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Seeing 3D Streaming Video For the First Time at NAB Show
It's no surprise that 3D is a major focus here at the NAB Show this week. But with all the market attention on how and when consumers might upgrade yet again, to an expensive 3D television set, one thing I've wondered about for a while is when might we see 3D online video streaming to standard monitors. At last, I saw a demo of this in the Microsoft booth yesterday. Microsoft showed a live stream of German broadcaster TVN's control booth (yes, pretty boring stuff but something live was needed), delivered in 3D to both a computer monitor and also to a Panasonic 3D TV.
The diagram below shows the details. The broadcast was captured by a 3D camera and encoded using Inlet's Spinnaker 7100 HD streaming appliance at 3 mbps in 720p HD. The files were delivered via Level 3's network which used Microsoft's IIS Smooth Streaming delivery to the PC running Silverlight. Then Silverlight does something called "anaglyph rendering" which means delivering 2 offset images in different color layers. Using the 25 cent blue-red paper glasses you've no doubt seen before, the images are fused and I was able to see the TVN control booth in 3D.
Microsoft positioned this as a proof of concept, but with all the technical pieces already in place, the idea of streaming a live 3D event online seems very close at hand with a potentially quick ramp of activity thereafter. Recall that the 2009 French Open tennis tournament was the first live HD streaming event, and less than a year later there have been a number of HD streaming sports events (e.g. NFL games, Olympics, etc.).
After viewing the TVN stream on the PC monitor I then watched it on the Panasonic plasma 3D TV, using $150 glasses. Instead of using the anaglyph technique, the TV and glasses use something called "active shutter" whereby the TV signals to the glasses to open and close each lens at double the frame rate in order to create the 3D experience. While this higher-end set up provided an improved 3D experience, with colors in particular looking sharper and truer, if you didn't have this set up in your home (which most people won't for many years), the PC experience still feels like a big step up from HD.
3D is clearly the next big thing in video delivery, yet with the replacement cycle for expensive 3D TV sets limited, 3D online streaming could represent an important starting point, introducing 3D to a huge number of users for modest expense. And for Silverlight and Microsoft generally, it could be another differentiator vs. Flash as Adobe continues its skirmish with Apple. It will be interesting to see how it is adopted and rolls out.
What do you think? Post a comment now (no sign-in required).
(Note - Silverlight is a VideoNuze sponsor)
Categories: 3D, Sports, Technology
Topics: Inlet, Microsoft, Sliverlight, TVN
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"VideoSchmooze" Early Bird Discount Ends This Week - Register Now and Win an iPad
Early bird discounted registration for VideoNuze's next "VideoSchmooze" Broadband Video Leadership Evening ends this Friday. VideoSchmooze is 2 weeks away, on Monday, April 26th. The event runs from 6-9pm at the Hudson Theater in New York City and includes open bar, hors d'oeuvres and a full educational program. As an extra incentive, early bird registrants only will be entered for a chance to win an iPad.
If you're eager to better understand the online video industry and meet interesting colleagues, VideoSchmooze is for you. The panel, which I'll moderate, is "Money Talks: Is Online Video Shifting to the Paid Model?" The discussion follows on last week's complimentary "Demystifying Free vs. Paid Online Video." Our executive panelists for this VideoSchmooze discussion represent multiple perspectives in this key debate:- Jeremy Legg - SVP, Business Development, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.
- Damon Phillips - Vice President, ESPN3
- Avner Ronen - CEO and Co-founder, boxee
- Fred Santarpia - General Manager, VEVO
Click here to learn more and register for the early bird discount
We're also incredibly fortunate to have a 15-minute stage-setting presentation by Emily Nagle Green, President and CEO of Yankee Group, a
leading industry market research and consulting firm. Emily is the author of the recently published book, "Anywhere - How Global Connectivity is Revolutionizing the Way We Do Business." Emily has been on the front lines of researching the broadband video revolution for 15+ years and previously ran Forrester's North American business. Emily will share key data from Yankee's research and her book, which will set the stage for the panel to follow.
From 6-7:30pm, prior to Emily's presentation, we'll have open bar, hors d'oeuvres and networking. Attendance is running strong and we have executives from many major media companies and industry technology providers registered. VideoSchmooze is a terrific opportunity to expand your network and meet the panelists.
I try to keep the VideoSchmooze attendance fee reasonable (at least by NYC standards!) and am grateful to lead sponsor Akamai Technologies and supporting sponsors FreeWheel, Horn Group, Irdeto, NeuLion, Panvidea and ScanScout for their support. Once again VideoSchmooze is being held in association with NATPE. You can follow VideoSchmooze and get updates that evening on Twitter at hashtag #vidooze
Early bird discounted tickets are available until Friday for $65. If you're planning to come, register now and save (plus get the chance to win the iPad). If you're planning to attend with colleagues, more deeply discounted "5-Pack" and "10-Pack" tickets are also available.
I look forward to seeing you on April 26th!
