• About

LIVEdigitally

Video entertainment options are all over the place

Posted on December 1, 2006 by Jeremy Toeman

Cinemanow and Movielink made the first huge strides in Internet-delivery of movies with their offerings several years ago, albeit not to much success.  In the past 2 years we’ve seen things move in leaps and bounds. 

HD playback controls GUIHere is my list of some of the most prevalent/important things going on right now:

  • Multi-tuner high definition DVRs are commonly available.  DVRs (HD and SD) are in about 15-20 million homes in the US today.  Timeshifting is no fad.
  • Sling Media sold over 100K Slingboxes in the first year, and now have 3 different models on the market and are in 9 countries.  Placeshifting is the new black.
  • Over 40 million HDTV sets are expected to be sold in the US by the end of the year (cumulative).  HDTV is important.
  • IPTV set-top boxes (like a cable box, but hooked up to your DSL) are in millions of homes worldwide.  It might not be a slam-dunk in the US, but many people are watching TV streaming over the Internet.
  • YouTube.  100 million videos a day.  I don’t care if it’s long-tail or short-tail or rat-tail.  I don’t care if it’s user-generated content or all clips from SNL and the Daily Show.  People are comfortable watching video on Web sites, regardless of quality.
  • Moviebeam (love the concept, but the movie selection is so lackluster these days – I’ll post more soon), Applie’s iTV, Akimbo, SAT+GO, ITVN, Xbox Movie Downloads, and a slew of other companies have boxes, products, or services that are all providing alternatives to the traditional cable/satellite TV offerings.  I don’t know how any of these options will fare, but they all seem to either be very niche-y or not compelling.  But there’s a lot more to come. I have seen the future, and I can’t name the company, but it’s coming next year, and it’s going to rock. 
  • Wal-mart’s online DVD offering (details here) sounds completely off the mark.  Jonas wrote a good piece about it, and I think it’s simply an offering with no market appeal.  If I buy the DVD, why do I need a download?  If I download it, why do I need a DVD?  Greed begetting greed.
  • Regal Entertainment is giving moviegoers a “panic button” in case they see someone on a cell phone and are unable to confront them directly.  That’s just weird.
  • Entrance to SNL studioSaturday Night Live is debating allowing live viewing of rehearsals online.  There’s a near little coincidence, as I personally attribute ALL the success of YouTube as originating with the spread of the “Lazy Sunday” clip from SNL last season (which they, at the time, vehemently protested).
  • The NFL is looking into streaming live games online, and the NHL has some archives online (which is about as much as we’re gonna get, since Bettman doesn’t really care about the fans anyway).
  • Mobile mobile mobile.

Phew, I’m exhausted.  Did I miss anything?

Share this:

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • Reddit

Related

Posted in Convergence, Video/Music/Media |
« 15 Simple Ways Microsoft Could Improve Computing
Evangelizing Evangelism »

Leave a comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

About

Jeremy Toeman is a seasoned Product leader with over 20 years experience in the convergence of digital media, mobile entertainment, social entertainment, smart TV and consumer technology. Prior ventures and projects include CNET, Viggle/Dijit/Nextguide, Sling Media, VUDU, Clicker, DivX, Rovi, Mediabolic, Boxee, and many other consumer technology companies. This blog represents his personal opinion and outlook on things.

Recent Posts

  • Back on the wagon/horse?
  • 11 Tips for Startups Pitching Big Companies
  • CES 2016: A New Role
  • Everything I Learned (So Far) Working For a Huge Company
  • And I’m Back…

Archives

Pages

  • About

Archives

  • January 2019
  • April 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • May 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • June 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • May 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • October 2009
  • September 2009
  • August 2009
  • July 2009
  • June 2009
  • May 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009
  • January 2009
  • December 2008
  • November 2008
  • October 2008
  • September 2008
  • August 2008
  • July 2008
  • June 2008
  • May 2008
  • April 2008
  • March 2008
  • February 2008
  • January 2008
  • December 2007
  • November 2007
  • October 2007
  • September 2007
  • August 2007
  • July 2007
  • June 2007
  • May 2007
  • April 2007
  • March 2007
  • February 2007
  • January 2007
  • December 2006
  • November 2006
  • October 2006
  • September 2006
  • August 2006
  • July 2006
  • June 2006
  • May 2006
  • April 2006
  • March 2006
  • February 2006
  • January 2006
  • December 2005
  • November 2005
  • October 2005
  • September 2005
  • August 2005
  • July 2005
  • June 2005
  • May 2005
  • April 2005
  • March 2005
  • February 2005
  • January 2005
  • December 2004
  • November 2004
  • October 2004
  • September 2004

Categories

  • Convergence (81)
  • Gadgets (144)
  • Gaming (19)
  • General (999)
  • Guides (35)
  • LD Approved (72)
  • Marketing (23)
  • Mobile Technology (111)
  • Networking (22)
  • No/Low-tech (64)
  • Product Announcements (85)
  • Product Reviews (109)
  • That's Janky (93)
  • Travel (29)
  • Video/Music/Media (115)
  • Web/Internet (103)

WordPress

  • Log in
  • WordPress

CyberChimps WordPress Themes

© LIVEdigitally
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.