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• Comcast, OTT, and VOD Advertising

  Last week, Comcast launched an expansion of its cable VOD service, adding over 20 primetime TV series from ABC and FOX. This makes Comcast the first Pay TV operator to offer current primetime shows free on demand from all four of the broadcast majors. By my count, Comcast VOD now features 51 broadcast network series (ABC - 6, CBS - 13, FOX - 15, NBC - 20). In itself, this service expansion is not necessarily that dramatic. For several years now, Comcast’s VOD service has featured a selection of primetime series from ABC, CBS, and NBC, and this is an extension of that offering. That said, what’s most interesting is the possible "why" of this announcement, and what it might mean for cable's ability to use VOD to compete with OTT services such as Netflix and Hulu.... Posted May 05 2011, 05:10 PM by Bill Niemeyer with | with no comments Filed under: Over-The-Top, Netflix, Comcast, HULU, PayTV, Bill Niemeyer, Video on Demand

• Decoupling the Network from the Service

  I spent two days this week at a couple of conferences in New York City. The first was “Cable’s Next-Gen Video Strategies,” the second was Seachange International’s “Monetizing Multi-Screen Video” that took place the day after just a few blocks away. Both conferences focused on PayTV operators and had an impressive line-up of speakers. Attendees were treated to discussions on topics such as a la carte channel sales, content licensing, and cord-cutting, and in both conferences the discussions were informative and interesting. However, as the discussions proceeded I realized that the topics covered, though important, didn’t reflect the emerging reality of what’s happening to the industry: the decoupling of services (which we increasingly call “apps”) from the fabric that delivers them. This trend has huge ramifications for operators, content providers, and consumers yet it received no mention on any panel, presentation, or keynote. ... Posted Apr 29 2011, 01:25 PM by Colin Dixon with | with 4 comment(s) Filed under: Over-The-Top, Colin Dixon, Netflix, HULU, PayTV operators, Broadband, Decoupling of services

• Comcast Discussing OTT Delivery in Non-Comcast Regions

  At the SeaChange International Summit in NYC this week, Comcast’s VP of Advanced Business and Technology Development, Mark Hess, said executives are discussing whether to sell its cable programing outside of its cable footprint—yep, deliver it over-the-top of other (cable) operator’s broadband connections to consumers who live in other (cable) operator’s footprint. By implication, this means it would be okay for other cable TV operators to sell into Comcast’s privileged territory, a move certain to recast the entire U.S. PayTV industry. Aw, but it’s just an idea, right? Is this a box Comcast really wants to be opening? Does this signal an end to cable’s mutually recognized service boundaries, the beginning of new age in which competition (the god to which so many business owners chant, at least when it serves their ends) becomes real and cable operators are let loose to exploit the territory of their former allies? Perhaps, but doubtful—at least within the next five years or so. After that, all bets are off. ... Posted Apr 29 2011, 01:22 PM by Michael Greeson with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: Over-The-Top, AT&T, Michael Greeson, Comcast, OTT delivery, SeaChange International Summit, Versus

• Question of the Week: What is OTT?

  Q: What is the definition of OTT? This week’s question is one we are often asked. In 2009, we defined Over-the-Top Video (OTT) as “delivering online video directly to the living room TV, bypassing or going ‘Over-the-Top’ of incumbent... Posted Apr 08 2011, 05:54 AM by The Diffusion Group with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: OTT, Over-The-Top, Question of the week

• Google TV's CES New Product Launch Pullback - Unfortunate But Needed

  As CES 2011 gets underway this week in Las Vegas, the biggest news in product introductions may well be the ones that aren't going to happen. Missing in action will be a number of previously expected Google TV partner launches.... Posted Jan 06 2011, 11:46 AM by Bill Niemeyer with | with no comments Filed under: Over-The-Top, CE devices, CES, lg, Samsung, Bill Niemeyer, Google TV, UI, Vizio, Toshiba, HD video, Sharp

• Google TV – Why Planning for Its Funeral is Extremely Premature

  Six weeks after its introduction, Google TV appears to be dead or dying, at least according to a number of press articles during the last few weeks. ... Posted Dec 03 2010, 09:44 AM by Bill Niemeyer with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: HDTV, Over-The-Top, content, Sony, applications, Bill Niemeyer, Google TV, Android, price points, TechCrunch

• Cord Cutting – The Threat May Be Larger Than You Think

  Some 120,000 of our fellow gadget enthusiasts just finished a long week in Las Vegas, having attended the annual CES circus. Among the hottest topics at this year’s conference was Over-the-Top video delivery and the concept of “cord cutting,” with particular emphasis on (a) how best to exploit OTT technologies to steal subscriber revenue from incumbent PayTV operators, and conversely (b) how incumbents can best fend off this threat. ... Posted Jan 16 2010, 04:22 PM by The Diffusion Group with | with 7 comment(s) Filed under: pay TV, Over-The-Top, Michael Greeson, "TV Everywhere", "cord cutting"