Report: Microsoft Paying YouTubers for Positive Xbox One Coverage
01-21-14, 09:46 AM
#1
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Report: Microsoft Paying YouTubers for Positive Xbox One Coverage
From IGN (like they should be talking about anything regarding getting paid for skewed coverage):
Microsoft reportedly struck a deal with Machinima video partners offering them financial bonuses for promoting the Xbox One, as long as the details of said promotional agreement were kept confidential, according to Ars Technica.
The promotion, outlined in what appear to be leaked emails to popular Machinima personalities and a since deleted Tweet from Machinima's UK community manager, offered video content producers an additional $3 CPM ($3 per thousand video views) for posting videos including at least 30 seconds of Xbox One gameplay footage in the first two minutes, and a verbal mention that the console was being played. It was also stipulated that producers tag their videos 'XB1M13' and post between 3 AM ET, January 13 and 2:59 AM ET, February 10 to be eligible for payment.
To worsen what appears to be an already questionable situation, an alleged leaked copy of the promotion's terms and conditions obtained by Ars Technica specified that content creators were not say "anything negative or disparaging about Machinima, Xbox One, or any of its games," nor were they to mention their involvement in the agreement.
The website believes the arrangement might violate the FTC's guidelines for the use of endorsements in advertising, which need to be transparent "when there is a connection between the endorser and the seller of the advertised product that might materially affect the weight or credibility of the endorsement."
Interestingly, the leaked Machinima email said the promotion would cease once a collective 1.25 million views on these videos were reached, which means Microsoft's financial investment in the promotion was minimal. Machinima's PopTent feed lists the promotion as expired, suggesting that Microsoft had reached its goal by Janurary 16.
Here's a link to the terms and conditions of the secret deal can be seen here.
Microsoft reportedly struck a deal with Machinima video partners offering them financial bonuses for promoting the Xbox One, as long as the details of said promotional agreement were kept confidential, according to Ars Technica.
The promotion, outlined in what appear to be leaked emails to popular Machinima personalities and a since deleted Tweet from Machinima's UK community manager, offered video content producers an additional $3 CPM ($3 per thousand video views) for posting videos including at least 30 seconds of Xbox One gameplay footage in the first two minutes, and a verbal mention that the console was being played. It was also stipulated that producers tag their videos 'XB1M13' and post between 3 AM ET, January 13 and 2:59 AM ET, February 10 to be eligible for payment.
To worsen what appears to be an already questionable situation, an alleged leaked copy of the promotion's terms and conditions obtained by Ars Technica specified that content creators were not say "anything negative or disparaging about Machinima, Xbox One, or any of its games," nor were they to mention their involvement in the agreement.
The website believes the arrangement might violate the FTC's guidelines for the use of endorsements in advertising, which need to be transparent "when there is a connection between the endorser and the seller of the advertised product that might materially affect the weight or credibility of the endorsement."
Interestingly, the leaked Machinima email said the promotion would cease once a collective 1.25 million views on these videos were reached, which means Microsoft's financial investment in the promotion was minimal. Machinima's PopTent feed lists the promotion as expired, suggesting that Microsoft had reached its goal by Janurary 16.
Here's a link to the terms and conditions of the secret deal can be seen here.
01-21-14, 09:50 AM
#3
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Re: Report: Microsoft Paying YouTubers for Positive Xbox One Coverage
Supposedly, MS has nothing to do with this. If you scan the pastebin link, there's zero reference to Microsoft specifically, and 84 references to Machinima.
But still, MS be so evil, yo.
But still, MS be so evil, yo.
01-21-14, 10:35 AM
#4
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Report: Microsoft Paying YouTubers for Positive Xbox One Coverage
They do?
I'm not seeing this as a bad thing, good for them for finding another cheap way to promote their system. It needs a little help for the time being, and I don't think the US necessarily has the same restrictions on advertising as the UK.
I'm not seeing this as a bad thing, good for them for finding another cheap way to promote their system. It needs a little help for the time being, and I don't think the US necessarily has the same restrictions on advertising as the UK.
01-21-14, 12:49 PM
#5
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Report: Microsoft Paying YouTubers for Positive Xbox One Coverage
No direct mention of Microsoft paying anyone, but go ahead and say Microsoft is paying everyone.
01-21-14, 01:15 PM
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Re: Report: Microsoft Paying YouTubers for Positive Xbox One Coverage
Joint statement from MS and Machinima:
"This partnership between Machinima and Microsoft was a typical marketing partnership to promote Xbox One in December. The Xbox team does not review any specific content or provide feedback on content. Any confidentiality provisions, terms or other guidelines are standard documents provided by Machinima. For clarity, confidentiality relates to the agreements themselves, not the existence of the promotion."
NOW we can say MS is paying everyone, right? Right...!?
"This partnership between Machinima and Microsoft was a typical marketing partnership to promote Xbox One in December. The Xbox team does not review any specific content or provide feedback on content. Any confidentiality provisions, terms or other guidelines are standard documents provided by Machinima. For clarity, confidentiality relates to the agreements themselves, not the existence of the promotion."
NOW we can say MS is paying everyone, right? Right...!?
