KEY POINTS:
It might be considered the realm for amateur video clips made by bored teenagers but New Zealand on Air is considering moves to fund productions made for the internet.
The funding agency requires producers to have a commitment from a free-to-air broadcaster before it grants a project a slice of its $100 million-plus a year in broadcast funding.
Deputy chief executive Bernard Duncan said talks about a possible change to the Broadcasting Act were under way with the Government.
It followed last month's news that the owners of YouTube were considering paying contributors for content. YouTube, created in February 2005, is a hugely popular website which allows people to upload, view, and share video clips.
Independent producers were sceptical of the NZ on Air proposal, saying the internet had removed the traditional scheduling and promotion that ensured Kiwis watched shows, instead lining them up for direct competition with content from the rest of the world.
Mr Duncan said user-generated content - such as clips posted on YouTube - and online broadcasting changed the media landscape and the funding agency had to keep pace.
"We probably will be needing to reflect New Zealand via those outlets as well as traditional TV."
He said NZ on Air would initially continue to look to proven production houses, although he did not rule out funding teenage enthusiasts.
"If the landscape changes, we might have to think about that sort of thing," said Mr Duncan. "But at the moment we require a strong track record."
Any change would be some time away as it would need to be passed by Parliament.
Last year, the market for user-generated videos online boomed.
It now makes up 47 per cent of the total online video market in the United States, according to a report from industry analysts Screen Digest, and is expected to grow to 55 per cent - or 44 billion streams - by 2010.
New Zealand's best-known YouTube contributor is "Lonelygirl15", Tauranga-educated actress Jessica Lee Rose, whose fame put her on the cover of Time magazine.
With more than 7.7 million views of her channel, Lonelygirl retained the website's most subscribed tag even after the video log of her "life" was outed as a made-for-the-internet creation.
The website features Kiwi musicians, film trailers and historic television footage - and dozens of videos of the haka and bungy jumpers plunging from bridges.
More unusual New Zealand contributions include the footage of "Carlos Spencer" (a disabled capuchin monkey) taking a spa bath with his caregiver and Wanganui members of the NZ Free Hugs Group plying their wares. Elsewhere, a snowboader shares the shame of wiping out and breaking his wrist at Treble Cone, while fishers off Greymouth display their 248kg bluefin tuna.
Michael Carney, a media strategist at advertising agency G2, said the quality of videos might not automatically rise with the offer of payment but it was a wise move.
He said competitor Revver was getting traction from introducing compensation and the online community would react negatively if YouTube added advertising without giving something back.
"If you're a would-be video creator, you've got to say 'well what's in it for me?' YouTube is sort of turning it into a few billion dollars worth of something but what do I get out of it?"
The key was getting a payment model to encourage users to make money while getting their "15 megabytes of fame".
Kiwi Who's Who On Youtube
* Hugs In Wanganui - Peace, love and happiness in the air in Wanganui as members of the NZ Free Hugs Group ply their wares. It's part of an international free huggers movement on YouTube, set to music by the Sick Puppies. Wanganui's "velvetinefox" writes: "It was an amazing experience which we have now done twice and are hoping to continue."
* Furry Carlos - "Carlos Spencer" (a disabled capuchin monkey) takes a spa bath with his caregiver. Not to be confused with the rugby player of the same name, this Carlos is under the care of "BruceMountain" and stars in a series of videos.
* 'Julia' And Her Abs - "Julia" showing off her abs of steel by taking three direct hits without spilling her drink during a night out in Wellington. The video has been viewed more than 10,000 times and is spawning its own fan club.
* Rapping At The Drive-Thru - Rapping an order at the drive-through, apparently to earn a discount. "Vision", from Christchurch YouTubers, shows one guy beat-boxing into the squawk box while the other rhymes: "I need a double baconburger, hold the lettuce. Don't be krumping son, no seeds on the bun. We be up in this drive-through, order for two."
* Kiwis joining the YouTube craze of mixing Diet Coke and Mentos to create bubbling fountains. One such experiment by "stevetaite" has been viewed about 675,000 times - but gets only a 2-star rating (out of a possible five).
