At the recent VideoSchmooze, Colin Dixon from The Diffusion Group interviewed Chet Kanojia, founder and CEO of Aereo in a case study focused on innovation. While much of this year's media coverage of Aereo has focused on broadcasters' copyright litigation against it, far less attention has been paid to the perfect storm of technology and consumer trends that have enabled Aereo.
In fact Chet says that even 2 years ago Aereo would not have been possible. In the interview Chet details how the striking reduction in costs / increase in performance for key enablers like bandwidth, storage, cloud computing and transcoding are driving the business. Chet explains how the entire computational industry is subsidizing these trends, which Aereo and others are capitalizing on. In addition, Chet discusses how shifting consumer perceptions are creating an opening for innovative new business models like Aereo.
The interview provides fascinating insights on today's technology trends from a world-class technologist that all media and technology companies - startups and incumbents - need to be paying attention to.
Categories: Startups, Technology
Topics: Aereo, VideoSchmooze
Below is the full video of last week's VideoSchmooze session, "Cracking the Code on Multiplatform Success," which included Peter Dolchin (VP, Viacom Media Networks), Jason Forbes (EVP, zeebox), Ran Harnevo (SVP, AOL On Network), Chris Smith (VP, Collective), with Olivier Manuel (Principal, Accretive) moderating.
The group covered a lot of ground, sharing insights on what their companies are doing with multi-platform and how they view multi-platform unfolding. Among the specific topics they discussed included:
- What is the definition of a "TV" in the online video age?
- What do marketers want - unified measurement for media buying, or separation by platform? And what do incumbent linear networks and upstart online-only programmers want?
- What is the difference between "TV Everywhere" and "Video Everywhere?" How are new programmers challenging incumbents to force more audience fragmentation and how is the ad community valuing this programming?
- Can online-only originals be financing solely on ads or do they need a dual revenue stream with subscriptions, like cable?
- Does premium content that was produced for the web get TV-style premium CPMs or will it be considered low-cost web content? How important is targeting matter and what other factors matter?
- Do ad formats need to be different on TV, mobile and online?
- How can business models align with user behaviors, and who's succeeding in doing this today?
- What lessons does mobile, with the dominance of iOS and Android, offer to connected TV space? Will a "connected TV operating system" emerge and if so, who will drive that?
- How does social help the discovery process and combat DVR usage?
And much more!
Categories: Advertising, Devices, Events
Topics: AOL, Collective, Viacom, VideoSchmooze, Zeebox
Below is the full video of the opening session at last week's VideoSchmooze, which featured 3 of Wall Street's top pay-TV/broadband/media/advertising analysts, Laura Martin (Needham & Co.), Craig Moffett (Sanford Bernstein) and Michael Nathanson (Nomura) along with me moderating. The group had a spirited discussion that was packed with data and touched on virtually every major topic industry. Some of the highlights include:
- The evidence that there is a gap of approximately 600K-800K U.S. households per year that are either cord-cutters or cord-nevers and what's causing this.
- TV networks' strategy to protect existing revenue streams and not have online delivery undermine their business models.
- Implications of mobile video usage on traditional TV usage.
- Changing consumer viewing behaviors and adoption of new devices, particularly among younger audiences, and what this means for the TV ecosystem.
- The runaway cost of sports rights and whether this will drive more cord-cutting and cord-nevering.
- How upstart programmers like YouTube can succeed with niche content approaches.
- How TV's upfront advertising will change due to online video alternatives.
- What's ahead in 2013.
And much more.
Categories: Events
Topics: VideoSchmooze
I'm pleased to present the 158th edition of the VideoNuze-TDG podcast with my weekly partner Colin Dixon, senior analyst at The Diffusion Group. Colin and I each back in the office, after being together at VideoSchmooze in NYC.
(Apologies in advance, the audio quality this week is diminished because we couldn't get Skype working on both ends, so I had to use a cell phone connection.)
