I disagree with your assesment. There are some technical glitches that aren't insignificant right now - the registration process is awful and the site architecture poor - but the content is actually surprisingly good. In fact, you're the only person I've really heard complain about it.

This is a very novel idea Bud is doing, very bold. I think the makeover show and the Truly famous Show are terrific. the Chimp show is actually pretty funny and some of the skits aren't bad. just like pilots of TV shows (which tehse all are) give them more of a chance than a snap judgement. I think they are good concepts that will only improve - and they're pretty good already.

More marketers will copy A-B in this area - they always do. If you think Bud Tv is going away you're sorely mistaken in my estimation.

I don't know, Felix. I agree this is a bold move and that only more marketers will produce their own content...but I watched a few more after the post and I still haven't found one that I didn't think was seriously corny. I thought the Makeover show was meh, but I haven't watched the Truly Famous show yet.

I'll tune in again and keep an open mind, but I'm still doubtful this is going to be successful.

Just like any network, bud TV will have shows that appeal to some and not to others. you haven't found anything yet but you're not really in their target.

In the long run few companies have proven more adept at entertaining their consumers than Budweiser. I'd bet on them every time. Sure, they will have their misses ie. site architecture and the admittedly terrible "Life Coach" skit and that "Future man" pile - but they'll ultimately succeed.

The world of entertainment is very different in some respects than the ad world. There are more sharp swords drawn, more people overly quick to criticize (as I think you have been.) The blogosphere (and reportedly the number of hits they are receiving) would suggest that a lot of people are likeing Bud Tv a lot more than you. This is the start of something big.

I've got to say that Felix seems to be one in the chain of executives who frittered away $30 million for this, because he's covering his tush so fast that my screen's blurring. Yes, I will sympathize him that it is really hard to make watered-down fermented Clydesdale droppings cooler than fermented Colorado deer-droppings, and that sometimes you have to hire a chimp. But how can you say that lame commericals repurposed as skits are bold and novel...with a straight face? I do agree with your comment that "few companies have proven more adept at entertaining their customers than Budweiser." I mean, The Sopranos would be SO much cooler with a chimp mob boss instead of that James Gandolfini hack.

I wonder why they are spending $30M on it when they can simply take the creative videos they are producing and put them up on YouTube. They will get a lot more traffic and attention there. Lets face it attracting visitors to BudTV will not be easy or cost effective. Let the YouTubes of the world handle the platform while BudTV can handle the production of the creative content.

They can't put the videos on YouTube, because they want the Bud branding, and since YouTube doesn't (yet) provide co-branded sites, it's not gonna be considered.

That and the "what if children see this" problem.

Still, YouTube could've probably solved the problem with far less than $30M and better.

I don’t agree with you at all. My friends and I are between 22 and 24 years old, just the group that Budweiser is trying to attract with Bud.TV. Yes, they could improve the registration process a bit, but in general, we all think that it's a pretty cool site and we’ll keep coming back.
BTW Those guys at Budweiser deserve some credit because Bud.TV is a really cool name for a website.

The true test on whether or not Bud Tv survives does sort of lie in this column. Will the guys at A-B have the stomach to survive the slings and arrows that come whenever you are making something called entertainment.

A-B has been very succesful producing commercials with a mainstay bent aimed squarely at the middle. They've received, for the most part, praise and applaud for their efforts (in many circles; in some they're viewed as 'playing it too safe" as of late.) Nonetheless, they haven't had to weather much criticism. which is good because AB4 and his under lieutenant Bob Lachky are notoriously thin-skinned.

But now that they are selling entertainment - the gloves are off. Burt, you yourself launched a scathing review then admitted you watched very little of the content. Your experience was tainted by the registration process (a technical glitch that will obviously be fixed.) yet you used to pulpit to damn the entire effort anyway. Which, really, is a bit irresponsible.

This is the world A-B has entered. Judging the value of entertainment is fickle business at business (all the networks originally passed on American Idol - so there are plenty of "experts" looking stupid there.) As William Goldwyn said of the movie business when responding to the criticisms of "experts," "Nobody knows anything." The only thing we don't know about A-B is if they'll have the courage and fortitude to stomach the criticism of "experts" and stay the course with this important and groundbreaking effort. I for one hope they do; I think they're on to something big and I enjoy the site. But I'm no expert.

I totally agree that my experience was tainted by the registration process. But I totally disagree that slamming Bud.tv was irresponsible!

What normal person would *not* let that login process taint his experience? And after watching three god-awful videos, what normal person would stay logged in and watch more? What kind of charity are you asking for here?

I'm happy to keep logging in and give Bud.tv a more chance, and I'll definitely write a post about it if the site gets better. But until then, (and I've watched more vids since I posted) I'm sticking to my guns on this one.

Despite being over the age of 30, the Bud.tv registration will not let me in without offering up my drivers lisence number.

Is anyone really going to give this out over the internet? A work mate of mine tried to loggin with all legitimate information and was also refused.

I have to believe its nothing more then a marketing scam with a poor design. I will simply wait for the content to find it's way to an illegal site and enjoy it without the hindrance.