01-21-14, 01:53 PM
#7
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Re: Report: Microsoft Paying YouTubers for Positive Xbox One Coverage
I don't really see anything out of the ordinary for this, is this really any different from any other paid advertising deals?
01-21-14, 02:44 PM
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Re: Report: Microsoft Paying YouTubers for Positive Xbox One Coverage
The thread about this on GAF is currently 33 pages long with all of the expected hair-pulling and hysteria. 
01-21-14, 02:56 PM
#9
DVD Talk Godfather
Re: Report: Microsoft Paying YouTubers for Positive Xbox One Coverage
http://www.polygon.com/2014/1/21/533...ng-partnership
It appeared that the terms of the agreement prevented those video producers from mentioning that they were being paid to promote the Xbox One, but according to the statement from Microsoft and Machinima, that's not the case.
Here's the full statement: "This partnership between Machinima and Microsoft was a typical marketing partnership to promote Xbox One in December. The Xbox team does not review any specific content or provide feedback on content. Any confidentiality provisions, terms or other guidelines are standard documents provided by Machinima. For clarity, confidentiality relates to the agreements themselves, not the existence of the promotion."
That is, the producers could not disclose the specific terms of the promotion — the program was capped at 1.25 million total views, so the maximum combined payout was $3,750 — but they were free to mention the connection to Microsoft and Machinima. Thus, neither the companies nor the content creators would have run afoul of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission's guidelines for endorsements in advertising, which require a product's endorser to disclose a connection to its seller if a connection exists.
Here's the full statement: "This partnership between Machinima and Microsoft was a typical marketing partnership to promote Xbox One in December. The Xbox team does not review any specific content or provide feedback on content. Any confidentiality provisions, terms or other guidelines are standard documents provided by Machinima. For clarity, confidentiality relates to the agreements themselves, not the existence of the promotion."
That is, the producers could not disclose the specific terms of the promotion — the program was capped at 1.25 million total views, so the maximum combined payout was $3,750 — but they were free to mention the connection to Microsoft and Machinima. Thus, neither the companies nor the content creators would have run afoul of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission's guidelines for endorsements in advertising, which require a product's endorser to disclose a connection to its seller if a connection exists.
01-21-14, 03:31 PM
#10
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Re: Report: Microsoft Paying YouTubers for Positive Xbox One Coverage
OMG, just stop posting! :P
01-22-14, 09:41 PM
#14
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Re: Report: Microsoft Paying YouTubers for Positive Xbox One Coverage
I think the main part of the story was the 'you cannot post anything negative' aspect of it.
01-23-14, 01:15 AM
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Re: Report: Microsoft Paying YouTubers for Positive Xbox One Coverage
As revealed today, EA has similar deals with promoters. Talk about our stuff, and don't say it sucks, we give you $$$.
The biggest issue with this all is that Machinima supposedly told youtubers not to acknowledge that they were being paid to promote a product. THAT part is illegal.
The biggest issue with this all is that Machinima supposedly told youtubers not to acknowledge that they were being paid to promote a product. THAT part is illegal.
01-23-14, 08:38 AM
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Re: Report: Microsoft Paying YouTubers for Positive Xbox One Coverage
- not a video
- not 30 seconds or longer.
- no gameplay footage.
Way to fail, Corvin. Way to fail.
- not 30 seconds or longer.
- no gameplay footage.
Way to fail, Corvin. Way to fail.
01-23-14, 09:47 AM
#20
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Report: Microsoft Paying YouTubers for Positive Xbox One Coverage
So, I would *imagine* that the wording of these agreements, which seem to be pretty standard according to other companies who keep speaking up about it, is more for purposes of "You can't say Machinima rapes puppies or that the Xbox One burned down a poor projects neighborhood in Chicago because it hates poor people". Not actual "Ryse sucks" commentary.
01-23-14, 09:55 AM
#21
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Re: Report: Microsoft Paying YouTubers for Positive Xbox One Coverage
That's what she said. Boom!
But yeah, like Dan said the issue was whether or not they were allowed to mention they were getting paid. Which since Microsoft/Machinima has already denied that, there's really nothing to do the story. I don't see how it's different from the guy on the radio telling me how great AT&T is.
As far as saying anything negative, I think the intent is to cover anything and everything, not just ridiculously negative stuff like raping puppies. I imagine they also don't want you to talk about how the PS4 version looks better, or the game stutters, or the install time takes way too long. Based on the agreement, it doesn't even seem like you had to be positive about the XBox One, just say you're playing the game on one.
But yeah, like Dan said the issue was whether or not they were allowed to mention they were getting paid. Which since Microsoft/Machinima has already denied that, there's really nothing to do the story. I don't see how it's different from the guy on the radio telling me how great AT&T is.
As far as saying anything negative, I think the intent is to cover anything and everything, not just ridiculously negative stuff like raping puppies. I imagine they also don't want you to talk about how the PS4 version looks better, or the game stutters, or the install time takes way too long. Based on the agreement, it doesn't even seem like you had to be positive about the XBox One, just say you're playing the game on one.
01-23-14, 03:10 PM
#23
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01-23-14, 03:13 PM
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