The Financial Times reported that Netflix has struck a deal with Epix. Epix is owned by three studios - Paramount pictures, Lions Gate Entertainment and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. In this deal Netflix will add to its video content mix from Epix and make them available to its 15 Million subscribers in the US three months after the movies are aired on pay-tv channel.
This is significant and shows a trend that major content owners have accepted digital streaming. The belief is digital streaming when done right will reduce content piracy and if priced right will provide another revenue stream for the content houses in addition to providing convenience to the digitally savvy consumers.
The belief is similar services will be relevant in India too - and Internet TV along with IPTV will provide entertainment beyond what can be offered through traditional channels given the Indian consumer is obsessed with Bollywood content. It is time for content aggregators to think differently and address this unmet need.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Monday, August 9, 2010
IDIOT BOX, on the mobile
IPTV is about to log into your handset, it’s time to pause and rewind
Once the stuff of fantasies, video on phone has now become a technology which even kids are familiar with. Of late, Indian consumers have grown used to streaming television content over GPRS/EDGE, thanks to services like Samsung’s Corby TV. However, a full-fledged television service with interactive facilities like video-on-demand, as well as fast-forward and rewind, and without the buffering synonymous with mobile video, are still beyond Indian consumers, especially since 3G services are not yet off the block.
But not for much longer. UTStarcom is now planning to take Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) beyond the television set, to other screens sizes like laptops and mobile phones. While the technology and capability are already there, it’s now up to the service providers to decide whether they want to take the plunge.
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/IDIOT-BOX--on-the-mobile/653872/
Once the stuff of fantasies, video on phone has now become a technology which even kids are familiar with. Of late, Indian consumers have grown used to streaming television content over GPRS/EDGE, thanks to services like Samsung’s Corby TV. However, a full-fledged television service with interactive facilities like video-on-demand, as well as fast-forward and rewind, and without the buffering synonymous with mobile video, are still beyond Indian consumers, especially since 3G services are not yet off the block.
But not for much longer. UTStarcom is now planning to take Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) beyond the television set, to other screens sizes like laptops and mobile phones. While the technology and capability are already there, it’s now up to the service providers to decide whether they want to take the plunge.
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/IDIOT-BOX--on-the-mobile/653872/
Monday, July 19, 2010
Making TV interactive
Thursday, June 10, 2010
IPTV in India
Interactive and personalized Televiewing. The URL to the article provides more info.
http://www.expresscomputeronline.com/20090504/technology01.shtml
http://www.expresscomputeronline.com/20090504/technology01.shtml
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Improving broadband penetration
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Verizon Plans to Provide Open Access
Per the FT at http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/d72cea8a-9d1a-11dc-af03-0000779fd2ac.html
And the Wall Street Journal at http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119617188870905241.html?mod=telecommunications_primary_hs
It appears Verizon decision is probably in reaction to the Google Android plans. But then to come up with such a plan within such a short time without the possible thought of it before does not make sense – which makes me think that Verizon had something in process already and the Google decision just accelerated that process.
In a wireless world, the customer is owned by a service provider. Per this announcement from Verizon, devices one chooses to operate remains at the discretion of the end users. This will reduce the distribution costs of service providers at the same time reach out to users who were not their customers by providing them choice of handsets.(Not sure the revenue lost from giving away the distribution channel, as the operators will still distribute the most popular models.) This could result in increased competitive intensity and change in channel mix for mobile devices manufacturers.
By announcing the program it appears Verizon wants to control the user experience. Verizon could then use this to negotiate with Google and other application vendors to share the revenue from online advertising and usage of applications.
A better option would be for both Google and Verizon to work on a converging framework for the software that would be incorporated in the mobile devices – this would help reduce the investment needed by both Verizon and Google, reduce time to market for mobile devices, make available lot more innovative applications that could be accessible via the mobile device – all this is a possibility so long there is an agreement on the revenue split online advertising and use of other tools and applications. Depending on the perception of who owns the customer will shift the balance of power at the negotiating table. Android of Google and the ‘Open Access’ plan from Verizon is trying to do just that – prove that each has plans to own the mobile user. Time will tell who gets the better of the other.
And the Wall Street Journal at http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119617188870905241.html?mod=telecommunications_primary_hs
It appears Verizon decision is probably in reaction to the Google Android plans. But then to come up with such a plan within such a short time without the possible thought of it before does not make sense – which makes me think that Verizon had something in process already and the Google decision just accelerated that process.
In a wireless world, the customer is owned by a service provider. Per this announcement from Verizon, devices one chooses to operate remains at the discretion of the end users. This will reduce the distribution costs of service providers at the same time reach out to users who were not their customers by providing them choice of handsets.(Not sure the revenue lost from giving away the distribution channel, as the operators will still distribute the most popular models.) This could result in increased competitive intensity and change in channel mix for mobile devices manufacturers.
By announcing the program it appears Verizon wants to control the user experience. Verizon could then use this to negotiate with Google and other application vendors to share the revenue from online advertising and usage of applications.
A better option would be for both Google and Verizon to work on a converging framework for the software that would be incorporated in the mobile devices – this would help reduce the investment needed by both Verizon and Google, reduce time to market for mobile devices, make available lot more innovative applications that could be accessible via the mobile device – all this is a possibility so long there is an agreement on the revenue split online advertising and use of other tools and applications. Depending on the perception of who owns the customer will shift the balance of power at the negotiating table. Android of Google and the ‘Open Access’ plan from Verizon is trying to do just that – prove that each has plans to own the mobile user. Time will tell who gets the better of the other.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
AT&T and Echostar combo could be deadly for the cable operators in US
AT&T has been building capabilities for its video offering, U-verse that will offer IPTV. The acquisition of Echostar will add a lot of value to AT&T’s video offering. Specifically, Echostar will get the expertise of content negotiation and relationship that is so crucial for a successful video offering. The Echostar’s Direct to home (DTH) service will be a very good complement to the IPTV offering.
As a stand alone business Echostar may have limited options as they will need to partner to offer bundled services - broadband and phone (both wireline and wireless) services. And if the market direction is to offer bundled services, a pure play video services business will have its limitations.
Cable operators and Telecommunication service providers have been at war as each enters the forte of the other. Cable operators are already eating into the phone business. And the Telcos have been aggressively upgrading their networks to offer video services. With Echostar DTH, AT&T could potentially hurt revenue growth and profitability of cable operators. AT&T could also tier their video services – DTH and IPTV. DTH could be priced to mimic the cable operators business in region and IPTV could command a premium based on its interactivity and time shifted TV.
Also with the number of scribers of Echostar (approx. 13.7 Million as opposed to AT&T 126,000) will give AT&T additional room for bargaining with the content providers – could reduce cost.
Similar thinking must be going through the Verizon video services strategic team.
As a stand alone business Echostar may have limited options as they will need to partner to offer bundled services - broadband and phone (both wireline and wireless) services. And if the market direction is to offer bundled services, a pure play video services business will have its limitations.
Cable operators and Telecommunication service providers have been at war as each enters the forte of the other. Cable operators are already eating into the phone business. And the Telcos have been aggressively upgrading their networks to offer video services. With Echostar DTH, AT&T could potentially hurt revenue growth and profitability of cable operators. AT&T could also tier their video services – DTH and IPTV. DTH could be priced to mimic the cable operators business in region and IPTV could command a premium based on its interactivity and time shifted TV.
Also with the number of scribers of Echostar (approx. 13.7 Million as opposed to AT&T 126,000) will give AT&T additional room for bargaining with the content providers – could reduce cost.
Similar thinking must be going through the Verizon video services strategic team.
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