GodTube.com, a YouTube knockoff for the evangelical set, seems to be one step closer to building a kingdom on earth.
Last week the site, which shows Christian videos and features a flip-through Bible and prayer blogs, received a $30 million investment from GLG Partners, a big London hedge fund. The investment valued GodTube at nearly $150 million, according to PaidContent.org.
GodTube offers sermons, theological debates, Christian rap videos and low-budget skits like "See man watching porn get caught by Jesus," which plays out exactly as the title suggests. The investment will help sustain the on-screen Bible and a prayer wall where devout Web surfers can petition God to bless the afflicted or warm the heart of an intransigent girlfriend.
When it was introduced in August, GodTube became the fastest-growing Web site as rated by comScore.com, attracting 1.7 million unique visitors for the month. The traffic remains about the same today. "People thirst for more than just a once-a-week relationship with the Lord and Savior," said Jason Illian, GodTube's chief strategy officer. "They desire something that they can live out 24/7."
Unlike its secular cousin, YouTube, all content must gain approval from the site's headquarters in Plano, Texas. Vulgar or overtly sexual material is not allowed. Neither are videos promoting other religions — for that, there are JewTube.com and IslamicTube.net. (The domain name SatanTube.com is still for sale.)
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Not surprised really I would have expected it to happen sooner than what it did. Thank you for sharing
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For that they're not even buying, thats the alleged backing.
To be honest they are chancing their arm as they are using same colour scheme as Youtube Logo and they even say 'Broadcast God' as the tagline instead of 'Broadcast Yourself' like youtube!
Religion is not usually into marketing. This is a big twist I suppose, kind of like givng sermons in old theatre parking lots, go where the people are. I quit regging religious names as it seems no buyers are around. Well maybe that is changing
actually our local church alone has 3 web sites to do the marketing for us on the internet. to sell cd's online of our pastor's teaching/preaching and also our very own worship songs.
and all our provincial branches have their own web sites as well (own domains)
It got that money supposedly from a hedge fund. Put it this way...I dunno if I would want my money in that hedge fund! They are putting 30mill into a simple youtube clone could be costly to them..Hopefully the marketers of godtube know how to spend that money correctly. Otherwise i'd say there are gonna be some pretty pissed investors out there. lol
I'm going to throw GLG partners stock on my watch list just to see if anything happens. Looks like they need to find anything to help give them a boost right now..lol