Click here to learn more and register for the early bird discountCategories: Events
Topics: VideoSchmooze
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Fox and Netflix Agree to 28-Day Window
Netflix and Fox are announcing this morning an expanded content licensing agreement which creates a 28-day DVD window and gives Netflix streaming access to certain prior season Fox TV shows. The 28-day window, which delays Netflix access to new DVDs until 28 days after their release date is similar to a deal that Netflix struck with Warner Bros. earlier this year.
I continue to be a fan of the 28-day window, as it allows studios a little more time to eke further revenue out of the rapidly-declining DVD sales business,
while expanding Netflix's catalog for streaming and reducing its cost on physical DVD purchases. Netflix's Watch Instantly streaming feature has been a game-changer for the company, essentially reinventing the company's value proposition from a DVD subscription business defined by the number of discs out at any time, to one where subscribers get unlimited digital use. The key to its success is building the library of titles for streaming and that's what these 28-day deals are all about.
Update: Universal also announced a 28-day deal with Netflix this morning. Release is here.
What do you think? Post a comment now (no sign-in required).
Categories: Aggregators, FIlms, Studios
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Blockbuster Hangs In with New Fox, Sony and Warner Deals
Netflix wasn't the only distributor modifying how it does business with Hollywood studios this week; Blockbuster also unveiled new deals with Fox, Sony and Warner, giving it "day-and-date" availability of these studios' films
for store and mail rental (note, not for its on demand streaming service). Blockbuster also got "enhanced payment terms" from the studios in exchange for giving them a first lien on Blockbuster's Canadian assets (which would imply that if Blockbuster files for bankruptcy, the studios could end up owning/operating a slew of Canadian stores). Seems like steep terms for Blockbuster to hang in there.
As I wrote a few weeks ago in "The Battle Over Movie Rentals is Intensifying," there are multiple distributors jockeying to be the consumer's preferred movie source. That means consumers need to figure out, on a title by title basis what works best for them.
For example, I'm a Netflix subscriber and let's say I want to watch the recently released "Sherlock Holmes" DVD. Netflix doesn't get it until April 27th per its 28-day window with Warner Bros. But when I check online, a local Blockbuster store I've never been to shows that it's in stock (though I'm a little skeptical). Do I want to drive down there to find out? Meanwhile, Comcast is offering it on-demand. But do I want to pay $4.99 for it when I'm already paying a monthly Netflix subscription? Alternatively, there's iTunes and Amazon VOD. But then I need to either watch on my computer or on the TV that's hooked to the Roku or temporarily connect my laptop to the TV. See what I mean about the choices facing consumers?
(Note - online movie distribution is among the topics we'll cover at the next VideoSchmooze on April 26th. Early bird discounted tickets available for just one more week!)
What do you think? Post a comment now (no sign-in required).
Categories: Aggregators, FIlms, Studios
Topics: Blockbuster, FOX, Netflix, Sony, Warner Bros.
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NAB Show Coming Next Week - Lots of Interesting Pre-Show Announcements
My inbox and voicemail has been overflowing this week in advance of next week's NAB Show. I haven't tallied up this week's pre-show news/product
announcements related to online and mobile video, but it's certainly greater than I've ever seen. Next week I'll wrap it all up, but for now, among the more interesting things hitting my radar include Silverlight's availability in set-top boxes/Blu-ray players/connected devices, Juniper's acquisition of Ankeena Networks (a rich media infrastructure provider), Elemental's new GPU-based live streaming encoding system and the Conviva-Adobe strategic alliance.
This will be my 3rd year partnering with NAB and at next week's show I've organized 5 sessions in the new "Destination Broadband" theater on Monday afternoon. Executives from Trinity Ventures, ScanScout, Akamai, Panvidea, 5Min, TubeMogul and AlphaBird will be joining me in these sequential sessions that are certain to offer valuable insights. I hope to see you there!Categories: Events
Topics: NAB Show
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Verizon CEO: No Mobile Spectrum Shortage, FCC Should Butt Out
Were you as surprised as I was to read yesterday that Verizon CEO Ivan Seidenberg is questioning the need to reclaim broadcast spectrum for mobile data use? Instead he believes that ongoing advances in technology will address any potential bandwidth squeeze. His comments represent a weird reversal because Verizon has been (for obvious reasons) a key proponent of gaining access to this spectrum. As I wrote a few weeks ago, the bandwidth reclamation concept is one of the most contentious in the FCC's recently released National Broadband Plan.
I'm not clear on what's going on here. The iPad's release this past weekend is yet another reminder of the infinite mobile data uses ahead. Meanwhile recently-amped up rumors that Verizon will get getting the iPhone later this year means lots of data increases from Verizon itself. Throw in the coming proliferation of Android devices as yet more evidence of mobile data's rise. So why would Seidenberg now cast doubt on the spectrum reclamation effort? Beats me. Any ideas?