On the opening session at VideoSchmooze with the 3 Wall Street analysts, Laura Martin, Craig Moffett and Michael Nathanson, Craig made a point that cable operators are, in his opinion, "infrastructure providers," not video providers. He means that because they now supply both video, broadband and other services over the same networks, their real business is maximizing the ROI derived from subscribers' total payments for all services delivered.
To the extent that large numbers of video subscribers may cut the cord at some point down the road to use OTT services instead, cable operators would respond by trying to recapture lost revenue and margin via increased, "usage-based" pricing on broadband for heavier OTT users. Craig believes there's approximately $50/month/video subscriber of video profit margin that would need to be recouped.
In our discussion, Colin and I discuss the concept generally, and in particular whether this type of revenue shifting is feasible. Colin is skeptical whether this can happen, pointing to competitive, regulatory and consumer demand obstacles. I'm more in Craig's camp, and believe that operators would certainly try their best to accomplish this, as it's a natural thing any business would try to do.
Putting all of this into context however, it's still a largely hypothetical discussion. There isn't yet cord-cutting to an extent that operators feel the need to recoup profits through broadband. And where data caps exist they're still high enough that few subscribers need to buy more bandwidth to accommodate their OTT viewing.
Still, it's interesting to speculate on the topic, as higher broadband pricing would make OTT services like Netflix, Hulu and others relatively more expensive, therefore making them less attractive relative to pay-TV video services.
Click here to listen to the podcast (18 minutes, 18 seconds)
Click here for previous podcasts
The VideoNuze-TDG podcast is available in iTunes...subscribe today!
Categories: Broadband ISPs, Cable TV Operators, Podcasts
Topics: VideoSchmooze
Over 300 executives turned out for VideoSchmooze: Online Video Leadership Forum yesterday in NYC, who enjoyed a jam-packed morning of learning and networking. If you weren't able to attend, all of the sessions were video-recorded and I'll be posting them over the next couple of weeks. In the meantime, a few photos from the morning are below:
Categories: Events
Topics: VideoSchmooze
A final reminder - VideoSchmooze: Online Video Leadership Forum is tomorrow in NYC. Over 300 executives from across the video and digital landscape are signed up for this premier morning of learning and networking. Registration is open until 6pm ET this evening.
The program includes an amazing group of industry analysts and executives who will be speaking to many of the main issues in online video. We will kick off at 8:15am with our panel of 3 top Wall Street broadband/cable
/Internet/media analysts (Craig Moffett from Sanford Bernstein, Michael Nathanson from Nomura and Laura Martin from Needham & Co.) discussing the tectonic changes driving the video industry. Expect a data-rich, detailed discussion of the industry's dynamics and what's ahead in 2013.
After the analysts' panel, there will be sessions on key industry topics including the OTT landscape, TV Everywhere, multi-platform distribution, monetization, innovation/technology enablers, changing consumer behaviors, devices, mobile video and more.
In addition, all VideoSchmooze attendees will receive a complimentary copy of the brand new 16-page "Ultimate Guide to TV Everywhere and Anywhere," a collaboration of VideoNuze and B&C/Multichannel News magazines, published this week.
Thanks again to VideoSchmooze's lead sponsors Adobe, AOL, Collective and thePlatform plus supporting sponsors Akamai, NeuLion and Undertone, all of whom will have executives in attendance who can share information about their products and services.
If you're not able to join us, please follow all the tweets at #schmooze12.
I look forward to seeing you at VideoSchmooze!
Learn more and register now
Categories: Events
Topics: VideoSchmooze
I'm pleased to present the 157th edition of the VideoNuze-TDG podcast with my weekly partner Colin Dixon, senior analyst at The Diffusion Group. This week we devote the full podcast to discussing TDG's new report, "Pay-TV Refugees - A Primary Research Profile of Cord-Cutters and Cord-Nevers."
Colin notes that U.S. households with broadband service that don't subscribe to pay-TV have grown steadily in the last 3 years, and are forecast to continue doing so over the next 5 years. We dig into the main reasons behind this - affordability and relevance, particularly for younger consumers.
