YouTube’s decision to make changes to its website to increase profits have given similar companies such as Metacafe inspiration to do the same. Despite the outcry from users about the reformatting of the YouTube website, Google went ahead and added professional content in an attempt to finally turn a profit from the massive video sharing website.

Until now Metacafe has shown almost entirely user-generated content (UGC). The move to more professionally produced content comes on the heels of the YouTube decision. Metacafe has signed deals with Universal Studios and Fox Home Entertainment. The deals will put content such as trailers, music videos, and sports highlights on the website.

Metacafe was launched in the summer of 2003 with the slogan, “video entertainment, powered by you”. In the case of Metacafe, as with other video sharing sites, the need to generate income overrides the desire for
a pure UGC video website. However, by signing these deals and making these changes now, websites that carry UGC stand a better chance of becoming financially sustainable and therefore be around for years to come.