[opendtv] Re: This from another (open) thread - IPTV on LinkedIn
- From: "Manfredi, Albert E" <albert.e.manfredi@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 24 Apr 2013 22:38:56 +0000
Craig Birkmaier wrote:
> I think Bert is trying to convince us that the world is ready
> to move exclusively to IP based TV distribution.
For video and audio to consumers, this is largely coming true. Just look at the
appliances people are migrating to. Some radio will remain for some time at
least, thanks to cars mostly. Although even there, many people connect cell
phones to their car audio system, and listen to Pandora. I think OTA TV might
have more of a role to play than the one-way broadcast stuff over MVPD media,
truth to tell. Because it seems pretty obvious that MVPDs will be doing
whatever they can to maximize their infrastructures for IP two-way traffic.
But here's the most fundamental point.
It used to be that the MVPDs demanded that the TV be as dumb as possible, and
they took it upon themselves to monopolize all of the so-called "innovation."
They used this "innovation" as an excuse for making subscribers totally
dependent on their proprietary box. As a result, the TV manufacturers and the
recording device manufacturers stopped innovating, or in fact practically went
extinct (in the case of third party recording devices).
Some companies, like TiVo, seemed to prove that what the few MVPDs forced
people to use was not necessarily all that great. The TiVo UI was better. And
yet, even that was just about made extinct.
Now comes IP distribution. As easy as it might have been for MVPDs to make
people dependent on their fixed box back in the TV set days, it ain't so easy
now. As TV content HAS to migrate to IP anyway, for the various hand held
appliances at the very least, the TV set itself is going to remain the only
appliance that can easily be forced into MVPD STB compliance.
But, like numerous articles have already said, people don't have to buckle
under, because they've gotten used to IP distribution. And, I might add, people
got used to buying the individual appliances that do the job best for them. For
instance, Microsoft can sell a really nice software package called Windows
Media Center, or an offshoot of it. The PC TV viewer doesn't wait for an MVPD
to create this sort of thing anymore. Same could easily apply to connected TV
companies, if they'd stop being on the take.
Any STB that continues to exist will have a different purpose. It will be used
to solve consumer problems, such as playing different media on the large
screen, or even extending the life of a given TV appliance. But this will not
necessarily be under MVPD control. More on an individual appliance basis, as
needs dictate for THAT appliance.
Holding actions will no doubt occur, but the trend is what it is. Even if ten
years ago the Internet and last-mile links were not ready yet, now, and more so
in the next ten years, they are.
Bert
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