As I wrote earlier this week, the fundamental question here is what broadband users - presented with a huge new diversity of online video choices, the rising cost of pay-TV and a proliferation of new viewing devices - will do? Admittedly it's still very early in the game and hard to predict what's ahead. But it does seem inevitable, given human behavior, that some percentage will peel off, either dropping pay-TV or not subscribing in the first place.
All of this - and more - is on the table for discussion at next Wednesday morning's VideoSchmooze in NYC. More info here.
Click here to listen to the podcast (19 minutes, 12 seconds)
Click here for previous podcasts
The VideoNuze-TDG podcast is available in iTunes...subscribe today!
Categories: Cable TV Operators, Podcasts, Research
Topics: The Diffusion Group, VideoSchmooze
A reminder that VideoSchmooze: Online Video Leadership Forum is one week from today, Wed., Dec. 5th, in NYC. If you're still deliberating whether to come, register now to join approximately 250 executives from across the video and digital landscape who are signed up for this premier morning of learning and networking.
Some of the media and technology companies represented include: ABC, A&E Networks, BBC, BlackArrow, blinkx, Bloomberg, CNN, CBS, Cisco, Clearleap, Comcast, DirecTV, eMarketer, ESPN, FreeWheel, Hearst, IMG, LinkedIn, MLB Network, NBCU, NFL, Nielsen, Orange, Ooyala, Redbox, Roku, Scripps, Synacor, TiVo, TV Guide, and many others. Plus all of VideoSchmooze's sponsors - Adobe, Akamai, AOL, Collective, NeuLion, thePlatform and Undertone will have executives in attendance who can share information about their products and services.
We have a great diversity of expert speakers who will cover many of the main issues in online video. A highlight of the morning will be the opening session, featuring 3 of Wall Street's top broadband/cable/Internet/media
analysts (Craig Moffett from Sanford Bernstein, Michael Nathanson from Nomura and Laura Martin from Needham & Co.) discussing the tectonic changes driving the video industry. This is the first time this group has been together and you can expect a data-rich, detailed discussion of the industry's dynamics and what's ahead in 2013.
After the analysts' panel, there will be 4 sessions digging deeper into the hottest industry topics including the OTT landscape, TV Everywhere, multi-platform distribution, monetization, innovation/technology enablers, changing consumer behaviors, devices, syndication, mobile video and more.
In addition, all VideoSchmooze attendees will receive a complimentary copy of the brand new 16-page "Ultimate Guide to TV Everywhere and Anywhere," a collaboration of VideoNuze and B&C/Multichannel News magazines, being published on Dec. 3rd.
I look forward to seeing you at VideoSchmooze!
Learn more and register now
Categories: Events
Topics: VideoSchmooze
Today is the last day to take advantage of early bird discounted registration for VideoSchmooze: Online Video Leadership Forum on Wed., Dec. 5th in NYC. Individual tickets are $95 per person, and as a reminder, all early bird registrants will be entered to win an $850 Samsung 40-inch LED Smart TV, generously provided by NeuLion.
Categories: Events
Topics: VideoSchmooze
Reminder that this Friday, Nov. 16th is the last day to register at the early bird rate of $95 per person for VideoSchmooze: Online Video Leadership Forum on Wed., Dec. 5th in NYC (NATPE and CTAM members get $85 registration with special discount code). In addition to the discount, everyone who signs up by then will be entered to win an $850 Samsung 40-inch LED Smart TV, generously provided by NeuLion.
We have a great group of executives registered so far from media companies such as Comcast, Bloomberg, NBCU, IMG, MLB Network, A&E Networks, DirecTV and others, plus technology companies like Akamai, Ooyala, Cisco, Mixpo, SundaySky, Grab Media, BlackArrow, Clearleap, FreeWheel and others.

I'm really looking forward to this VideoSchmooze as we have a great diversity of expert speakers, covering all of the main issues in online video. A highlight of the morning will be our first session, featuring 4 of the top Wall St. broadband/cable/Internet/media analysts (from Sanford Bernstein, Nomura, Barclays and Needham & Co.) discussing the key changes driving the video industry. This is the first time this group has been together and you can expect a data-rich, detailed discussion of the industry's dynamics and what's ahead in 2013.
