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Mike Berkley  //  Covering TV Everywhere, Hulu, and Netflix Business Models. By former CEO of SplashCast Media (www.splashcastmedia.com), Mike Berkley.

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Jan 20 / 9:05pm

Microsoft Sues TiVo, What Does This Mean for DVR Innovation?

Read this story to better understand the back-and-forth between TiVO, Dish, and Microsoft:

http://mashable.com/2010/01/20/microsoft-sues-tivo/

My question is whether TiVO's aggressive (and successful) legal campaign against DVR competitors may stifle / chill innovation in DVR technology and user experience.

This legal effort may be TiVO's "last stand" in its unfortunate history of getting squeezed out of markets by the MSOs who understandably want to own their subscribers' TV user experience, even if it's inferior.

Filed under  //  Dish   Microsoft   TiVo  
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Jan 12 / 9:15pm

So Many Software Platforms for Connected TVs and Set Top Boxes

Dan Rayburn at StreamingMedia.com has put together an impressive list of all the software platforms for TVs and Connected devices. Like with all new digital frontiers, there is a lot of fragmentation and noise right now. While it will only get worse in 2010, it will hopefully consolidate in 2011.

Here's Dan's list:
  • VUDU: While VUDU started off as a hardware device, the company has since changed to a platform licensing model for third party devices and now has deals with LG, Mitsubishi, Samsung, SANYO, Sharp, Toshiba and VIZIO.
  • Yahoo!: While Yahoo! originally started off with some widget functionality that didn't seem like a big deal, at CES, they announced a whole bunch of new partnerships with chip makes, TV manufactures and media player companies for their Connected TV effort. To date, they have deals with VIZIO, ViewSonic, Hisense International, Intel, Samsung, LG Electronics, Sony MIPS Technologies and Sigma Designs.
  • TiVo: While TiVo has always been a hardware and platform company, they have been working for years to try and diversify their revenue by licensing their platform to the MSOs. Recently, they have been very vocal that MSOs should use the TiVo platform as a gateway, or portal for OTT type content to enable MSOs to offer something similar to a VOD service. So far, they have signed up Virgin Media in the UK.
  • Netflix: While most think of Netflix as simply a content partner inside a platform like the Roku or Xbox 360, Netflix is also a stand alone platform for the numerous deals they have cut with device manufactures. Netflix said they expect to be on more than 100 broadband enabled devices by the end of this year which easily makes Netflix not only a content option, but also their own stand alone platform.
  • Best Buy: While we don't know exactly when or what devices the Best Buy platform is coming to, Best Buy plans to enter the market some time this year with a digital download offering that's powered by CinemaNow. Users will be able to download content via BestBuy.com and via select devices sold in Best Buy stores.
  • Blockbuster: While the company has been slow to get their platform, powered by CinemaNow, onto many hardware devices, expect to see a slew of consumer electronic deals announced this year. Blockbuster is available via TiVo's platform and to date has one direct manufacturer deal with Samsung.
  • PlayStation Network (PSN): While the PSN always went along with Sony's gaming devices, the company announced at CES that they would soon bring the PlayStation network to other Sony hardware products including TVs and Blu-ray players.
  • DivX: At CES, DivX announced the launch of of their embedded Internet TV platform called DivX TV along with a list of partners from integrated circuit manufacturers and consumer electronic companies including LG, ADB, Broadcom Corporation, Iomega and Viewsonic amongst others.
  • Rovi: While the company does not have any deals with hardware manufactures yet, it's only a matter of time before Rovi branches out to devices with their recently announced TotalGuide EPG platform. The company's goal is that their platform will become an interactive program guide integrated into TVs and set-top-boxes.
  • iTunes: While Apple's iTunes platform is not yet connected to any TV device other than Apple's own Apple TV, I would expect the company to start cutting licensing deals this year with major CE manufactures.
  • Boxee: For a company who's platform has gotten more press and hype before even having a product out on the market, Boxee announced last week that it would also be entering the hardware market later in the year. While still a platform company at heart who's main goal is to get integrated via set-top-boxes, Boxee now straddles both sides of the fence with a hardware and platform business.
  • CinemaNow: While the company has focused on white labeling their technology platform for Blockbuster and Best Buy, the company is planning to work directly with CE manufactures in the New Year.
via blog.streamingmedia.com

 

Filed under  //  Best Buy   Blockbuster   Boxee   iTunes   Netflix   TiVo   VUDU   Yahoo  
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Dec 23 / 7:45pm

TiVo Squeezed By Cable Companies, Best Product Doesn't Always Win

TiVo has never been in an enviable position. They are kick-ass innovators that have never gotten to reap the rewards that come with that. Comcast and Time Warner have leveraged their market position to undermine TiVo's opportunity.

It's painful for the innovator and the consumer when the best product doesn't win.

Here's a good summary of the situation from NewTeeVee:

http://newteevee.com/2009/12/23/tivo-blames-big-cable-for-blocking-set-top-innovation/

Filed under  //  TiVo  
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Oct 11 / 1:19pm

Netflix CEO says DVDs will remain king for 24 months but then streaming will become #1. How does Netflix avoid TiVO's fate?

In this Montley Fool podcast Reed Hastings says that DVDs may lose their number one spot for the company's video distribution in 24 months.  Netflix currently offers a very popular $9 monthly subscription for unlimited streaming online or over-the-top (via TiVO, Roku, etc).

The big questions are:

How does Netflix avoid the same fate as TiVO when going up against the enormously deep-pocketed cable companies? 

While Netflix may have an early lead in the subscription model space, they will ultimately be competing with Comcast's and TimeWarner's TV Everywhere streaming services.  Comcast and TimeWarner are goliaths who will do anything to keep their audience.

Filed under  //  Netflix   TiVo  
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