bliptv:

Yesterday we also launched a new feature: in-player recommendations.  The recommendations are powered by Strands.

Shows that use blip.tv reach more than twenty million people per month.  Blip.tv is now the 80^th largest site on the Internet according to Quantcast.  This is all because of you, the show creator.

But, while we reach a huge number of people, we have a problem.  The average viewer of blip.tv shows watches about two videos per viewing session (the actual number is 1.84).  Most viewers only have one or two favorite shows that they watch.  They don’t know about the 38,000 other shows on blip.  They don’t know about your show.

This is a tragedy.  It’s a lost opportunity.  There are people right now watching a great show on blip that would love your show if it were put in front of them.

The solution is recommendations.  Beginning yesterday afternoon, all blip viewers who watch an entire episode are presented with the option of discovering other shows on blip.  And the shows put in front of them change because the Strands system powering recommendations learns.  If people who watch a video gaming show like other video gaming shows, they will be recommended to them.  If they like comedies, comedies will be recommended.

With recommendations we will lift the tide.  Those twenty million people will watch more shows.  And your show will grow as a result.

And, before you ask, we’re going to be spending the next couple weeks tweaking our recommendations implementation.  We’ll be making it prettier and more effective.  And we will be careful to make sure that the shows and episodes that are recommended reflect well on your brand.  Look for a redesigned recommendations implementation coming soon.

And, in keeping with blip.tv tradition, you can turn off recommendations on your show if you like.  Just visit your Show Players Control Panel in your Dashboard.  Customize a Show Player and click the Advanced tab.  Then enter “showstrands” in one of the empty boxes on the left, and “false” in the corresponding box to the right.  Save your player.  You can e-mail support@blip.tv if you need help with this.

Congrats to both Blip.tv and Strands on this, it’s really an awesome experience!