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Send an email to: sponsor@viodi.com<\/strong><\/p>\n Please forward<\/strong> this free publication to anyone you know who is involved in some way with independent telephone companies. <\/p>\n Mission of the Viodi View:<\/strong><\/p>\n In this on-line publication, we share our analysis, opinions and direction on the interactive television news and views that we believe will be of interest and use to our friends associated directly or indirectly with independent telephone companies. For more information as to the various ways Viodi works with independent telephone companies, please go to http:\/\/www.viodi.com\/alliance\/<\/a><\/p>\n Disclaimer:<\/strong><\/p>\n The Viodi View [Viodi, LLC] and its associates used their best efforts in collecting and preparing the information published herein. However, the Viodi View [Viodi, LLC] does not assume, and hereby disclaims, any and all liability for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions resulted from negligence, accident, or other causes.<\/p>\n All displayed trademarks, logos and service marks are the property of their respective owners. \u00a9 2005Viodi, LLC<\/a>. All Rights Reserved. Viodi View Newsletter – August 3rd, 2005 <\/strong> <\/p>\n For years, I have wanted to turn the Viodi View into more than just the written word and something more representative of its title (VOD and View<\/strong>). This issue is the closest yet in terms of mixing video throughout these online pages. Video over the Internet is still in its infancy, but, as you will see in Roger Bindl\u2019s clever video<\/strong>, there is at least one tool that easily bridges the Internet and television. In an audio-only interview with Bruce Eisen<\/strong>, I had a chance to discuss some of the new trails that CinemaNow<\/strong> has been pioneering. Finally, Ed Moura<\/strong> of SoHo Wireless<\/strong> shows that the last mile path does not always mean a connection of physical media. <\/p>\n Virtual Boston<\/strong><\/p>\n Viodi’s feet on the street, Roger Bindl, missed OPASTCO<\/strong> in Boston last week as he was diverted to Milwaukee. He participated in the 24 hour film competion at the Milwaukee Art Museum \/ Int’l Film Festival. His film “Building Towers”<\/em><\/strong> was one of the winners<\/strong> selected for screening on Thursday, July 28th.<\/p>\n The feedback I have received from one attendee suggested this year\u2019s OPASTCO convention was relatively well attended<\/strong> considering the next event is the Hawaii Winter Conference. The sessions on VoIP deployment were extensive and provided a great level of detail regarding independent telco success with VoIP. These sessions provided progress updates from sessions that had been provided at an earlier OPASTCO conference \u2013 another reason why its important not to miss one of these events. There was apparently a great deal of interest<\/strong> in video from the independent telcos attending the show. There was also positive feedback regarding the video checklist <\/strong>[a two page summary of items a new video entrant should consider] that the OPASTCO Video and Broadband committee created. <\/p>\n From Boston to Philly<\/strong><\/p>\n Another conference, held last week that I wanted to attend, but missed was CTAM<\/strong>. A couple of friends of mine who did attend provided some interesting insight into last week\u2019s event in the City of Brotherly Love. It was suggested that there was, \u201ca bit of tension in the air<\/strong>,\u201d between the traditional cable companies and the telcos. The cable marketers apparently had a much greater focus on and fear regarding telcos as compared to last year\u2019s show. <\/p>\n Thanks to things like the Internet, which offers programmers the opportunity to cut out the middleman<\/strong>, and operator consolidation, which gives the larger operators more clout, there appears to be a growing chasm<\/strong> between the interests of the programmers and the cable operators. These trends will be good fodder for future issues of the Viodi View. <\/p>\n The Akimbo Video Review<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Another reason Roger missed OPASTCO in Boston last week was his video review <\/strong>of Akimbo\u2019s service. In other words, he was watching television for the benefit of the Viodi View readers, instead of enjoying a lobster bake with OPASTCO colleagues. Akimbo provides VOD content for watching on TV, and uses the Internet for delivery. This is a timely review<\/strong>, as Akimbo announced that they are offering their service to cable companies<\/strong> to help them capture the \u201clong-tail\u201d of video on demand<\/strong>. Click here<\/strong><\/a> to view