Godtube Explained

GodTube
Owner:Salem Web Network
Company Type:Video hosting service
Founded:Spring of 2007
Current Status:Active

GodTube is an online video platform which provides Christian video content. It is owned by Salem Web Network, the internet division of Salem Communications. GodTube includes music videos, comedy, children, animals, sports, news and inspirational clips.[1]

History

GodTube was launched in the spring of 2007 by founders Christopher Wyatt, Jason Martell, Lloyd Chartrand,[2] and Mike Miller (former Executive Pastor of First Baptist Dallas).[3] Wyatt was once an online student at Dallas Theological Seminary and was also one of CBS's producers for the 1995 Day and Date show.[4]

Wyatt has stated the website is open to all theological viewpoints, including atheists. The terms of use, however, prohibit any content which is "contrary to the evangelization of Jesus Christ and His teachings, or constitutes blasphemy, or is otherwise offensive to our online Christian community".[5]

According to comScore, GodTube was the fastest growing US website for the month of August 2007.[6] According to Quantcast, total monthly site traffic lost 75% of its users, from 2.7 million, to just over 690 thousand by February 2009.[7] [8] In February 2008, the company raised $30,000,000 from GLG Partners, LP, at a valuation of $150,000,000 after 5 months of operation.

In February 2009, GodTube re-launched as Tangle, expanding into a social network. Tangle also included other new features, such as an online Bible and an "interactive prayer wall", and encouraged non-Christians and atheists to participate and share their points of view.[9] By April 2010, GodTube returned as a separate site alongside Tangle.

In May 2010, Salem Communications' Salem Web Network division acquired GodTube and Tangle's parent company Big Jump Media.[10] [11]

On December 1, 2010, Tangle was discontinued. As part of the transition, certain functionality was pointed towards other sites in the Salem network, and videos were migrated back to GodTube accounts.

In May 2019, GodTube unveiled a new logo.

Features

Video technology

Videos can also be watched with the GodTube app on Android 4.1 or newer[12] and iOS 7 or newer.[13] The app was last updated in September 2016 for both platforms.[12]

GodTube manually reviews every video uploaded to its site.[14]

In some cases, GodTube embeds third-party videos (from sites like YouTube,[15] Facebook[16] and Rumble[17]) instead of hosting them. Some GodTube features, such as view count and favorites, are still available with these embedded videos.

Music

GodTube has a dedicated music section with traditional and contemporary Christian music. It has similarities to YouTube Music and its predecessor Vevo. GodTube's artist directory consists of licensed music channels, with 387 entries as of May 2019. Entries consist of artists and record labels.[18]

GodTube has premiered BarlowGirl's "Sing Me a Love Song" music video[19] and COLMANblue's "Hey (Not Worth the Worry) single[20]

Demographics

According to a November 2010 Quantcast assessment, the GodTube audience is 60% female and 40% male, with a high percentage of teenagers and baby boomers. Users are widely middle class.[21]

According to Quantcast, there are higher percentages of teenagers, African Americans, college graduates, and middle-class people using GodTube.[22]

Investors

Although it was reported in the trade press in May 2008 that they had received $30,000,000 in funding from GLG Partners, former Big Jump Media CEO Jason Illian was quoted by The Dallas Morning News as saying the investment was "actually around $17,000,000".[23]

According to Forbes, GLG's funds under management were deflated 40% after their foray into GodTube. The founders of the hedge fund agreed to surrender their salaries in lieu of a $1 per year probationary stipend.[24]

