What’s not so great is that “everyone” on earth has webcam, internet, potential direct access to limitless audience, and packaged video editing software.

What goes on TV has gone through layer after layer of checks, approvals, risk assessment, etc., before being given the green light for delivery to an audience.

What goes on internet has no check system, and is a wild west, lawless, and open for anyone to upload and share.

Say there’s roughly 100 “made the cut, greenlit” programs on TV (not counting reality TV). Now just as a rough estimate, maybe people could generally agree that perhaps 25 of them are “good, quality” (if they had time to watch all 100) – 25%, right?

The internet has nothing to combat the open airwaves. Perhaps there are 25 “good, quality” internet series, but that’s out of how many? What counts in that tally? Every single video online? Just YouTube and MySpace? Only “official” web series? What % would you guess are “good” after picking such a number? 1%? .001%?

Since “just anyone” can upload videos, this makes WebTV flooded with probably 90% amateurs, with zero training or study of storytelling, screenwriting, character development, lighting, sound, camera, etc., but who upload anyway, whether as a sincere effort to get discovered, or just as a fun way to share with friends and family (the more likely of the reasons).

A blessing and a curse, is that the old saying? Maybe China is on to something with their internet restrictions…

PS – none of my numbers are based on any research whatsoever.

PPS – I got dibs on all this space shank media stuff in 3008. I can’t wait!

I think you can make a case that YouTube has become synonymous with “amateur TV.”