What do you think? Post a comment now (no sign-in required).Categories: Regulation, Telcos
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VideoNuze Report Podcast #56 - April 9, 2010
Daisy Whitney and I are pleased to present the 56th edition of the VideoNuze Report podcast, for April 9, 2010.
First up this week, Daisy gives us an update on increasing ad loads in TV programs distributed online, building on our discussion from last week. Daisy reports on an interview she did with Mark Garner, SVP of Business Development at A&E Television Networks. AETN has found that in their TV Everywhere trials, when they increased ad loads by 20%, the rate at which people watch the programs all the way to the end was unchanged.
Research continues to build that incremental increases in ads doesn't harm viewership, but enhances monetization. Daisy concludes that AETN's experience is yet more evidence that soon enough more ads in online programs will be pervasive. Separate, Daisy previews an article she's writing about ad verification and how it figures in to the online video space.
Then I add some further color to my post from earlier this week in which I tallied up Q1 '10 financings for private video companies to at least $277.4 million. It was another stellar quarter for video companies, despite the fact that credit markets are still tight. Listen in to learn more.
Click here to listen to the podcast (13 minutes, 44 seconds)
Click here for previous podcasts
The VideoNuze Report is available in iTunes...subscribe today!Categories: Advertising, Deals & Financings, Podcasts
Topics: AETN
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Syndicating Branded Entertainment Gains on AlphaBird-Fremantle Deal
This morning AlphaBird is announcing a deal with FremantleMedia to package and syndicate online the new branded entertainment web series, "As Worn Buy." AlphaBird recently launched as a new video content syndication service and is headed by Chase Norlin and Alex Rowland, both online video industry veterans. I caught up with Chase and Alex to understand how the Fremantle deal works, and also how the company is looking to differentiate itself.
Taking a step back for a moment, AlphaBird is working in the "Syndicated Video Economy" a term I coined a couple of years ago. The SVE is an ecosystem of companies facilitating consumption and monetization of online video across a broad network of sites and environments. In the SVE it is more important for content providers to access eyeballs wherever they happened to be - for example on 3rd party sites, on mobile devices, in social media settings, etc. than to solely try attracting them to a destination web site (along the lines of the "must-see TV" model of appointment, channel-based viewing).
The SVE recognizes that the Internet is a highly fragmented, on-demand centric medium that requires its own unique formulas for success. Everyone working in the SVE understands that it's still very early in the game, and the rules of the road are being figured out in real time. The key to the SVE is simultaneously pleasing the main constituencies - video content creators, advertisers, publisher sites and users. All of this needs to be done in the context of long-standing expectations that each constituency has about how things have always worked. The SVE can't be a revolution; rather, to bring all the constituents along, it needs to gradually migrate from and respect the way things have always been done.
AlphaBird is trying to carve out its role in the SVE by focusing on syndicating branded entertainment (web series with deep brand/product
involvement/visibility/placement) to a network of publishers. Alex explained that AlphaBird's key differentiator is to insert the video in an editorial position within publisher web pages, as opposed to in advertising positions (e.g. existing 300x250 in-banner placements). The goal is to provide incremental value to publishers and their audiences. The proposed payoff to the brand is higher awareness (through editorial positioning), engagement (all video is click-to-play) and ROI (all pricing is performance-based). AlphaBird is guaranteeing audience to brands, though not down to certain specific sites just yet. Clarification - AlphaBird is offering site level guarantees.
Given the trend of brands creating their own content, and the difficulty of generating online audiences, AlphaBird's concept is appealing (though to be fair, it's not entirely unique as Grab Networks, for example, also does editorial placements). It's easy to see why Fremantle, which is a content creation expert, but an online video syndication newbie, would value this kind of partnership. Chase said that achieving distribution goals is the number one challenge facing content creators, and that's where AlphaBird is focused.
My main concern is that achieving pure editorial placements is a very heavy lift and is hard to scale. It requires high-touch interactions to gain buy-in from editorial staff who are rightly concerned about their product's integrity (and as a result often bringing a bias against 3rd party video). That creates a far higher bar to clear than convincing the ad team to run something in a location already used for advertising in order to pick up a few extra bucks. A lack of scale would challenge AlphaBird's ability to win deals from major brands requiring significant exposure.
AlphaBird's hand-crafted approach also means a lot of detailed integration and follow-on QA to ensure the video is running according to expectations conveyed to the brand upfront. That would be welcome, given some of the stories emerging about low-quality syndication market activity, but it's costly to deliver. Alex acknowledged all of this and agreed that trying to automate as much as possible is the key to scaling the model successfully.
With the Fremantle deal, AlphaBird is plowing new ground for branded entertainment in the SVE. Chase says the company is already profitable, and it is begin funded from revenue. For those interested in the SVE's ongoing evolution, AlphaBird will also be worth keeping an eye on.
What do you think? Post a comment now (no sign-in required).Categories: Indie Video, Syndicated Video Economy
Topics: AlphaBird, FremantleMedia
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