Major Player Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: London, England Posts: 969	Charles, Stick whatever length video, at whatever quality you see fit. Pretty soon people will be watching more video and live streaming video on their PCs than on their TV. As I often said to my first wife, "It's not a question of length, it's quality". Cheers, Liam. __________________ Writer-Director-DOP www.liamhall.net

April 8th, 2007, 08:59 PM	#3
Nick Royer Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Omaha, Nebraska Posts: 133	If the content is good, people will watch it. __________________ Sincerely, Nick Royer

April 8th, 2007, 09:42 PM	#4
Art Willig Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Colorado Posts: 104	I still make mine for dialup viewers 30 min? you're limited to high-speed viewers __________________ "Shoot first and ask questions later"

April 8th, 2007, 09:48 PM	#6
Art Willig Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Colorado Posts: 104	you could also make different versions....say large and small resolutions, SD and HD, teaser and full version, etc... __________________ "Shoot first and ask questions later"

April 8th, 2007, 09:43 PM	#5
Emre Safak Trustee Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Brookline, MA Posts: 1,447	Realize that people are watching your video on a dinky little monitor with poor sound and other distractions ("You've got mail!")

April 13th, 2007, 09:08 AM	#7
Steven Davis Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 3,065	I've recently been hacking away at my site trying to get the video decent and yet not too long. Compression will have a large bering on it. I have the same video in quicktime and wmv, and teh wmv is a 1/3 the size less. So I would say compression is probably a more honest question, rather than length. __________________ What happens if I push the 'Red' button?

April 13th, 2007, 10:13 AM	#8
Dana Salsbury Major Player Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 859	...and then it comes to watching a 30 minute video with lower quality. I'd be wanting the video at that point. You could post the 30 minute clip with an offer to order the DVD. That is fascinating to think that one day we'll watch more video online than on TV. Could be. __________________ www.LegacyHDV.com Weddings \| Corporate \| HMC150s \| FCPX \| Encore \| Lion

April 13th, 2007, 10:42 AM	#9
Mark OConnell Major Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Seattle WA Posts: 420	The two or three minute model is from the days when 56k was as fast as it got, but even then there were sites posting full length movies (of course they were 240x180 10fps cinepak jobs). Things are changing quickly but it still makes some sense to keep the vids on your site shorter. Even though people are watching more video on their computers the experience is not the same as sitting on your couch and watching the TV. I wouldn't watch a half hour movie at my desk for pleasure. But in another year, if things like Apple TV catch on, longer pieces will probably become very common.