"Direct" video links

Post by **Allan** » 02 Jul 2005 19:04

Back in March, I closed 'direct' links to the videos in http://www.freedomfootbags.com/gallery2/ for a number of reasons.

Before that, it was possible to download videos "directly" via forum posts when someone would post such a link (like, click the link and video would start downloading). Since then, I've hidden the "direct" links to videos, requiring, instead, that people actually visit the videos page on freedomfootbags.com and click the download link from there.

Mostly this was an experiment to see how much our bandwidth would be reduced if I did this since we were tipping the scales a little. Well, we went from about 80 gigabytes ++ per month (at times we did over 140 gigs) down to about 12 gigs last month. This is obviously a significant drop in bandwidth useage.

I'm not very good at analysing server logs (nor do I have the time) to determine exactly where all that bandwidth was being used, but I feel fairly confident that there were people taking advantage of the direct links via these forums and through individual web sites - "leeching" as it were.

I have never felt great about closing this kind of linking to the community, as it is a bit more inconvenient, but at the same time, not only was the bandwidth a bit of a concern, I also believe that we have the right to ask people to at least visit our web site before downloading our videos.

That being said, I think maybe it's time to open it up again. What do you guys think? I've just gotten a new server and with it some more bandwdith options and I'm just wanting a little community feedback to support a decision either way.

Jeremy · Post by **Jeremy** » 02 Jul 2005 19:51

I think many people - such as myself have looked over the freedom footbag site a lot and probably don't feel the need to look there again unless we're looking for something specific. I think usually when new content gets put on the site a message gets posted about it here and I take the time to look at that new content.

That said it's hardly a great deal of trouble to follow a link to download a video - it takes maybe an extra 5 seconds of your life - which I can afford to use that time

. It's kind of sad that such a significant amount of people can't take the time to follow a link but will only download videos if they are direct links - I've found this in the past too - so maybe it's a good thing to punish lazy people with not getting to watch the videos. Also maybe it saves you guys money to use less bandwidth?

Anyway I'll be happy either way

ptaku · Post by **ptaku** » 03 Jul 2005 01:28

Hey Allan!

Don't change it. The way it's now is good. This is your site and you have the right to get some visits on your site because of new vid.

It always makes me irritated when people post direct link to the vid, when the original poster, and hoster of the vid, posts link to the website where the vid is.

It isn't problem to follow a link.

And if the lack of direct links makes bandwith usage on your server smaller it's always good.

As a administrator of www.footbag.com.pl I wouldn't like to people post direct link to vids on the site, when they would be hosted on our server (until they weren't there because somebody let us to post the vids on our site).

Greets.
Pawel

Flipsider · Post by **Flipsider** » 03 Jul 2005 06:30

Agreed. I think it's great that so many people can come to one place to find new videos from anywhere and everywhere around the world, but I don't like that Modified has turned into a place of video harvesting. I would much rather see more participation elsewhere, like on the sites of those who work so hard to make good quality videos. It will be great when more sites incorporate comments/replies, so the topics at modified (or elsewhere) become simple announcements and everyone leaves feedback on the site that posted the video.

my 2¢

Post by **Allan** » 13 Jul 2005 09:08

I posted this and then forgot about it

I only track the forums through RSS, so if something gets posted and then 20 posts go on top of it, I miss it (there's a 15 post limit to the feed).

Right on. Thanks for the replies. I actually don't have time to respond exactly at the moment except to say that we're likely going to be doing something drastically different with the galleries in the future

Splint · Post by **Splint** » 13 Jul 2005 10:06

I think leaving it so that people go to the Freedom site first is the better way. Most people don't have a clue as to how much Daryl does for footbag or how much you do for him and they should at least be prompted to check out the site and see what's going on there.