Andy Tarczon, Founding Partner
It's Friday November 11, 2011, or 11/11/11, and it's in that spirit that I share 11 things I hope we've learned so far this year. Given the year's about over, you should have your thoughts collected, right?
Here's the thesis I'm playing with: while the technology industry today moves in evolutions, not revolutions, you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone who disagrees that the ways in which people watch and interact with video content are shifting. Captain Obvious takes a bow, right? Indulge me for a moment.
- OTT players aren't the only innovators. Just see Time Warner Cable's iPad App.
- Netflix is not infallible, nor is it the only OTT player. Raise your hand if you owned stock at $300.
- Simulscreening - using an iPad/tablet while watching TV - is common. For me, the pad has become my imdbPad and backstage Oscars pass.
- Portable devices will become legitimate video viewing platforms. Imagine an Amazon pad (say, the Kindle Fire) embedded with a killer video service (say, Prime Instant Streaming). After that, it's not hard to image that these portable, mobile video viewing experiences will become more commonplace.
- Connected devices are a reality, but Smart TVs aren't nearly smart enough. In this case, Roku offers a breath of fresh air.
- Consumers are more flexible and willing to engage interactive media than our industry has recognized.
- Cord cutters have yet to materialize, but it would be folly to underestimate how this may turn out.
- Facebook and Twitter on the TV...well, um, suck. But SocialTV is alive and well.
- Bandwidth caps are a reality, at least in mobile. How long before landline broadband is similarly dissected?
- Sustained video quality over the Internet may be "good enough" but that's far from great.
- While consumers perceive poor value in their PayTV service, traditionally they have proven very satisfied with their service. Until recently. Hmmm, will that impact item 7 above?
ShareThis