CES

Convergence kills CES, NAB, CTIA...

Tue, 15 Jan 2008 06:59:55 -0500

Sony brought their stars, so too did NBC. Telco executives were everywhere and a cable guy gave the keynote address. The usual corridors of gadget wizardry were on show but what stood out at CES2008 was that everyone--carriers, MSOs, broadcasters, the big production, gaming and software houses and of course the CE salesmen--was there. Could it be what we are finally watching play out live is the much anticipated convergence?

There may be more devices than ever, but as machines all become IP enabled, behind the scenes the carriers, cable companies and broadcasters that power them are morphing into "digicoms" delivering a variety of digital medias through a variety of digital devices. In time, conferences such as CES, NAB and CTIA are set to be quaint reminders of a time when technologies were hard wired to content and distribution. -Tom

Comcast says tru2way is the only way

Tue, 15 Jan 2008 06:59:10 -0500

Comcast boss Ralph Roberts used his historic keynote at CES2008 to relaunch the industry's new open development platform, tru2way. Formerly known as the OpenCable platform, it is designed to enable two way interactivity in all cable enabled devices.

"Now, a software developer can write an application once--a gaming application, an entertainment application, even a service like TiVo and it will work on a tru2way-enabled device, regardless of manufacturer, and across virtually every cable system," Roberts told CES attendees. He did not mention it will also save the industry a lot of development expense.

The vigorously independent CE industry lobby has opposed the platform, in particular the signing of what it says are onerous licensing agreements and have been pushing their own protocol called DCR+. Pointedly, Roberts also showed off several set top boxes from Motorola, Panasonic, LG and Samsung which are using the tru2way platform, suggesting the CE industry may be divided. The whole issue has gone off to the Federal Communications Commission where chairman, Kevin Martin is being asked to adjudicate. Which should be more than interesting given the brawl over Comcast's dominance last year.

For more:
- Comcast launches tru2way Article
- Two way battle reaches FCC Article
- FCC opens net neutrality inquiry Article

Related Article:
- FCC to step into two way spat Article

SPOTLIGHT: FCC wars truce?

Tom Burton — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 06:59:00 -0500

With Congress warming up for a review of Kevin Martin's MO as Chair of the Federal Communications Commission, it is intriguing to see how cable's government lobby wants to approach 2008. Martin used some questionable numbers to target the industry and Comcast in particular for some micro regulation. It all ended in tears with lots of complaints about the lack of proper process. Asked last week at CES what the approach would be, cable lobbyists suggested they would like to move on. Comcast's Joe Waz was reported saying: "I'd like to hit the delete button on the last 12 months." Article

Internet TV arrives

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 06:59:55 -0500

If there is one mega trend to emerge--or at least be confirmed--from CES2008, it is that after many years of phony war the battle for Internet TV finally is serious, with device vendors, content players and distributors scrambling to be a winner in what is expected to be the biggest entertainment revolution since color TV.

The key to success in the new video industry is collaboration and there has been a spate of deals and alliances announced as players quickly realize it will be the operators that bring user friendly functionality consumers really want and compelling relevant content that will prosper. No one player has it all, and hence why everyone is doing deals.

Big picture all pre-recordable material is expected to originate from a server (think of the Internet like a giant TiVo machine) with broadcasters eventually being limited to live and big event coverage (sport/concerts etc). But while this helicopter view may be relatively clear, who successfully emerges from the industry transformation to the internet is any one's guess.--Tom

Lounge room war erupts

Tom Burton — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 06:59:50 -0500

The battle for control of the lounge room has finally begun with Microsoft releasing at CES2008 its impressive IPTV service embedded in its game console Xbox 360 powered by its Mediaroom software. The first market for release is set to be England after Microsoft struck a deal with BT Vision to use the game console as its principle in room device.

Showing just how seriously Microsoft is seeking dominance in the TV space, the software giant also announced its DVR Anywhere product, which enables the Mediaroom program to stream content to different set-top boxes around the house. The application allows a show to be paused and resumed in another room and centralizes content storage, giving each box the same access to all shows.

Connecting the world's TVs to the Internet remains the one great unconquered frontier with vendors desperate to be the device of choice as an expected 160 million TVs connect up to the Internet over the next four years. The battle for the lounge room is predicted to be played out between the CE set top box vendors, the game console manufacturers and the media PC players, with the game console sector likely to dominate because of the bundling of a gaming platform and IPTV functionality and the already embedded consumer base.

