The Viodi View » » People on the Move

Music as a Teaching Tool

Ken Pyle — Tue, 13 May 2008 14:41:55 +0000

Using music to tell the tales of the 19^th century is the objective of the musical duo of Brigand’s Folie. This Farmington, MN-based group performed at the 2008 Bloody Lake Rendezvous near Woodford, Wisconsin a few weeks ago. Roger Bindl captured their magic in the music videos that can be found at this link.

Film Distribution 101

Ken Pyle — Tue, 13 May 2008 04:48:36 +0000

Stacey Brooks of Film Specific interviews Brian Stevenson, a long-time friend and long-time veteran of content licensing, discusses the challenges for an independent producer in getting distribution in various on-demand and pay television platforms. He provides good insight into pricing and the type of revenue a filmmaker can earn and how they can go about selling their product to studios and pay television outlets. He stresses the importance of marketing to gain exposure and credibility with the studios. Promotional and marketing ideas that Stevenson suggests include submissions to film festivals, theatrical release and having name stars, even if they are B-stars. Click here to listen to the post.

Download audio file (mp388.mp3)

Continuing to Bridge the Heartland and Hollywood

Ken Pyle — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 07:36:51 +0000

After 7+ years of going it alone, I have taken full plunge back into the Silicon Valley start-up culture by joining a company that is in stealth mode. Over time, I will be able to reveal more details. It is in the broadband television space, but its model is so unique that it really is creating a new space in the world of television.

One of the things that attracted me to this company was that they saw the value in the Viodi View and ViodiTV in helping to inform, connect and, hopefully, occasionally entertain the independent telco industry concerning the topic of video services. Thanks to the foundation this company brings, our plan is to enhance our coverage of industry events and provide increased value to the telco trade associations and their members. This relationship should give us a new channel for distributing the Viodi View and ViodiTV.

The plan is to continue as well as expand the coverage of independent telco tradeshows. Editorial control will still be by the individual authors. Our posts will still be a function of what we feel like writing at any given time and will cover what we think is relevant to independent telcos and their efforts to offer video.

Roger Bindl and/or partners, depending upon the specifics of a particular opportunity, will handle Viodi business efforts. I will forward on article opportunities, which may present potential conflicts of interest (although I don’t think there will be many), to Roger Bindl. That is it for now. Please continue to read/view the Viodi View and ViodiTV and I will provide updates as appropriate.

Kudos to Alan Weissberger

Ken Pyle — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 06:29:37 +0000

I have always appreciated Alan Weissberger’s ability to analyze and write about complex technical challenges. He is never afraid to take a strong view on a topic. A former FCC Commissioner commented on one of his articles by stating, “Your articles were right on target and I very much enjoyed them.”

Further, Weissberger is quoted in the 3/28 issue of the Online NewsHour by MacNeil/Lehrer Productions.

"No one knows what the other players are going to do, because this spectrum doesn’t dictate what wireless technology you use," said Alan J. Weissberger, a Silicon Valley telecommunications consultant with DCT Advisors.

Thank you Alan for your contributions to the Viodi View and congratulations.

MTA Public Service Award Winner - Gary Johnson

Ken Pyle — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 07:12:34 +0000

One of the best things about the MTA conference is seeing friends, old and new. One person I did not catch up with is

Gary Johnson of Paul Bunyan Telephone

. He should have been there to accept his MTA Public Service Award. The irony is that the reason he was not there was the reason he won the award. He was chairing a Rotary Club meeting and missed the awards ceremony. In conjunction with the Rotary, Johnson spearheaded the

Lake Bemiji Dragon Boat Festival

, which drew 63 teams and over 1,300 visitors in 2007. This festival, scheduled for August 1-2nd, has been a boon to economic development for his community, drawing people from adjacent States.

Mr. IP Video

Ken Pyle — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 17:28:46 +0000

Steve Hawley has the license plate to prove that he is Mr. IP Video. I had a chance to catch up with Steve on the drive from Roslyn to the SeaTac airport last Tuesday (thanks for the ride, Steve). In addition to his role as Editor of IPTV News magazine, published by Junction, Ltd, (a must-read for anyone interested in the global view of IPTV), Steve has been busy authoring reports for Multimedia Research Group (MRG), Inc. I leafed through his latest report regarding IPTV Quality of Experience. At 250+ pages, it provides a comprehensive look at ways operators can proactively ensure Quality of Experience for their customers. Steve notes that, "Passing video is nothing like passing a stone."

The Power of Search

Ken Pyle — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 06:29:31 +0000

Bruce Degn, formerly of U.S. Telecom and currently a Principal of the Executive Crash Course, stumbled across ViodiTV a few weeks ago while performing an Internet search on something else. Bruce and Steve Sheppard have expanded on Sheppard’s well-received telecom books series (e.g. Telecom Crash Course) to include training for both the U.S and international markets. On March 19^th-21^st, Degn tells me they are producing a Deloitte Tax Telecom Institute in Dallas, TX on March 19-21 that will also provide insight on IPTV and other technologies; sounds like a good one for the accounting group; especially, to get them up to speed on technology.