YouTube Fan Channels: One Man’s Piracy Is Another Fan’s PR
August 19, 2010 by admin
Filed under Entertainment, TV, Web, What's Featured
As I have been promoting in my blog, the telenovela, Las Aparicio, premiered Tuesday in its entirety on Telemundo.com. Well, not in its entirety, but that is another blog. I arrived home Tuesday evening with anticipated intent to watch the complete storylines of the Aparicio women of which I had become so fond. Instead, I turned on my computer to a litany of lambasting emails and tweets. Irate readers were venting their frustrations that the fan-site YouTube channels, that got us interested in the drama in the first place, were slowly being removed for copyright infringement. To say that I was shocked would be to put it mildly, and I hardly ever put things mildly. I find it difficult to understand a decision to block access, at episode 86 of 120, to a committed fan-base that was so instrumental in getting the series noticed outside of the Spanish-speaking world.
I began blogging on the excellent content, acting, and writing that is Las Aparicio’s same -sex Mariana/Julia story when I was alerted to the series by an international ‘Schmootz reader. My Venezuelan web pal directed me to a couple of YouTube channels with fan produced English subtitles. It is not often that quality, dramatic, LGBT content is present in our society, and believe me, if you make it, we will find it…but not without a little help sometimes. Hence, the fans and the web. For low budget productions and their limited or uninformed PR staff, the devoted and dedicated fan is the mother-load of free publicity. Hours upon hours of work go into making these clips, with little want in return other than an occasional shout out and a sporadic thank you. The commitment of Las Aparicio fans in promoting this series is truly commendable. Once you get a loud mouth blogger like me to notice, your reach is exponentially broadened as I was contacted by new Las Aparicio fans in the US, Australia, Philippines, Europe, China, the Arabian Peninsula, and the list goes on and on. With appreciation to your dedicated Las Aparicio fans, my interest was piqued. My only complaint was that I just didn’t get enough of the other storylines. I mean, up until this point I have always been a BMW woman, but since I began watching, never have I wanted more to drive a Mercedes. (Watch, and you will get what I mean.)
Enter Telemundo.com. In my previous interviews with members of the Las Aparicio cast and writing team, it was revealed that Telemundo.com, the web portion of the American television network that broadcasts in Spanish, contracted to air the series over the web as part of its international internet programming. Fantastic! With some of my other favorite programming on hiatus, this will fill the void quite nicely. At this point, I am invested up to episode 86 of the Mariana/Julia part of the story. I find it fortunate that I can keep up real-time with the Mariana/Julia YouTube fan channels and watch the whole thing again in context with the other storylines. ‘Cause you know real-life lesbians, we will watch fantasy lesbians over and over and over again. I found that the real fantasy, or should I say fallacy, is in my thought process. I have always touted this show as a drama and not a fairy tale, but perhaps I am wrong. The clock struck midnight on the YouTube Las Aparicio fansites Tuesday, and the lovely vehicle that carried the magical message of this modern-day love story is no more.
Now, on Friday, we are supposed to hear from the producer, Epigmenio Ibarra, via twitcam, an explanation of the drastic steps unfortunately taken as a result of international distribution. Hmmm, I wonder if the broadcast will be uploaded to YouTube with English subtitles, because after all, isn’t that really who should be addressed? Ok, that was a little snarky. [Edited: Natassja Ybarra will release an English version twitcam after the producer. I will let my readers know what time to look for it.] Look, I get it. As one who appreciates Las Aparicio for the true art form that it is, I want to see the entire series prosper nationally and internationally, via broadcast, and on the net. I want to see more original content from this talented production team, and that requires a broad based buy-in and money. I am, however, disappointed that this inevitable evolution from the grassroots has become some semblance of survival of the fittest with the YouTubers lost through a disruptive selection.
I would like to take this time to say thank you to all those fans dedicated enough to be part of the clip capture underground. It is my hope in Ibarra’s twitcam appearance that he explains, at times, there is also an unfortunate collateral damage incurred to the justice side of this Las Aparicio media revolution. And in doing so, it is also my hope that he acknowledges the fan’s part in advancing the front line of the battle. In today’s electronic age, a revolution many times begins with a single shot heard round the world wide web…lock…upload…click.
I, too, was disappointed in watching thru 86 episodes (with maybe the last 20 or so being brutal at times in terms of my favorite storyline)and suddenly cut off. I went looking like a junkie anywhere where I could find the latest eppy’s but no luck anywhere. I guess I will have to wait a few months til Telemunto catches up. oh well I want Las Aparicio to be a success because I need more Eren in my life
Great blog! Las Aparicio proud themselves in using the social netwrks to “shape” the show…and for them to totally cut all juliana las aparicio content is just a very bad unwise move as PR. But I can totally see where the agenda is for people to pay to see the show instead of it being free on youtube. Its all about the bejamins..