Roger\u2019s review, which provides a mix of video, animation and commentary. <\/p>\n Hi Def, Downloads & More at CinemaNow<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n One of the companies that has been pioneering the concept of Internet television since the late 1990s is CinemaNow. Last week, I had a chance to talk to CinemaNow\u2019s President, Bruce Eisen<\/strong>, regarding some of the recent developments in delivering video over the Internet. In this audio interview<\/strong>, he discusses the re-launch of their site, the demand for High Definition<\/strong> content and their success in pioneering the download-to-own<\/strong> video content model. Click here<\/strong><\/a> to listen to Eisen’s perspective and learn from him how many CinemaNow customers are watching<\/strong> their service via<\/strong> the television<\/strong>. <\/p>\n Howard Stern \u2013 This Generation\u2019s Milton Berle?<\/strong><\/p>\n Milton Berle<\/strong> was one of the early stars who helped establish television in the hearts and living rooms of America. Fast forward fifty-plus years and, once again, what could really establish Internet Television is an anchor celebrity, like a Howard Stern (hmm, like Berle before him, Stern sometimes dresses up like a woman). So the idea of, Howard Stern bringing his television program<\/a><\/strong> directly to his audience on an on-demand basis is old news as this was suggested in these online pages last October. That it would firmly establish an Internet to TV service, like an Akimbo<\/strong>, CinemaNow<\/strong>, DaveTV<\/strong>, Movielink<\/strong> or Video Without Boundaries<\/strong>, is also probably a given. <\/p>\n What is interesting is that there have been reports in the last few weeks that Howard Stern is considering bringing his television show<\/strong> [he did not review with E!] to a VOD<\/strong> format [conventional wisdom suggests this would be via regular cable television distribution]. Evidence that a VOD approach could work for Stern is provided by Bridge Ratings and their analysis that suggests that 23% of his audience will definitely subscribe to Sirius<\/strong>, which translates into approximately 4 million potential subscribers<\/strong>. Even if only a quarter of this audio audience were willing to pay for a subscription video on demand version of Howard Stern, this would represent an audience of 1 million subscribers; a significant boost for any Internet TV venture. <\/p>\n FirstMile \u2013 An Advocate for Ubiquitous Big Broadband<\/strong><\/p>\n Surely, there must be better uses for bandwidth than delivering Howard Stern to his loyal fan base. FirstMile<\/strong> and the California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology (Calit2)<\/strong> are partnering to find those better applications and will be educating the public and communities about how broadband can improve all facets of life, including entertainment, healthcare, transportation, environment and education. As stated by Larry Smarr <\/strong>of Calit2, \u201cour institute’s mission is to accelerate the extension of the Internet throughout the physical world. We believe that FirstMile.US is tackling a critical part of this extension – big broadband.” This partnership is another indicator that broadband<\/strong> is becoming the new universal service<\/strong> \u2013 whatever that means in a world where the effective definition of broadband is changing with every advance of technology. <\/p>\n Public Access & Ensign\u2019s Legislation<\/strong><\/p>\n Senator Ensign<\/strong>\u2019s proposed legislation<\/a><\/strong> attempts to be technology-neutral, while providing a level playing field between competitors. I am interested to hear from my lawyer friends out there whether his legislation advances the idea that broadband<\/strong> should be treated as a universal service<\/strong>. A book could probably be devoted to the potential impact of this legislation, but, in this issue, I am going to focus<\/strong> on one rumor<\/strong> that has been floating level around the Internet. <\/p>\n The rumor is that Public Access channels<\/strong> could be in jeopardy<\/strong> with Senator Ensign\u2019s new bill. My quick read and interpretation of the bill suggest that franchising authorities will not be allowed to mandate more than a total of four public, education, or government channels per franchise. To level the playing field, existing franchisors will have to comply with this rule as well. Potentially, this could mean that communities with more than four PEG channels, which would tend to be in larger metropolitan areas, could potentially see a reduction in the number of channels. Again, I welcome feedback<\/strong> from experts in this area. <\/p>\n The