Vimeo CEO Philip Moyer on the Future of Video
In a recent episode of Decoder, The Verge’s editor-in-chief Nilay Patel spoke with Vimeo CEO Philip Moyer. The conversation covered a wide range of topics, from Vimeo’s strategic shift to the evolving landscape of online video, the impact of AI, and the challenges and opportunities facing the creator economy.
Patel began the interview by noting the full-circle nature of the conversation, having previously interviewed Moyer’s predecessor, Anjali Sud, as well as in her new role as CEO of Tubi. This provided a unique perspective on the evolution of Vimeo and the changing dynamics of the online video space.
Vimeo’s Transformation
Vimeo, once known for its creative and artistic focus, has transformed itself into an enterprise software company, providing video hosting services to businesses of all sizes. Moyer highlighted the evolution of online video, describing several ‘epochs’. He explained how Vimeo is ‘going back to the roots’ of what it was originally known for: providing high-quality transcoding and direct video delivery, especially for those who want to maintain privacy and control over their content.
“Our goal,” Moyer states, “is to become the largest private video distribution platform in the world. We think that there’s an increasing demand for video that isn’t public or algorithm-driven, but instead, it could be very personal and delivered at the right moment, at the right time, to the right individual.”
Moyer emphasized the increasing demand for private video sharing among various groups like schools, medical professionals, and marketing organizations. He suggests Vimeo is filling a gap between large algorithmic platforms and enterprise needs, offering a space for individuals and businesses seeking greater control over their video content. He also believes that the ‘walled gardens’ of platforms like YouTube are being bypassed and that video is returning to the era of individual websites, like the MSN or AOL era, with private videos being shared directly with consumers.
The Impact of AI and Generative Tools
With the proliferation of AI tools, platforms like Vimeo are facing a new era. Moyer discussed also how AI can dramatically lower barriers to video creation. However, he also noted that the explosion of video content creates new challenges for managing and distributing the content. He believes that AI will lead to the need for a wider spectrum of AI tools, from script generators to complex video editors. The CEO also stated that simultaneously formats of video are proliferating from square podcasts to 8K and beyond, and the complexity for the creator choosing the right format and ensuring high quality is increasing.
The Creator Economy
Patel and Moyer discussed the challenges facing the creator economy, particularly the saturation of video content and the impact of AI. Moyer acknowledged a potential saturation point, but he believes that the focus on higher-quality experiences and storytelling will continue to be important. He sees AI as a tool to help creators, not replace them, especially in enhancing storytelling.
“I do think that AI is going to help people create more stories. I think they are. I think they’re going to be able to illustrate more stories”
Moyer believes that, in the marketing world, authenticity is growing. He has seen that real people are favored over AI avatars. He also said that most filmmakers often start with something they’ve shot, and then enhance it with AI. He believes that in a world of robots, humans will provide authenticity.
The Future of Vimeo
Looking ahead, Moyer expressed enthusiasm for immersive video formats and a continued focus on supporting the filmmaking community. He emphasized an increasing move toward more global support of filmmakers. Further, he outlined plans to support customers in their customer journey, with a focus on just-in-time video serving. The goal is to provide the right video to the right person at the right moment, enhancing storytelling through format and AI innovations.
