My Vimeo Stats report:

I have 54 uploaded videos on Vimeo: lenses tests, tutorials, 3D, anamorphic project and so on... Some of them became popular: Neatvideo tutorial, Super8 telecine tutorial, Apefoscope project.

October 13 2012 I went Vimeo Plus to get more HD uploads for the anamorphic project.

It was 5 months since then, and I got (in all my videos) 25400 plays, 357000 loads, 278000 loads from embeds, 154 likes, 139 comments.

I believe I have some videos with useful information and teaching, also the anamorphic project, but In this period (5 months) I enabled TIP JAR in all my videos and I got no Tip Jar, just nothing!

I'm not sure my situation will apply to most other P-V users who i assume are mostly Indie Film Makers as my Business is Ocean Sports Events and Ocean Sports Promotion, but this is how it works for me. The video i produce promotes a Sports Event and a locality (usually a beach resort, Island or Sports Tourist location somewhere in the world), it also promotes the Events Sponsors who ultimately fund the video. The Vimeo Stats are very valuable to me as they provide proof of exposure thus justifying the funding.

The value of my Business is not that I'm the one that shoots the event ( although i do have a reputation for capturing some of the best visuals of this type and I'm well known from my competitive days) but the value is that i have built up a very large targeted distribution network that embeds my videos on their webpages which are available 24/7, unlike content on local TV, broadcast or cable which are generally localized and programed at particular times. Here is an example below:>

I release a new video on Vimeo, the Network of Associates are informed, the video appears usually accompanied by a written Event report, followers (viewers) of those websites are usually subscribed and play the video, they also may share it themselves on FB etc, so word gets around. There is huge interest in the video within the first week, by week 2 it starts to fade, but the content is still available 24/7 thereafter.

So in this case, the end user, say a viewer in USA, gets to watch the Event video (say in Tahiti) free. Think very similar to Surfing Contests but on a much, much small smaller scale. Would they pay to view it? According to the survey i conducted, No, but this could change once internet Video On Demand becomes common for Sports Events (if that ever happens)

Would VOD help me produce a better product? Hell yeah if there was more money available, i could afford extra cameraman, commentators and possibly LIVE coverage. I have a MultCam LIVE intercepted ( preview, mix, commentary with 30sec delay) system ready to go Hardware/Software wise, but little funding to pay people to man it.

With Vimeo releasing this VOD service, it gives me hope that there might be an addition source of funding this time by end user pays, however, if it goes the same way the Fight Game has (Pro Boxing Pay per View Events are pirated and rebroadcast on JustinTv, Ustream etc and suckers are charged to watch a Pirated Event. This sort of thing doesn't help but will probably be stamped out in future by better technology. (BTW, before someone jumps on me, yes i have been known to use unauthorized mainstream music in my videos, but lately have been paying)

I'm watching this VOD thing very closely, not ready to jump in just yet.

R

@WhiteRabbit Yeah, I looked at those other services too and kinda got the feeling they were a bit..."klutzy"-meaning the player/customer interface and experience seemed problematic or the fact that they didnt have a known name might make some customers less likely to buy from them. So that's why the Vimeo offering is nice: Vimeo is trusted name for consumer, revenue split 90%, virtually no upfront cost other than $200 pro membership, and they're cracking the nut of getting creators content onto customers TVs in addition to computers and other devices. (I would guess iTunes is also a great choice for indie filmmaker looking for distribution, but unable to secure a standard theatrical and/or broadcast/cable and/or DVD distribution deal).

I'm new to all this too, but that's the impression I get. Maybe some of the more experienced folks on this site might have opinions based on their distribution/sales experience?

EDIT: Actually I only briefly looked at Distribber but my comments were really on companies like Distrify and Dynamo. I guess Distribber tries to take your content to different distribution partners (iTunes, Cable companies, Amazon) so I guess their real value to indie filmmakers is the $1500 to get on iTunes and the "hope" that they'll somehow get that indie filmmaker's movie on cable TV. I guess time will tell how well they do that last part.

@matt_gh2, the tick a box option would be great. I am concerned that such a simple option will potentially land Vimeo into endless lawsuits, if content creators are challenged with issues such as copyright infringement, and Vimeo being the stream provider may likely become a third party defendant. You are correct, in a few weeks there will be more information released by either Vimeo or by participants seeking to have their material uploaded as part of the 'Vimeo on demand' offering, likely detailing information and their experience on blogs, etc. Matt, thank you for your reply.

@Rambo Hey man, I am sure we are all interested, how about opening a post that goes something like; "Let's analyse our Vimeo stats experiences?" Since we all have some, I am sure this will be of great use for the community.

BTW thanks guys, I am also pretty glad that Vimeo has gone the VOD way. I am sure this will be helping us a lot in thinking about how to deliver great content, which I think all of this film-democracy revolution is about.

I have Vimeo on my Apple TV, and use couch mode.

@Vitaliy_Kiselev Hmmmm, I hadn't considered that but you're right. I've just been interested in reducing the number of components, cables and boxes...I've always been annoyed by cables, lately they're extra maddening. But this sort of solution has lots of benefits beyond VIMEO. I'll definitely have to keep that in mind because you've linked some pretty dynamite deals over in the Android handheld thread.

@matt_gh2 I've got a first-gen AppleTV so it's got no VIMEO. I'd been running a hacked OS on it but the little proc on the OG version just doesn't have enough lead in its pencil to play modern streams very well. No VIMEO love on my Sony BD player either.

My brother's giant ass Aquos doesn't have VIMEO, or his Sony BD player, or my folks' Sony BD players (I'm sensing a Sony pattern here, lol).

I'm still using a CRT HDTV in the bedroom and will be keeping that until it dies, because CRT. Had been trying to decide between a flat panel or projector for the living room but figure I'll go with a flat panel. VIMEO app will be a deciding feature.

@BurnetRhoades, @matt_gh2

I'll admit, I'm excited to see stuff like this happening. I'd be a lot more excited if I had, or knew anyone that had, a VIMEO capable smart-TV or BD player.

Not just possible, its a fact, its actually being done as i stated above.They are very popular in USA which is where most of my "Couch Mode" (as Vimeo call it) views come from the past few years.

I'll admit, I'm excited to see stuff like this happening. I'd be a lot more excited if I had, or knew anyone that had, a VIMEO capable smart-TV or BD player.

This alone won't create an "indie revolution" (whatever that means) but low cost, high quality, highly accessible, highly trusted PPV services could be an important piece of the puzzle for making independent producers viable on the net. It's important for that segment that is creating high quality content but bypassing traditional distribution due to the difficulty in making or collecting from these companies.

@Rambo

Get good advice - make flash USB drive with all your clips in FullHD and portable video player. It is easy and cheap to ship, fast to make and you'll get money.

It's sad but true. New era of consolidation is upon all of us.

One friend was complaining why his dentist doesn't take anything other than Delta insurance. Well the dentist can't do anything about it because he's a salaryman from big corporation. Yeah he got his own office space and his unique business practice name, but it's a part of big corporation with hundreds or thousands of doctors.

Film making would be no different, I presume.