Born in 2003, the popular Metacafé website differs a bit from sites like YouTube and Blip.tv. Rather than a video sharing and hosting site that allows personal and webcam videos, Metacafé touts itself as an entertainment location with an emphasis on short-form, original video made specifically for the interactive internet medium. The idea behind the site is to provide audiences with a short, entertaining break from their busy day. Thus Metacafé doesn’t air full-length TV episodes or movie trailers; their videos average just over 90 seconds in length and only those that “amaze, inspire, and make viewers laugh” are considered worthy of becoming a Metacafé feature. Metacafé is also the first site to provide a 3D showcase.

While thousands of videos are submitted to the site daily, only the most popular are selected. Metacafé videos are generated, selected, reviewed, and rewarded by the site’s user community. Original videos receive initial screening by a community panel of more than 80,000 volunteers. Once a video is selected and posted, it receives ongoing popularity ranking using Metacafé’s trademarked VideoRank™ system. Then the viewers also decide how video creators will be paid for their best original work through the Producer Rewards™ program.

Metacafé claims it attracts more than 40 million unique viewers a month. To help back up that claim and shape future video content, the site sponsors an annual study to measure trends in online video consumption. Results of their most current study were released June 29, 2010. The study revealed that consumers across-the-board are increasingly looking online for their entertainment, and this trend is increasing especially among the 18- to 24-year-old demographic. According to the Metacafé research, 85% of males and 68% of females aged 18 to 24 now watch online video weekly.

Regardless of your demographic, Metacafé is worth checking out. The videos are high-quality and chances are you can find an entertaining clip to suit any interest.