KMA Direct Communications was a primary investor in the privately held web site.[25]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: About Us. Godtube.com. 26 May 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160523161353/http://www.godtube.com/about-us.html. 2016-05-23. live.
  2. Web site: Blodget . Henry . 2007-09-18 . Fastest Growing Site? GodTube.com. Welcome to Jesus 2.0 . 2023-09-20 . Business Insider . en-US.
  3. Web site: Student Profile: Chris Wyatt . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070514040448/http://dts.edu/about/profiles/Chris_Wyatt/ . 2007-05-14 . 26 May 2016 . Dallas Theological Seminary.
  4. Web site: Chris Wyatt. IMDb. 26 May 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160330081120/http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1002535/. 2016-03-30. live.
  5. Web site: Terms of Use. Tangle.com. 26 May 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20100819093531/http://www.tangle.com/support/legal. 2010-08-19. live.
  6. Web site: GodTube Named August's Fastest Growing Site . March 22, 2016. Kristen Nicol. September 21, 2007. Mashable.
  7. Web site: Measure & Advertise - Quantcast. Quantcast. 26 May 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160526032437/https://www.quantcast.com/. 2016-05-26. live.
  8. Web site: The latest word: Controversial 'Bible Illuminated' utilizes pop culture images to spread the gospel. LJWorld.com. 26 May 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160829025205/http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2008/dec/28/latest-word-controversial-bible-illuminated-utiliz/. 2016-08-29. live.
  9. https://web.archive.org/web/20150416152049/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/21582372/ Christians tuning into thriving GodTube.com
  10. Web site: Salem Web Network Acquires GodTube.com, Tangle.com. Christian Post. 26 May 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160630122649/http://www.christianpost.com/news/salem-web-network-acquires-godtubecom-tanglecom-45539/. 2016-06-30. live.
  11. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/Salem-Web-Network-Acquires-iw-1215346381.html?x=0&.v=1
  12. Web site: GodTube. Google Play. Salem New Media. March 16, 2018. September 6, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20180522001015/https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.salemwebnetwork.godtube. 2018-05-22. live.
  13. Web site: GodTube on the App Store. App Store. 7 September 2016 . March 16, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180317103048/https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/godtube/id938388328?mt=8. 2018-03-17. live.
  14. Web site: Our commitment to you! : Salem Web Network Help & Support. Salem Web Network. March 16, 2018. en. October 27, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20180317164805/http://help.salemwebnetwork.com/support/solutions/articles/36224-our-commitment-to-you-. 2018-03-17. live.
  15. Web site: anthem lights Official Music Videos and Songs. Godtube. 2018-12-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20120512142330/http://www.godtube.com/anthem-lights/. 2012-05-12. live.
  16. Web site: Joyce Meyer On Whether Christians Should Have Tattoos . GodTube . December 30, 2018 . en-us . March 26, 2018.
  17. Web site: Little Girl Reads Unique Bible Story To Cat - Cute Videos. Godtube. August 21, 2018. August 22, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180823105513/https://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=1199JJNU. 2018-08-23. live.
  18. Web site: Christian Music Artists, Bands Directory - Videos . GodTube . May 26, 2019 . en-us.
  19. Web site: BarlowGirl. World Premiere on Tangle. Tangle.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20110228085358/http://www.wlgpromotions.com/openx/www/images/82c175668fb62327b9d37ef0fa0e9759.jpg. 2011-02-28. March 16, 2018. October 2, 2010. dead.
  20. Web site: COLMANblue. COLMANblue...the release of our very first single.. GodTube. March 16, 2018. October 2, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20180317035754/https://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=DP6KGLNX. 2018-03-17. live.
  21. Web site: Godtube.com Traffic and Demographic Statistics by Quantcast. Quantcast.com. 26 May 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161020191721/https://www.quantcast.com/GodTube.com. 2016-10-20. live.
  22. Web site: Tangle.com Traffic and Demographic Statistics by Quantcast. Quantcat.com. 26 May 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160309020926/https://www.quantcast.com/tangle.com#demographics. 9 March 2016. dead.
  23. Web site: The Dallas Morning News - Dallas-Fort Worth News, Sports, Entertainment, Weather, Traffic. Dallasnews.com. 26 May 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20150825073646/http://www.dallasnews.com/. 2015-08-25. live.
  24. News: GLG Heads Agree To Salaries . Forbes . Javier . Espinoza . March 27, 2009 . 2018-12-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304094106/http://www.forbes.com/2009/03/27/glg-partners-salary-markets-equity-investment.html . 2016-03-04 . live .
  25. Web site: KMA Direct Communications Partners with GodTube.com. 2009-02-06. https://web.archive.org/web/20090630093152/http://www.christiannewswire.com/news/831205515.html. 2009-06-30. live.