Independent Wall Street Analyst Richard Greenfield from Fulcrum Global Partners issued a curious email report this morning entitled “Redefining the Idea of Video in an IP World, aka what we did with our computer last night.” Mailed to clients, this report notes that there has been “a meaningful pick-up in content creation/repurposing for broadband.”
Greenfield attached to his report a series of slide shots from a variety of online video outlets he visited, including Windows Media Center Online Spotlight Home Screen, Windows Media Center Online Spotlight Music/Radio Screen, Windows Media Center MTV Overdrive, Windows Media Center AOL Music on Demand, iTunes Video Podcast Directory and The Biz – AOL online-only reality TV show. His conclusion:
While we are not at the point yet where a consumer is likely to drop their existing cable/satellite video provider and simply use broadband for video, the future risks of disintermediation are becoming more tangible. Our slideshow highlights video accessed via windows media center, iTunes and simply the web itself.
Noting that the rise of IP video is good for program creators but bad for traditional distributors, Greenfield recommends that the FCC step in to ensure that cable operators and phone companies don’t smother this infant industry in its cradle:
We believe the FCC may need to act to prevent broadband providers from hurting the consumer experience of a product like MTV Overdrive delivered via Windows Media Center (in favor of broadband content they own/want to highlight or even simply to favor the more traditional experience of watching cable TV via a cable providers’ set-top box).
Cynthia Brumfield at 10:24 AM|Comments(0)
Blogs We Read
