I should be upset that News.com wrote about GUBA CEO Tom McInerney leaving the company today, without even acknolwedging that NewTeeVee.com got the story first. Oh well, that’s how the cookie crumbles sometimes.

Nevertheless, I was actually glad to read the interview – an honest and a realistic assessment of the online video space. Here is how McInerney assesses the market. (Some of the details come from previous conversations with him.)

• YouTube won the big prize, everybody else is looking for a consolation prize.
• No more billion dollar buyouts of video start ups.
• Sell now or cry later.
• Get big (media) brothers or get out of business.
• More GUBA executives will leave.

As a reporter, there is nothing more frustrating that talking to a chief executive who offers you canned statements, or politically correct and bland quotes (aka PR drivel), and of course a lot of spin.

Tom has been a straight shooter, and fairly candid whenever I spoke with him – and we often did about the state of online video, Internet startup scene and why New York is more fun. When I wrote about the coming video shakeout back in July 2006, Tom said, “There’ll be a lot of casualties in the next year.” No wonder he got out when he did!