After the analysts' panel, we'll have 4 sessions which will cover the hottest industry topics including the OTT landscape, TV Everywhere, multi-platform distribution, monetization, innovation/technology enablers, changing consumer behaviors, devices, mobile video and more. All in all VideoSchmooze is once again shaping as a premier morning of industry education and networking.
Register now for the early bird discount and an opportunity to win the Samsung Smart TV!
Lead sponsors for this VideoSchmooze are AOL, Auditude/Adobe, Collective and thePlatform, with supporting sponsors Akamai, NeuLion and Undertone.
Categories: Events
Topics: VideoSchmooze
Don't miss VideoSchmooze: Online Video Leadership Forum coming up on Wed., Dec. 5th in NYC. Early bird discounted registration for $95 per ticket ($85 for NATPE and CTAM members) is open until Nov. 16th and as a reminder everyone who signs up by then will be entered to win an $850 Samsung 40-inch LED Smart TV, generously provided by NeuLion.
This is the 9th VideoSchmooze and it promises to be the best yet. VideoSchmooze attendees know these events are all about high-impact learning from thought-leaders and high-quality networking with colleagues. The program kicks off with 4 of the top Wall St. broadband/cable/Internet/media analysts discussing the tectonic shifts that are rocking the video industry. It's the first time to my knowledge that this group has come together and it will be a super-insightful discussion into what's really driving the industry and what to expect in 2013.
Following the analyst discussion, there are 4 sessions during which we'll delve into the hottest topics including the OTT landscape, TV Everywhere, multi-platform distribution, monetization, innovation/technology enablers, changing consumer behaviors, devices, mobile video and more. Industry leaders on the front lines of innovation from AOL, Aereo, Adobe, zeebox, Discovery, Collective and others will be sharing their experiences and insights. There will be ample time for audience Q&A.
Register now for the early bird discount and an opportunity to win the Samsung Smart TV!
Categories: Events
Topics: VideoSchmooze
Reminder that all early bird, discounted registrants for the Dec. 5th VideoSchmooze Online Video Leadership Forum in NYC will be entered to win an $850 Samsung 40 inch LED Smart TV, generously provided by NeuLion. The only qualifier is you must actually be in attendance when we do the drawing.
The early bird discounted ticket price is $95, which includes the full morning program through 12 noon, continental breakfast and networking.

If you need to understand what's driving the online video ecosystem forward and how it's impacting related industries like pay-TV, advertising, content and devices, then VideoSchmooze is a must-attend event. VideoSchmooze's outstanding industry analysts and executives will cover the hottest topics including the OTT landscape, TV Everywhere, multi-platform distribution, monetization, innovation/technology enablers, changing consumer behaviors, devices, and more.
The lead sponsors for this 9th VideoSchmooze are Adobe, AOL, Collective and thePlatform, with supporting sponsors Akamai, Undertone and NeuLion.
Register now for the early bird discount and an opportunity to win the Samsung Smart TV!
Categories: Events
Topics: VideoSchmooze
Here's another great reason to register now for the Dec. 5th VideoSchmooze Online Video Leadership Forum in NYC: all early bird registrants will be entered in a drawing to win an $850 Samsung 40 inch LED Smart TV. This highly-rated 1080p HDTV's screen is just 1.8 inches thick and is WiFi enabled with all your favorite over-the-top apps integrated. The Smart TV is being graciously provided by NeuLion. The only qualifier is you must actually be in attendance when we do the drawing on Dec. 5th.
The early bird discounted ticket price is $95, which includes the full morning program through 12 noon, continental breakfast and networking. 5-pack and 10-pack group rates are also available.
Categories: Events
Topics: VideoSchmooze
Early bird discounted registration for the next VideoSchmooze: Online Video Leadership Forum, on Wed. morning, Dec. 5th, is now open. This will be the 9th VideoSchmooze and it promises to be the highest impact
one yet, packed with lots of learning and networking with industry leaders. VideoSchmooze will run from 7:30am-12 noon at the McGraw-Hill conference center in NYC. Last year's VideoSchmooze sold out, so don't delay registering.
