Google, MTV: Let a Thousand Videos Bloom

During the past year online video has surged in popularity – with YouTube becoming the dominant player. This is certainly disappointing to the Internet giant, Google. After all, with its world-class technology and huge footprint, shouldn't video be #1 for Google?

Then again it could be a moot point. After all, despite the enormous popularity of YouTube, it still is not making any money.

Well, it looks like Google has a plan to make money from video and it involves leveraging its massive AdSense program. Basically, AdSense allows a website to sell ads. This is done by using Google's sophisticated technology to broker ad placements. And it's been hugely successful.

So why not use AdSense for online video? That's exactly what Google plans to do. And the pilot will include content from MTV Networks, which has been fairly active lately with social networking and online video (as I recently wrote about in Bloggingstocks.com).

Here's the plan: MTV sends over content – such as clips of Laguna Beach – to Google. Google then allows certain websites in its AdSense network to play this content (initially, these will be websites with traffic of at least 100,000 unique visitors per month). The videos will have embedded ads.

As a result, the website owners will get ad revenues. MTV will get ad revenues, as well as brand exposure. And, of course, Google will get its cut. There are no issues with copyright violations. In fact, MTV has the ability to direct the videos to the sites it make sense for its brand.

Yes, it's a win-win-win.

What's more, this is something that could supercharge the online video category -- which is already running at break-neck speed. As for Google, it could mean more money to add to its growing bank account.