HDTV Almanac - Online Streaming Grows

As reported by Jim O’Neil in Fierce Online Video, the Roku CEO Anthony Wood gave a keynote address at the OTTCon in San Jose, California, last week. Wood is quoted as making several noteworthy remarks (and I recommend that you read the whole article), but the part that jumped out at me was this:

As the number of channels grow–there are almost 500 on Roku now and a new one is being launched almost every day–viewing has [to] grow. Roku has seen its viewing time increase from six hours a week to 12. And I think it’s going to continue growing until it reaches 35 hours, the average that viewers watch today.

Let me repeat that with emphasis: 500 channels on Roku. Tell me again what you’re missing if you cancel your cable subscription? Actually, I know the answer; major channels such as ESPN and some of the premium channels offer programming that cannot (yet) be matched online. But when people are watching as many hours of over-the-top streaming video as they currently watch of the linear broadcast content, don’t you think that the ESPNs and HBOs of the traditional media might take notice? Clearly, they already are aware and are deep into their own experiments into Internet streaming for their content.

Oh, and HBO Go is indeed one of those 500 channels on Roku already. If I were running a cable or satellite television service, I’d be trying hard to figure out what I’m going to do when my current business falls apart.

Posted by Alfred Poor, March 26, 2012 6:00 AM

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Online Streaming Grows

As reported by Jim O’Neil in Fierce Online Video, the Roku CEO Anthony Wood gave a keynote address at the OTTCon in San Jose, California, last week. Wood is quoted as making several noteworthy remarks (and I recommend that you read the whole article), but the part that jumped out at me was this:

As the number of channels grow–there are almost 500 on Roku now and a new one is being launched almost every day–viewing has [to] grow. Roku has seen its viewing time increase from six hours a week to 12. And I think it’s going to continue growing until it reaches 35 hours, the average that viewers watch today.

Let me repeat that with emphasis: 500 channels on Roku. Tell me again what you’re missing if you cancel your cable subscription? Actually, I know the answer; major channels such as ESPN and some of the premium channels offer programming that cannot (yet) be matched online. But when people are watching as many hours of over-the-top streaming video as they currently watch of the linear broadcast content, don’t you think that the ESPNs and HBOs of the traditional media might take notice? Clearly, they already are aware and are deep into their own experiments into Internet streaming for their content.

Oh, and HBO Go is indeed one of those 500 channels on Roku already. If I were running a cable or satellite television service, I’d be trying hard to figure out what I’m going to do when my current business falls apart.

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

HDTV Almanac - March Madness Online: No More Free Ride!

The NCAA Division 1 men’s basketball tournement launches on Wednesday, and like last year, you can watch all 67 games online. But you can’t watch them for free this time.

The March Madness streaming video has grown to be an enormous success over the past few years, and this year you’re asking to pay for it. What’s the price of a ticket to the Big Show? $3.99. Seriously folks, that’s it. That won’t even buy you a beer in some sports bars, and with this you get to watch all 67 games. Not only that, but you can watch on your computer, your iPad, or many iPhone and Android smartphones, and you only have to pay once.

What me? Watching March Madness? Not me, boss!

And when you’re watching the games on your computer, the website still throws up a Boss Screen at the click of a button. Ah, just when the economic recovery is starting in earnest, this comes along to blow our nation’s productivity to bits. Oh well, we can get back to work when April gets here.

Posted by Alfred Poor, March 12, 2012 6:00 AM

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

March Madness Online: No More Free Ride!

The NCAA Division 1 men’s basketball tournement launches on Wednesday, and like last year, you can watch all 67 games online. But you can’t watch them for free this time.

The March Madness streaming video has grown to be an enormous success over the past few years, and this year you’re asking to pay for it. What’s the price of a ticket to the Big Show? $3.99. Seriously folks, that’s it. That won’t even buy you a beer in some sports bars, and with this you get to watch all 67 games. Not only that, but you can watch on your computer, your iPad, or many iPhone and Android smartphones, and you only have to pay once.

What me? Watching March Madness? Not me, boss!

And when you’re watching the games on your computer, the website still throws up a Boss Screen at the click of a button. Ah, just when the economic recovery is starting in earnest, this comes along to blow our nation’s productivity to bits. Oh well, we can get back to work when April gets here.

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.