Following the networking breakfast, the program will begin with a discussion, "Digging Into Video's Tectonic Shifts" with 4 of Wall Street's top video industry analysts (including Craig Moffett, the #1 ranked cable/broadband analyst and Michael Nathanson, the #1 ranked entertainment analyst). Nobody understands the video industry's underlying financial and strategic drivers better than this group and it's a privilege to have them join us. Expect a detailed, data-driven discussion of topics including over-the-top competition, TV Everywhere, cord-cutting, content licensing, connected and mobile devices, changes in consumer behavior and 2013 trends.
Next is a in-depth discussion of TV Everywhere, the pay-TV industry's top strategic priority to deliver more value to subscribers and blunt the appeal of OTT services like Netflix. We'll explore all of TV Everywhere's key opportunities and challenges from the pay-TV operator, TV network and technology perspectives. Complimenting this session will be a brief presentation from Adobe, whose "Project Primetime" platform has become integral to TV Everywhere's rollout.
Following will be a case study discussion on innovation in the video ecosystem with Aereo's founder and CEO Chet Kanojia. Aereo is arguably the hottest online video startup of 2012, raising $20.5 million from Barry Diller's IAC in February. While a lot of Aereo's media coverage has been on its relationship to the broadcast TV industry, we'll use this session to focus on how Aereo is innovating at the intersection of broadband delivery, cloud computing, storage, connected devices and consumer changes. For incumbents and startups alike, there will be valuable lessons in what's fueling disruptive new services.
The final session is "Cracking the Code on Multi-Platform Success," featuring Ran Harnevo, SVP of Video at AOL (the fastest growing major video site in 2012), Ernesto Schmitt, CEO and co-founder of zeebox (the red-hot social TV provider with recent investments from Comcast, NBCU and Viacom) and Chris Smith, VP of Video and Mobile at Collective (a leading cross-platform advertising management provider), plus one other participant. It's no secret the world is going multi-platform; the panelists will share insights about how to succeed.
The lead sponsors for this 9th VideoSchmooze are Adobe, AOL, Collective and thePlatform, with supporting sponsors Akamai and Undertone (additional supporting sponsorship opportunities are available, please contact me if interested). I'm extremely grateful for these companies' support in making VideoSchmooze possible. The video landscape in more complicated than ever, making VideoSchmooze a must-attend event for executives who need to filter the noise and understand what's really going on.
I look forward to seeing you on Dec. 5th!
Categories: Events
Topics: VideoSchmooze
Please save the date for the next VideoSchmooze: Online Video Leadership Forum, on Wednesday, December 5th, at the McGraw-Hill conference center in NYC. This will be the 9th VideoSchmooze that VideoNuze has hosted and I think it will be the best yet, packed with lots of learning and networking with industry leaders in an expanded morning format beginning with breakfast at 7:30am and concluding at 12 noon.
2012 has been a huge year for online video and 2013 is shaping up to be event bigger. VideoSchmooze will feature a mix of keynotes, fireside chats and panel discussions during which we will explore the industry through four
significant themes: Strategic/Financial, Innovation, TV Everywhere and Monetization/Devices. I am thrilled about the initial speakers who are committed, and I will be sharing further details in the coming weeks. I expect this VideoSchmooze will be another must-attend event for executives responsible for their companies' online video efforts who need to stay on the cutting edge.
Currently thePlatform and AOL are on board as sponsors, and additional opportunities are available (please contact me if interested).
Categories: Events
Topics: VideoSchmooze
Categories: Advertising, Events
Topics: VideoSchmooze
Topics: VideoSchmooze
Categories: Cable Networks, Events, People
Topics: HBO, VideoSchmooze

Categories: Events
Topics: VideoSchmooze
of NYC from 7:30am-11am. There are approximately 200 industry executives registered, spanning all facets of the online video world, which promises an exciting morning of learning and networking. Categories: Events
Topics: VideoSchmooze