Striking Hollywood Writers Help Online Video?

Duncan Riley has an interesting theory about the ongoing strike by the Writers Guild of America: by damming up Hollywood’s creative juices, the strike will help online video.

The strike poses an interesting challenge for television at a time where internet usage has surpassed TV viewing time in most homes. Users are already choosing online entertainment over TV, how many more will switch off their televisions when their favorite shows stop going to air? These eyeballs present a real opportunity for online content creators at all levels; from the VC funded video startups through to the DIY part timers. The trends in viewer numbers have all been headed online to this point, this strike could well accelerate this trend, particularly if it lasts over the long term.

If Duncan’s right, then I hope boneheaded Hollywood execs harden their hearts against this strike. Maybe then, all those movie and TV writers will become YouTube partners and Revver revenue sharers, diverting their creative juices from Hollywood into online video.

Apparently, they can produce their own videos anyway. Check out their video below promoting the strike.

(Video via Craig Rubens.)