I’ve been following Las Aparicio from the start and I’ve enjoyed almost every minute of it; and I’ve been doing it through YouTube ’cause we can’t even watch the advance for the next episode in argos.com here in Venezuela. It’s sad to know that I can’t turn on my computer everyday and get my daily fix of the Aparicio women and I honestly can’t see myself waiting 2 or 3 months to watch it past episode 86 in telemundo. In your interview with Erendira Ibarra, she said that sometimes when hugh things happen in Mexico they film some of the scenes to include it so that the audience can keep up with current events, then WHY, all of the sudden, we have to get cut off from it all?
Natassja Ybarra tweeted me today and said she would do an English version twitcam tomorrow. I am interested in what the response will be. I will let my readers know just as soon as I know the time.
It is rather discouraging that Argos (Telemundo) would exclude the fans that have been promoting the show and bringing it to thousands across the world. They would not have had this level of success if not for these fans (pirates?). It baffles me and I think it is not a very wise PR move on their part, but what do we lezzies know!
Thanks for speaking out!!!
I think it would have been a good move from argostv to explain it BEFORE they actually blocked the fan channel’s and their own advances on youtube. This might have minimized the damage and would have shown that there is a good communication and respect between both sides. But it’s easy to be wise after the event.
As you pointed out very well, this is all a bit difficult. On one side there are the understandable and necessary copyright issues (because you NEED to earn your money somehow if you are working in any fields of art/creativity)and on the other side the acknowledgement what those fan-based youtube channels do for the PR of Las Aparicio and how much time was dedicated to run them (translation and editing).
And I am not sure how many of us watching the youtube clips are interested in the whole show and therefore would pay at telemundo. In other words I don’t know how big the loss for them (telemundo/argostv) would actually be, if they decided to unblock the Juliana vids on youtube…..
Another point – if you want to watch it on telemundo, you have to have a bit of knowledge of spanish – because the whole website is build only in spanish. This makes me as a non spanish speaking person quite a bit uncomfortable (I wouldn’t know how to subscribe for Las Aparicio if it is a spanish form).
great blog!..thanks for writing what’s in our minds!!i myself was not a computer addict, until i saw juliana clips, it became my habit to check my pc everyday…now i don’t know what to do…
Blimey. Complete fail. I have been naively engrossed in this from the beginning, telling all my friends how amazing the writing is, how refreshing the complexity and lovely it is that we get a gay role model. And then this. Like a lot of people outside Mexico and unable to get access to telemundo I have been following, prepared to pay (yes I own the lword, all the usual box sets and films, anything to balance the boy meets girl world) whatever it takes to own the complete story..Alma and Mercedes and all. But now what? On behalf of any Brits following, I would like to thank the intrepid YouTubers who have been so vigilantly posting so we could share. And many thanks for the cast and crew of Las, but I for one won’t be able to follow Juliana anymore, but not because I wouldn’t pay if I could!
Oh and I should have said…Love the blog! Keep up the good work!x
Thank you so much for saying in this blog exactly how we feel!!!
It is like the rug was pulled out from under us just as it was getting good again and we have already painfully watched so much with the whole Julia confused about Mariana then wanting Mariana only then confused again then wanting both Mariana and Assmanho with the poli thing that has turned into a 3some living together BS thing and just when you can start to see Juliana getting closer and Assmanho going further away they did this to us. Not to sound crude but I feel like I was fixin to have one of the best orgasms I have ever had and my partner decides to suddenly stop right before the big moment.
You said in your podcast with Tash that we lesbians are always mad will this is a prime example of why we get pissed off we seem to always get the shaft
I don’t mind paying to see the whole series to know what the other storylines are about but to start all over knowing that Assmanho will be leaving soon and there is a Juliana wedding coming up is total BS IMO and to have to wait for that for a couple MORE months is almost to painful to know exactly how I feel since everyone who speaks spanish will know what happen and I and other like me wont know for 3 months or so 86 episodes is ALOT of episodes to wait for to get back to were we are now. I been here from day one and I guess I will be able to see it in spanish somewhere underground but not knowing what it said it just as painful as not seeing it
I want to thank everyone for their comments. And thank you for listening to the pods. LOL We lesbians are always mad, and you are right, it’s usually because we have been pandered to, or played with, or insulted in one way or the other. We are intelligent viewers, and only wish to be acknowledged as such. I don’t know about other countries, but in America, big network corporations and their sponsors either dangle the carrot in front of us or we are completely doused in V-8…but then it never comes to fruition. I’m not so sure that the ones behind Las Aparicio are like that. I’m willing to wait, now that they have heard from the fans, and see what happens with Telemundo. They have been promised a statement. I’m not sure I know what the subscription talk is about, but what I do know is that respectful grassroots has influence.
