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Viodi View Menu<\/strong><\/p>\n Current Issue<\/a><\/p>\n The Content Conundrum <\/a><\/p>\n Real People – Digital Hollywood<\/a><\/p>\n Advanced Wireless Architectures<\/a><\/p>\n Previous Issue<\/a> <\/p>\n Viodi View Subscribe<\/a> <\/p>\n Viodi Forums<\/strong> Club Viodi<\/a> Open Forum <\/a> <\/p>\n Multimedia Search <\/a> <\/p>\n Viodi Workshops<\/strong> Local Content<\/a> Telco Video 101<\/a> IPTV Training<\/a> Industry<\/strong> Industry Calendar<\/a> Viodi Links<\/a> Weissberger’s Wireless World & More<\/a> <\/p>\n About Viodi<\/a> Contact<\/a> Biographies<\/a> <\/p>\n Some Videos<\/a><\/p>\n Interested in Sponsoring the Viodi View? 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 – November 1st, 2006<\/strong> <\/p>\n By Ken Pyle, ken.pyle at viodi.com, Managing Editor, Viodi View<\/p>\n The Content Conundrum – What I Meant to Say<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Imagine being alone in a dark closet, talking to a few hundred people not knowing whether or not they are listening. Combine that with not being able to see the slides that are being presented and you can imagine the feeling I had last Tuesday when I spoke on the webinar, Where Television Meets the Internet: Trends & Technology of IPTV Deployment<\/strong><\/em>.<\/strong> Webinars are different than events where an audience is in the same room because, as a presenter, no one can see me reading my notes. Still, reading from a script is a bit foreign to me and my tendency to jump off script probably confused the message. So, for those who had to suffer through my verbal comments the other day, click here<\/a><\/strong> to read what I really meant to say. <\/p>\n To actually hear what I said and to hear Mark Crandon<\/strong>, Vice President of Marketing of Kasenna<\/strong>, discuss the direction of IPTV, click here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a Virtual, Product Placed World After All<\/strong><\/p>\n The one part of the webinar experience that was really enjoyable was its interactive nature as exemplified by the 30 plus questions<\/strong> we received. What would really improve webinars is if the presenters could see the audience. Maybe through the use of webcams and software, it will be possible to someday create a virtual audience, where the moderator could literally see who had questions, just like the real world. This seems to be the direction Cisco<\/strong> is going with their recently announced TelePresence<\/strong> meeting solution. <\/p>\n A friend of mine from Cisco said he has seen this system in action and he says it really does make for a more realistic meeting experience<\/strong>, as compared to traditional conferencing. Thanks to the magic of product placement, everyone who watches this week\u2019s episode of Vanished<\/strong> (Friday, November 3rd at 8 PM\/7 PM CST on Fox) will get a chance to see <\/strong>Cisco’s <\/strong>TelePresence in action. If you don\u2019t want to watch the entire episode, you can see the preview on Cisco\u2019s web site at http:\/\/www.cisco.com\/web\/solutions\/telepresence\/fox\/<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n The Cisco logo is displayed for about 25 seconds on one of the screens. One of the characters even says, \u201cPatch us in via Cisco.\u201d It does fit into the plot, but it is a pretty obvious product placement. As much as anything, this demonstrates how product placement<\/strong> is becoming critical to mainstream<\/strong> television and how it is going to be one of the tools content owners use to fight the diminishing value of the traditional 30 and 60 second television spot. <\/p>\n Real People \u2013 Digital Hollywood<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Victor Harwood<\/strong>, producer of the Digital Hollywood<\/strong> conference series, told me years ago that the Digital Hollywood experience is about the people. It\u2019s about the people<\/strong> he brings together and the opportunities to meet with leaders in the technology and entertainment industries. The Digital Hollywood event last week in Santa Monica was no exception as it featured hundreds of speakers and several hundred attendees. Judging by the number of exhibitors \u2013 probably double previous shows – the industry is definitely starting to exhibit the excitement<\/strong> of the pre-bust days. Hopefully, this isn\u2019t bubble excitement again. <\/p>\n I felt honored to moderate the panel, Telcos, IPTV & the Technology Food Chain<\/em><\/strong>, which featured Josette Bonte of Ovum<\/strong>, Gianluca Ferremi of Sun Microsystems<\/strong>, Hemang Mehta of Microsoft TV<\/strong>, Sam Pemberton of Softel-USA<\/strong> (who was just promoted to CEO of the Softtel Group \u2013 congratulations Sam!) and Gary Sasaki of digdia<\/strong>. Mehta of Microsoft TV emphasized that IPTV is first and foremost about delivering television and giving consumers a choice of providers. The other panelists were quick to point out of the potential that the interactive nature of IPTV provides. To hear some of the insight on this panel and why one panelist suggested that \u201cchannel change time doesn\u2019t matter\u201d, click here<\/a><\/strong> (Club Viodi Members Only). <\/p>\n Some of other interesting insight at this event:<\/p>\n For detailed coverage on the above bullet points and to learn which independent telco\u2019s territory<\/strong> the inventors<\/strong> of the Kula Media Group\u2019s technology hail from, please click