Microsoft announced its Xbox/IPTV integration this time last year and was pipped by Sony in October when Sony deployed its PlayStation console with an IPTV interface in South Korea, for the local incumbent telco's high definition service, called Mega TV.

Microsoft is playing in all three platforms with its Mediaroom software and with TV manufacturers finally equipping TV's with an internet port the race is now on between for who will become the device of choice. Apple's iPod juggernaut is a reminder how possible it is to dominate delivery of a media, once consumers get an easy to use device they like.

For more
- Microsoft and BT to deploy Xbox 360 IPTV service Release
- British Telecom gets first dibs on Xbox 360 IPTV Article

Related articles:
- Sony pips Microsoft Report
- Microsoft IPTV middleware wins praise abroad Report

Comcast's portable DVR box

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 06:59:40 -0500

The US market is, of course, the key frontier for vendors and channel deliverers jostling for control of the lounge room, with the dominant cable and satellite companies signaling they are not going to surrender without a fight.

Comcast this week announced at CES its portable DVR box, supplied by Panasonic which enables Comcast users to take on the road their DVR recordings. The Panasonic device also acts as a set-top box, with video on demand functionality, has a 8.5" LCD screen, plays DVDs and CDs and can be powered from a car lighter.

Comcast is playing catch up as the two US satellite providers, DirecTV and Dish have offered a similar box for over a year. Strangely, Comcast's Panasonic box will not be available for at least another year.

Panasonic also unveiled a new series of Plasma TV's (including a 150 inch job!), all IP enabled and confirming that after years of phony war the race is now seriously on for internet TV.

For more:
- Comcast, Panasonic unveil portable DVR Article
- Panasonic releases new IP plasma TVs Article

Related articles:
- Motorola gains in set-top box sector Report
- Motorola sells 2 millionth IP set-top Report

SlingBox doubles as a cable modem

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 06:59:20 -0500

Also pushing for TV viewer attention is Sling which announced for CES its SlingModem product. The SlingModem acts as both as cable modem and a box to stream TV to any internet enabled device.

Sling is the leader in so called "placeTV" sector and also announced an HD version for its core SlingBox product to enable streaming of full HD content to external PC's and other devices.

The modem combo is a potential game changer and is likely to push other cable and IPTV operators to seek to similar functionality. Sling's parent, EchoStar Holdings, is keen to be operator agnostic and are enthusiastically promoting the new combo to any cable or telco TV operator which wants it.

But it was the announcement of an application to stream home TV to BlackBerry smart phones that got all the attention. The BlackBerry application, to be released later this year, will also mark the first time the popular corporate tool will be able to handle streamed media, although the latest World Phone version does have a video player.

For More:
- Sling Media shows player for BlackBerry smartphones Article
- Sling combines Cable modem and SlingBox Article

Related article:
- Sling releases mobile application Release
- NHL comes to Sling's aid as partner Report

Content deals everywhere

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 06:59:10 -0500

The device space may be white hot, but there is similar feverish collaboration under way among the content players, with numerous media brands announcing distribution and alliance deals for the new year. Some are simple content swaps such as the New York Times and CNBC deal, others are platform deals such as Sony's decision to drive a number of ad-supported channels through Google's, YouTube.

Also significant was the Microsoft announcement of a partnership to make available ABC Disney and MGM programming through its Xbox 360 box. The programs will be available in both standard and high definition.

Samsung also announced a deal to enable Samsung P2 portable video users to download video content from Starz's Vongo service for mobile viewing.

But it was the decision of video aggregator Veoh to quietly integrate content from the News Corp/NBC video portal Hulu, which probably was most significant.

Hulu enables video to be embedded in any site and the move by Veoh to integrate Hulu content without any deal marks a further break down of the proprietary distribution model which has characterized the media industry for 50 years. The separation of distribution from creation has been under way for some time through RSS feeds and embedded media, but the move by Veoh will challenge traditional media companies like News and NBC who have in past vigorously defended their right to determine who will carry their content.

For More:
- The end of Exclusivity NewTeeVee Essay
- Microsoft to carry Disney and ABC Article
- NYT an CNBC to share content Article
- Samsung to work with Vongo Article

Related articles:
- Babelgum does a raft of content deals Report
- Joost gets Viacom content Report