I have never seen it, and it now looks like I may never see it! I’m still stuck in Australia with Charlie and nobody! LOL (I just found it recently!) But I also found some great Aussies and a great writer of Fan Fic to make up for the lack of a story line on Home and Away!
But what I wanted to say . . . Intelligent as ever Schmootz! Love ya girl and as always keep on keeping on and I will keep reading (when my computer is working anyway!)
PS. Yeah, I’m slow, but I was still on an Otalia binge until I found Home and Away! Now, just waiting not so patiently for the next story! Sad isn’t it! But at least Venice The Series Season 2 will be happening soon! PARTY!
I’m not quite sure I understand the subscription thing either, ‘Schmootz. I know Eren touched on a possible subscription model when the series hit Telemundo.com, but as of right now, I can go on that site and watch the series for free.
I am disheartened to read that some of you on here will now not watch the show. I don’t think that is the intent of this blog. It’s just my opinion, but I don’t fault Argos for trying to profit (they are a business after all) and distribute the show to as many audiences as it can, and that sometimes includes dealing with the ugly politics of business and 3rd parties (Telemundo).
Where I do fault Argos is what ‘Schmootz touched upon in her blog – the weak communication to its fan base and especially to these Youtube fan clip capturers who worked so hard to distribute Las Aparicio to an international audience. Like someone else here mentioned, it would have been nice if Argos had at least contacted those fans before their Youtube channels were blocked and perhaps maybe had made an official statement explaining all of what was about to transpire before it all happened.
There are many things that Argos can do better to communicate (like get whoever is behind LasAparicioUSA’s twitter to actually translate everything LasAparicio’s tweets in English), but I’m trying to give them the benefit of the doubt as an independent production company that perhaps is just not experienced in international PR. I respect that they continue to reach out to their fans and are at least trying to address concerns. They could be just like every other American bigwig network and ignore us but they haven’t.
Like ‘Schmootz said, grassroots efforts that are respectful DO have influence. I think our screams are being heard and that is why they are doing a twitcam soon to try and address this situation. I will hold any further judgment of them until I hear what they have to say.
@Reileen4 : thanks for mentioning the LasAparicioUSA twitter. When I first heard of it I was like “ah great! now there is an english twitter!”(= international communication tool which is made for the english speaking audience). I was a bit dissapointed when I realized that it is not. But hope that this will change in the future if people tell them. Unfortunately I don’t have a twitter myself (till yet) and can’t get on their website either (don’t know why) – so I am not able to contact them. So if anybody is interested in this as well and would like to tell them I would be grateful. Thanks in advance!
I tweeted the show near the very beginning asking if it would be released on DVD with subtitles and they tweeted back that they were working on it. They could have easily made a profit just offering the entire show on DVD with subtitles because many of us started watching for Mariana/Julia but we are just as much in love with Alma, Meche and Rafaela that we would have shelled out money to watch the entire series.
Hell product placements could have been another profit center if they had done it right. The whole “Sex and Clean” clip had everyone asking about it and looking to buy it if for no other reason than the novelty of it. I would have bought a few packs just to have the actresses autograph them if I had ever been lucky enough to meet them.
I am a huge Xena fan, so much so that I own the sword, the chakram and the breast dagger. I also flew to CA to watch the series finale live and in person with Lucy and Renee – I wasn’t alone in my love for the show! I still spend money on Xena stuff and try to watch everything the stars are in. Even though I watched every single episode when it aired (many of them multiple times) I still bought every season when they were released on VHS.
Las Aparicio could have been HUGE but it has pissed off so many fans (for multiple reasons) that it may well end up in oblivion. There could have been a spin off series with almost no effort to gain viewers. A fan convention would have made their gay pride appearance look like a small block party in comparison. At the beginning many of us on friend feed were planning to get together in person (from all over the US) to watch the final episode as a group. Sadly nobody talks about that anymore – these nights if more than 5 people show up to chat during the show it is surprising.
As a marketing consultant I see major blunders by companies all the time when they don’t understand how to harness the power of the internet, especially how to capitalize on the social media aspect of it. I guess I will add this show to my list of examples of what not to do.
Did anyone hear anything about the twitcam?
I think Las Aparicio was one of the best shows i ever watched. I’m from Argentina and i was really upset when i couldn’t watch the show anymore.
I believe must of us were willing to paid so we can watch the show. After surfing and surfing i found a channel on dailymotion and one fan uploaded all Juliana episodes, the name is piribipi.
Also she has a forum: http://s4.zetaboards.com/Julia_Mariana/index/ where you can watch and download the complete episodes of Las Aparicio and Juliana episodes too. The only bad thing is that they don’t have subtitles.
Thanks to her i was able to watch this amazing show but i believe in supporting all the people who worked in this project…so if Las Aparicio DVD are available in Argentina i’ll buy it.