While not an industry changing event, the ability to scroll through the very popular IMDB (Internet Movie Database) and watch the films you are looking at is a good first step in building out the usefulness of the IMDB system.

While there is Hulu, CBS, and other systems where you can watch your favorite shows free on line, this is not a game changer, but it is an important addition to the IMDB system, and that is what makes it cool. The idea of streaming media is not new, but being able to tie the stream to the video will help people learn, discover and grow into some of the older, or more obscure things that they remember on TV a long time ago. Now if we could just find a bunch of John Saxon’s early work the day would be complete.

IMDB video would be used more as a promotional tool. It even says so in the release: The rotating video content is provided by CBS, Hulu, Sony Pictures Television and about 500 indie filmmakers. The content includes shows like “24”, “The Office” (both from Hulu), “Beverly Hills 90210”, “Star Trek”, and movies such as “Fever Pitch”, “Bring it On” and others. Source: Paid Content

Using IMDB as a promotional tool is not bad either, as whole new generations of people discover some of the more awesome movies and television to come out of the industry. While most of what is on TV or even in the theaters is junk, there are always the exceptions, and having the movie, the information, and the actor’s means that there will be more time spent on the site, and is an excellent way to grow out interest, eyeballs, and time spent on site. With the advertising on the site, this might be the way to monetize videos in a way that cannot be done on YouTube.

Hulu has proved promising and popular, much to everyone’s surprise, and based on how the industry is changing, the IMDB showing videos might also be the surprising contender of the day.

Tags: hulu, imdb, amazon, videos on demand, vod, advertising, model, cool