Google Tube

Demonstrating that it is sitting on mountains of money, Google has purchased YouTube for $1.65 billion. That's with a "b". Insane. Sure, YouTube is fun and all, but I can't believe that it would be worth $1.65 billion. Other than the developed platform, what are its assets? How much better can user-generated content get? Remember, just last week Mark Cuban said that anyone who buys YouTube is crazy.

Perhaps facilitating the deal, YouTube signed deals with CBS, Sony BM, and Universal Music yesterday, which helps alleviate some copyright concerns. Instead of seeing kids skateboarding down fire poles or Aunt Sarah's 50th birthday party, we'll now get "promotional" videos and shows from these content providers. Hopefully being forced to watch ads won't be next.