Are Niche Markets the Future of Successful Video Content?

With the decade coming to an end, what does the future of filmmaking have in store?

It has never been easier to produce a film; digital cameras and edit suites are cheaper than ever. Limitations have fallen one by one, allowing basically anyone the ability to produce a feature film with a little bit of determination. Within the last 10 years we have seen the rise of Youtube.com, which has caused a growth in online distribution as well as a change in culture. According to a study by ChangeWave Research, audiences are shifting away from traditional TV in favor of online entertainment, and now spend more free time viewing content online than they do watching TV. The change in where we view content is comparable to the switch from gathering around the radio, to gathering around the television; except now virtually anyone can produce the content without much of a budget.

That being said, not all films are going to be shown to the masses or go viral. However, it is still possible to put your film online and offer them as downloads in niche markets. This in turn has brought growth to niche markets such as extreme sports and online education. I expect other markets to soon follow in the coming decade as advertisers strive to reach very specific audiences. In the future, instead of random searches for online video, niche market websites will make it easy to find the kinds of entertainment you want to watch.