[opendtv] Digital Trends: Amazon rises from the ashes of Intel’s OnCue with aggressive new plans for Internet TV

From: "Manfredi, Albert E" <albert.e.manfredi@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: "opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Mon, 3 Feb 2014 23:55:18 +0000

This article addresses primarily *live* TV streaming online, i.e. simultaneous
with what the MVPDs transmit as their broadcast streams. While Craig will now
make it sound like that's imperative, in fact even he has acknowledged in the
recent past that it's only important for sports. Most TV programs are actually
much more convenient if made available on demand. And viewers should adapt
quickly to on demand. (Those luddites that haven't already gone to the on
demand model already, that is, e.g. even just using a PVR.)

Since live TV seems to be a tougher nut to crack for distribution rights,
compared with on demand online, it makes a good test case for the new Internet
TV era.

This quote shows the evolution taking place: "Thanks to Amazon’s expansive
Prime Instant Viewing service, the company has already rubbed elbows with some
of the big wig studios and production companies that churn out TV content."

Bert

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http://www.digitaltrends.com/home-theater/amazon-rises-ashes-intels-oncue-new-plans-internet-tv/

Amazon rises from the ashes of Intel’s OnCue with aggressive new plans for
Internet TV
By Ryan Waniata — January 21, 2014

Just as one tech company’s dream of spawning a new era of online live TV was
finally put to rest today, another company has outlined similar ambitions. As
we reported earlier, Intel’s much anticipated OnCue streaming service was
purchased by Verizon today, though the company’s ultimate plans for its recent
acquisition remain unclear. Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal also reported
today that Amazon has set out on its own quest to buck the cable establishment
by providing live TV through its online streaming network.

The goal of creating an online service that dishes out live programming on par
with the kind of packages offered by cable and satellite companies has proved
to be no small task. Intel’s attempts with OnCue to create an all in one
service for cable, streaming apps, and mobile delivery were thwarted when the
company couldn’t get content providers to open their doors. Providers wouldn’t
risk harming their lucrative relationships with massive cable conglomerates
like Comcast, Time Warner, and Verizon itself, on an upstart like Intel Media
for fear of retribution.

However, Amazon has a leg up on Intel that lends this latest venture a much
better chance of success. Thanks to Amazon’s expansive Prime Instant Viewing
service, the company has already rubbed elbows with some of the big wig studios
and production companies that churn out TV content. Amazon is hoping those ties
will translate to success where Intel failed. The WSJ reports Amazon has
already approached three major conglomerates looking to secure rights to bring
live content to its site. In addition, Amazon is also working on its own
streaming set-top-box in the vein of Roku, Apple TV, and presumably, Intel’s
own OnCue device that was the flagship of its proposed streaming system.

All of this could be good news for those who have been looking for a more
convenient way to access live TV content without getting caught up in
contracts, or paying for large packages with unwanted channels and bundled
services. While negotiations are still at the very early stages, Amazon just
might have the resources and the clout to get a deal done with at least a few
networks. But it won’t be easy, or cheap. According to the Journal’s report,
Amazon paid over $1 billion in content fees for its instant video services last
year alone, and the number will likely increase if it secures deals for live TV.

Still, while our last piece ended on a down note with the unsure future of the
OnCue streaming service, as well as the recent net neutrality ruling that will
give unprecedented power to Internet Service Providers over current streaming
services, Amazon’s latest enterprise offers a glimmer of hope.

We’ll have to wait and see if the company can make headway with content
providers, but if it’s successful, it could help loosen the grip of big cable,
and open the door to an all new way to access TV.

Read more:
http://www.digitaltrends.com/home-theater/amazon-rises-ashes-intels-oncue-new-plans-internet-tv/#ixzz2sIzHKWOp

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[opendtv] Digital Trends: Amazon rises from the ashes of Intel’s OnCue with aggressive new plans for Internet TV

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