Wireless Option<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Wireless is clearly going to play a role in the broadband infrastructure. In the previous issue<\/a><\/strong> of the Viodi View, Alarm.com<\/strong> and their use of wireless to monitor residential alarm systems was mentioned as a new feature that could be incorporated into a broadband network. There is definitely a scenario where Alarm.com and Vonage<\/strong>, their marketing partner, could cozy up a little bit closer and use wireless as a transport mechanism for voice and alarm data, as well as other bundled communications services. <\/p>\n Click here<\/strong><\/a> to see my video interview with one service provider that is already offering bundled communications services <\/strong>via wireless (802.11). What is notable about this interview is that one of the links connecting our Packet8<\/strong> video phones was a six mile WiFi connection<\/strong>. <\/p>\n People on the Move:<\/strong><\/p>\n This may be old news to many of you, but it was news to me, so here are some recent changes that people you may know have made. I was pleased to hear that Dr. Robert Pepper<\/strong>, formerly Chief of the FCC Policy Bureau<\/strong>, is now at Cisco<\/strong>. I also heard that his OPASTCO presentation was very well received by the attendees at the OPASTCO Summer Convention. Congratulations to Jodi Benassi<\/strong>, formerly of Minerva Networks<\/strong>, for her new role as Vice President of Sales at NetCentrix<\/strong>. <\/p>\n The Korner \u2013 Right Banner Ad, Wrong University?<\/a><\/strong> <\/p>\n One of the more interesting developments occurred several weeks ago when Cdigix<\/strong> announced that they had signed on to be the exclusive broadband distributor of music and entertainment content to the University of California <\/strong>and California State University<\/strong> systems. Their system allows students to download licensed music and video over the universities\u2019 broadband networks. With a nephew about to enter the Cal State San Luis Obispo, I found this article to be of particular interest. <\/p>\n Cdigix has been around for a number of years, but this has got to be their single biggest win as these universities represent hundreds of thousands of new students. Part of the reason the universities are doing this is to give their students a legal alternative to the illegal download systems that used to proliferate on campuses. By going after the student demographic, Cdigix is securing a customer-base early in its product life cycle. It reminds me of the strategy the Wall Street Journal<\/strong> and other publications use to secure long-term relationships with college students. Of course, in order for this strategy (assuming it is Cdigix’s strategy) to be successful, Cdigix will also need to secure licensing<\/strong> with content owners that includes residential rights<\/strong>, so that they continue selling to them long after they leave school. <\/p>\n Appropriately enough, the UCLA Bruin<\/a><\/strong> online student paper provides a very good analysis of the service that Cdigix offers. I found the banner ad on the top of the UCLA publication a bit inappropriate, as it seems like it would be a better fit, so to speak, on the web site of UCLA\u2019s cross-town rival, the USC Trojans<\/strong>. <\/p>\n Click here<\/a><\/strong> to see the UCLA article and, hopefully, they will not have rotated this interesting banner ad that offers UCLA students “free shipping, largest selection, private & discrete and 10% off.” <\/p>\n Next Article<\/a><\/p>\n Back to Top<\/a><\/p>\n Previous Issue<\/a><\/p>\n Viodi View Subscribe<\/strong><\/p>\n ITA’s<\/strong><\/a> Re-Inventing Television Summit<\/em><\/strong><\/a>,<\/p>\n August 17th to 19th, 2005<\/p>\n On the Historic Queen Mary<\/p>\n IP Video @ SC What You Missed<\/p>\n Listen to the audio for all of the presentations from the 40+ speakers at the IP Video @ Supercomm conference.\u00a0 This CD-ROM includes the indexed presentations. Click here to see the contents.\u00a0 Contact Sean Sullivan of USTA at 202 326 7260 to purchase this CD.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n Network PVRs Are Desired, But Operators Have Doubts<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Click Here to Get the Report<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n \n \n Viodi View Menu Current IssueThe Akimbo Video Review The Wireless Option Previous Issue Viodi View Subscribe Viodi ForumsClub ViodiLocal Content Multimedia Search Viodi WorkshopsLocal ContentTelco Video 101Incremona Training IndustryIndustry CalendarFavorite Links About ViodiContactBiographies Interested in Sponsoring the Viodi View? 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