Apr 022013
 

old-tv

A federal appeals court has handed a big setback to broadcasters trying to stop Aereo, a startup that streams New York-area television content over the Internet. Broadcasters such as Fox and Univision argued that transmitting TV content without permission was copyright infringement. But Aereo countered that its service was analogous to a television and DVR that happened to have a really long cable between the antenna and the screen. On Monday, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit agreed.

Aereos technology was designed from the ground up to take advantage of a landmark 2008 ruling holding that a “remote” DVR product offered by Cablevision was consistent with copyright law. Key to that ruling was Cablevisions decision to create a separate copy of recorded TV programs for each user. While creating thousands of redundant copies makes little sense from a technical perspective, it turned out to be crucial from a legal point of view. Because each copy was viewed by only one household, the court ruled that Cablevision was not engaged in a “public performance” of copyrighted works.

Aereos founders realized that the Cablevision ruling offered a blueprint for building a TV rebroadcasting service that wouldn’t require the permission of broadcasters. In Aereos server rooms are row after row of tiny antennas mounted on circuit boards. When a user wants to view or record a television program, Aereo assigns him an antenna exclusively for his own use. And like Cablevision, when 1000 users record the same program, Aereo creates 1,000 redundant copies.

READ MORE:  Appeals court upholds legality of Aereo’s “tiny antennas” scheme | Ars Technica.

 

 


 

Feb 112013
 

old-tv

Many complained that this years Super Bowl commercials were lackluster, didnt push the edge enough, werent entertaining, etc. Theres a reason for that. Companies that choose to advertise for the Super Bowl face a huge risk. Not only is there the average $4 million investment this year for a 30 second spot, but then there is the criticism from critics, the media, special interest groups. Heaven forbid that one of them is upset by something in the commercial.

One of the most controversial ads this year was GoDaddys ad with a super model making out with a computer nerd.

MORE:  South Florida Interactive Marketing Association Blog: Super Bowl Ads – The Criticism Hurts.

 

 


 

Sep 122012
 

Cutting the cord is still an outlier activity. You have to do too much searching, use too many specialized devices, and configure too many settings to get what you want. But as devices from Google, Apple, Roku and others make internet delivery indistinguishable from cable and satellite delivery, we’re going to wake up one morning and find cord-cutting has gone completely mainstream. And those devices are pretty much already here.

All the advantages enjoyed by subscription TV today are melting away. In five years, those advantages will have been eliminated entirely. In a decade, many of today’s constraints will seem laughable. The idea that you had to pay for 400 other channels just because you wanted to watch a single show will be akin to paying for internet access by the hour.

Xfinity, Time Warner and their cohorts aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. But while the cable company of tomorrow may provide the pipes, it’s certain that it won’t provide the plan. In short, subscription TV is already dead. The body just hasn’t quit twitching yet.

MORE:  Cable’s Walls Are Coming Down.

 


Sep 052012
 

Millions of viewers caught Telemundo’s first ever Premios Tu Mundo (Your World Awards), which aired live Aug. 30. To be exact, 1.6 million people tuned in to the awards show. Telenovela stars Rafael Amaya and Gaby Espino hosted the show, the latter of whom took home the prize for #Most Social.

The Republican National Convention also edged onto the charts, no doubt due in large part to actor Clint Eastwood’s invisible Obama speech, which subsequently inspired many a meme and parody. We’ll see what this week’s Democratic National Convention has in store for social TV.

MORE:  20 TV Shows With the Most Social Media Buzz This Week.

 


Aug 202012
 

Brands and their marketers would like to shift more budget to online video — really. They know perfectly well that consumers are there waiting. But online will never have the gravitas of TV advertising until one very important change takes place.

It’s not technology or inventory (or lack of it) that’s the problem. It’s not the sites or the screen size or the devices. And it’s certainly not measurability.

It’s how video is sold online. And until it changes, TV will rule.

Digital video, specifically in-stream, is marketed as a TV-like experience. Indeed, like TV, viewers must watch the entire ad to get to the desired content (although they rarely do in either medium). What’s fundamentally different, however, is the connection between the programming and the ad — the emotional or thematic link that captures a viewer in the right frame of mind for a specific product or idea. And it’s totally missing online.

MORE:  Why online video remains in TV’s shadow – iMediaConnection.com.

 


Jul 272012
 

Google on Thursday detailed its high-speed Internet network called Google Fiber, which runs 100 times faster than today’s average broadband connection.

The search engine giant is bringing the ultra-high speeds first to Kansas City, Kan. and Kansas City, Mo. In addition to offering two paid packages, Google is also rolling out a virtually free service for at least the first seven years. (Note: You still have to pay a $300 installation fee).

“No more buffering. No more loading. No more waiting,” the company notes on its blog. “Imagine: instantaneous sharing; truly global education; medical appointments with 3D imaging; even new industries that we haven’t even dreamed of, powered by a gig.”

To get things started, the company divided Kansas City into small communities called “fiberhoods.” Each fiberhood needs a high majority of their residents to pre-register to get the service. Those communities with a high pre-registration percentage will be among the first to get Google Fiber. Households in those communities can register for the service throughout the next six weeks.

Households in fiberhoods that qualify will be able to select from various subscription packages. Internet will cost $70 a month, while Internet along with television will cost about $120. The free Internet service (with the $300 installation fee) is also available for $25 a month for 12 months.

MORE:  Meet Google Fiber, the New Lightning-Fast Internet Network.

 


Apr 192012
 

Earlier this month, The Wall Street Journal ran an article (which I read online) about P&G cutting up to $1 billion out of its marketing budget over the next five years. The anticipated loser: TV. The predicted winner: digital. As The Wall Street Journal suggested, P&G will be “leaning more heavily on lower-cost digital marketing and easing up somewhat on pricey broadcast ads.” That’s a big change for a marketer the size of P&G. The article explored TV’s role in P&G’s marketing mix — generating awareness and interest; but it’s the digital that amplifies the message and really engages customers. Because of this new mindset, P&G is exploring a new currency to measure their marketing efforts across traditional and digital touch points: the electronic gross rating point.

Online video provides marketers the best of both worlds: the sight, sound, motion, and “magic” of traditional TV, and the targetability, accountability, and interactivity of online media.

SOURCE: Why video is the new TV – iMediaConnection.com.