here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n Advanced Wireless Architectures to Facilitate Convergence of Services \u2013 Part 1<\/strong><\/a> Two very stimulating and enlightening presentations on advanced wireless architectures for metropolitan and wide area networks were the highlights of the Wireless Communications Alliance (WCA) October 17, 2006 meeting. New wireless backhaul architectures are being built with off-the-shelf WiFi<\/strong> components and modules and are attracting the participation of industry heavyweights, such as Cisco, IBM and Motorola. In part one of this two part article, Alan J. Weissberger reports on some interesting new wireless projects that include rural areas, such as a 3,700 square mile swath of New Mexico that is currently blanketed with WiFi. Click here <\/strong><\/a>to read more. <\/p>\n Local Celebrity for Local Content by Roger Bindl<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Watch this Art Paul video for a local flavor from Madison. Art Paul Schlosser<\/strong> a local celebrity in Madison Wisconsin. He\u2019s a State Street Busker, or street musician as most people know. Art Paul is a musician, performer, artist, poet, and comic all mixed into one.<\/p>\n There is a touch of satire and parody in the comic ways of Art Paul, and perhaps a touch of Weird Al Yankovic<\/strong>. Emmie Magazine<\/strong> described his style as one of his own, and a style to be witnessed to full understand. The Badger Herald<\/strong> wrote that Art Paul is one of Madison\u2019s most popular and recognizable cultural figures.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s an intro<\/a><\/strong> with links to more from a DVD project Roger Bindl is working on with Art Paul Schlosser. Stay Tuned.<\/p>\n Happy Halloween and Congratulations Roger<\/strong><\/p>\n Roger received \u201cvideo of the day\u201d yesterday for his Halloween video, The Merchant\u2019s Pumpkin<\/a><\/strong>. He was also one Revver\u2019s Editor\u2019s picks yesterday for his video, Electric Bike II and Rural Roads with Roger<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n Some Upcoming Conferences<\/strong><\/p>\n Too Late If You Didn\u2019t See the Last Issue<\/strong><\/p>\n In the last issue<\/strong><\/a>, Viodi reported on a Stephen Colbert video that appeared on YouTube, where he made an argument for how much money he should receive (something like $750 million) for his contribution to YouTube\u2019s success. Well, as many of you may have seen, Comedy Central recently asked YouTube to remove Comedy Central videos from the YouTube site. This is probably a prelude to a Google\/Comedy Central licensing deal. <\/p>\n Mark Cuban <\/strong><\/a>has some interesting speculation about the Google-YouTube acquisition on his blog that is definitely worth reading, especially if you like the elements of conspiracy; definitely food for thought. <\/p>\n AT&T \u2013 BellSouth Merger \u2013 Food for the FCC\u2019s Thought<\/strong><\/p>\n One strategic reason for the proposed AT&T\/BellSouth merger is the cellular properties<\/strong> represented by Cingular<\/strong>. Another benefit, alluded to by AT&T in their recent financial report, is the presence of thousands of Cingular retail outlets<\/strong> which would be a way for them to market and sell their HomeZone and uVerse products (click here to see the uVerse packages<\/strong><\/a>). Of course, a tightly coupled cellular operation will also allow for new services that only can come from the integration of wireless and IPTV.<\/p>\n The dark side<\/strong> of cellular is the closed nature <\/strong>of the network. Unlike the Internet, it is not so easy for third party content to be added to the network or accessed by consumers. Heck, consumers sometimes cannot even use the full features of the end points, if the carriers don\u2019t allow (e.g. removing pictures directly from a camera phone with a PC connection). Does this merger combined with the precedent of the closed cellular network portend a future where the Internet applications and end points are controlled by the last mile provider? I guess the FCC will decide at Friday’s meeting.<\/p>\n Video over IP Gives African Content a New Outlet <\/strong><\/p>\n This story caught my eye because of its relevance to what I had already written in today\u2019s Korner. Africast<\/strong> and NeuLion<\/a><\/strong> announced a partnership yesterday at the streaming media west<\/strong><\/em> conference whereby Africast will distribute live<\/a><\/strong> and on-demand programming<\/a><\/strong> using NeuLion\u2019s technology. Individuals may subscribe to individual channels from countries such as Ghana, Nigeria and Tanzania. Although its target audience is African immigrants, it aims to bring the depth and breadth of African content to new audiences as well. <\/p>\n And from my quick look at the site, the content could have some universal appeal. NeuLion will be supplying their video over IP solution, which delivers video to either a PC or a NeuLion supplied Ethernet connected set-top box<\/strong>. All a subscriber needs is a broadband connection with a minimum of 700 kbs downstream. I am currently viewing the Africast network via a WiFi connected link at the San Jose McHenry Convention Center and find the viewing experience to be quite good. The Africast site is more than video and is an integrated multimedia site that includes other features, such as online games, audio and news, which will keep people on their site. <\/p>\n
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