What's the difference between a stick in the mud and a log flowing down-river? Perhaps millions. Read on to find out why.
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Big Bird, Mickey Mouse, and AT&T
The headlines in the past week saw some interesting developments - it's inevitable now. TV will be ours.
PBS is going to make all of their shows available online, including their giant past content library that includes "Nature" and "Frontline". They are in the process of choosing partners and technologies.
After Michael Eisner was involved with the initial iTunes partnership and getting ABC's shows into that format, he has now dropped millions into Veoh Networks, a firm whose mission is: "to expand [Internet] broadcast capacity to the point that every single user, whether an individual or a media company, can create their own 'channel'." |
AT&T partnered with Akimbo - a giant content library that includes the Discovery Channel, National Geographic, and Turner Classic Movies as part of their library of over 10,000 shows. AT&T will use this content to create their new "Homezone" service, which will allow these programs to be watched on demand, commercial free, anytime you'd like.
 As many of you know, I am out in the middle of nowhere - also known as the western Maine mountains - working in and enjoying the country quiet. We do not have TV hooked up here and quite frankly I was missing Jon Stewart of The Daily Show. If I need an episode I just download it through iTunes for $2 an episode, or $10 for a month's worth of shows.
The technology has been present for quite some time, and we are not very far away from it - paying for custom, commercial free, on demand TV for everyone. Any show you want, anytime you want, any way you want. It is a rerun junkie's ultimate fantasy.
So by now you are probably wondering what all this has to do with your website, and the answer is pretty simple - - it's a classic example of old vs new thinking.
Some TV execs will embrace the new technology, rush to a market where they are already late and score a big success. Some will focus mostly on making sure no one "steals" from them - - the good old way it used to be - - and generally thinking "these customers are being a pain in the butt and should take whatever they're given" - and that's a path to bankruptcy.
This is very similar to what happened in newspapers - it is clear that running a printing press is just not as profitable as it used to be and never will be again. Some papers - like the New York Times and their pay archives going back to 1851- have embraced the new technology and are realizing serious revenues from it. Many newspapers are in the process of bleeding to death and people are certainly realizing that making great news no longer requires a press, paper, or ink.
The web is still just beginning - and it has the power to impact every industry. In what way will it impact yours? Will you be an old thinker or a new thinker? These thoughts are easy to push aside, but they often are the place where critical elements of a successful Internet strategy for your company can be found.
Oh - and in the meantime - enjoy your TV.
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