The Glowria IPTV Blog

iSuppli Reports: All Technology Roads Lead to Digital Media

The proliferation of high-speed connections has irrevocably altered the landscape for both the tech and telecom industries. The focus is no longer just on providing access. To remain competitive, companies are  shifting focus to providing high-value applications and content that capitalize on these faster-access networks.

The implication? All technology markets are being driven by digital media distribution. For example, as IPTV growth continues, with an estimated 65 million subscribers by 2010, semiconductor sales for IPTV will grow to more than $7.8 billion.

The report concludes that all levels of the value chain must respond to consumer expectations of "Any Content, Any Device, Any Time."

The full release can be accessed here.

(Thanks to Tekrati)

XBox 360 IPTV, Apple TV: What's New in Digital Content-to-TV Devices

Between product launches at CES and the debut of Apple TV at MacWorld, devices that help consumers get their digital content via their televisions are clearly one of the hottest trends for 2007.

GigaOm's NewTeeVee blog has some great coverage of Apple TV, including a comparison against other new products like Sony's BRAVIA Internet Video Link Box, NetGear's Digital Entertainer HD, and Sling Media's SlingCatcher. 

At CES, Microsoft unveiled their new solution, which brings together the Xbox 360™ gaming console and the Microsoft® TV IPTV Edition software platform. Gizmodo has a great piece that clears up confusion about what exactly the XBox adds to the IPTV equation. The conclusion:

"it is essentially the same as the standard Microsoft IPTV software, it's simply running on a 360. Both deploying the service AND the available content is up to the providers, however, and who will be rolling out the service is still to be determined."

The devices will be available at different points in 2007, and it remains to be seen which will catch on  with consumers. Certainly availability of content, price, and variety of applicable formats will play a large part in any device's success.

(Thanks to GigaOm, engadget  and  Arstechnica)

France is #1 in IPTV

Market researcher Dittberner ranks France as number one in the IPTV market based on the market of subscribers with almost 900,000 subscribers.  The report highlights the Wester Europe region as a whole as leading this market with 68% of global IPTV subscribers.

Here at Glowria we're proud to see this not only as a French company, but as a company working hard to deliver video on demand via broadband and specific IPTV over DSL offerings throughout France.

It's also worth reading the Telephone Online article where the US market ranking is adjusted to count small providers - a point which moves the US higher in rankings. 

IPTV in India: First to take off with consumers?

This week IOL Broadband announced trials of its IPTV Service through the BSNL Broadband network in Bangalore.

Reading about IPTV being rolled out in India reminded me of the wireless market.  Developing infrastructure countries leapfrogged many developed countries in wireless usage and applications since their wired infrastructure was so weak.   Can the same thing happen with IPTV?

India doesn't have a huge Netflix or Blockbuster infrastructure, they don't have tons of cable companies (though there are some decent satellite offerings), and as Metroblogging Bangalore points out, traffic to a movie theater in India can make Manhattan look like a Sunday drive. 

What's particularly interesting is that IOL subscribers will get Video on Demand access to movies before satellite companies broadcast the movies.  This goes to the heart of a key issue which is IPTV allows consumers to watch content when the consumer chooses to watch it, not when the broadcaster chooses to deliver it (obviously, the content owner first has to license it).

Should the wired infrastructure be further developed to have the proper capacity, perhaps we'll be looking to India to see how consumers are using IPTV. 

 

Technorati tags: IPTV, VOD, satellite TV, India, IOL

Tivo + Slingboxes = A Temporary IPTV Solution?

Zatznotfunny catches up with Tivo selling Slingboxes (as an accessory).  It's an interesting deal that could tap into a hidden consumer IPTV desire - watching what you want, where you want to, when you want to. 

Technorati tags: tivo, slingbox, iptv

Rumor: DISH TV to Launch IPTV VoD

PVRWire is reporting a rumor that DISH TV is going to offer SD and HD IPTV.  What makes the rumor interesting is not simply that it's via IPTV, it is that it includes a potential CinemaNow offering.  This may highlight to people that with IPTV you can take any IP based service and offer it directly to the television (movies, games, music, etc).

The IPTV top 50 (or should that be "Internet TV")

Without even looking at the calendar, you can  tell it's the end of the year by the sudden pervasiveness of "top" lists. Monday, the blog IPTV Evangelist released the IPTV Top 50. The list is the result of a readers' poll looking for:

"...the most influential movers and shakers of the emerging field of Internet Television? Which individuals have created innovative technologies; lobbied for industry or regulatory change; created a killer on-line community or been the most visible personalities who are making IPTV a white-hot field for growth?"

There are a lot of familiar names on the list, particularly Chad Hurley, founder of YouTube at #1.  While the "mover and shaker" title certainly fits, YouTube does not (as the Evangelist admits) deliver IPTV content.

YouTube isn't the only questionable name on the list,  either. Not to say these folks haven't "created a killer on-line community" or aren't "visible personalities." They just aren't IPTV.

The distinction between Internet television and streaming video versus IPTV can be confusing, so in a year-end bout of reflection, I'd like to point out some articles and blog posts that deal with this issue, clarifying the differences.      

• IPTV Information's IPTV FAQ: Presents clear answers to simple questions like, "What is IPTV" and "When will I be able to watch it"

• IPTV and Streaming: Distinguishing the Differences: In this article from May 2005, Geoff Daily discusses these two approaches to content delivery, with commentary by Industry experts including Ed Graczyk, director of marketing and communications for Microsoft’s TV division, and Ken Pyle, cofounder of  Viodi.

• IPTV Vs. Internet Television: Key Differences: This post from June of 2005 again compares and contrasts the two approaches, ending with the big question - Which would you want?

• The Real Meaning Of IPTV: This article, penned by Mike Quigley, president and chief operating officer of Alcatel, begins its explaination with, ""Let's start with what IPTV is not. Specifically, it is not TV that is broadcast over the Internet."

• IPTV vs TV over IP: Om Malik puts his 2 cents in, as do his readers in the lively comments section.

If that's not enough reading, you can download the Broadband Services Forum's complete IPTV Versus Internet TV White Paperwhite paper here.

    

Christmas Gift for Neuf Cegetel Customers: New Video on Demand Service, Powered by glowria

In few days, Neuf Cegetel, the leading alternative telecommunications provider in France, will be launching new VoD services. The offering leverages glowria’s expertise to deliver the largest catalogue available in France, from recent blockbusters to “back catalogue” selections, straight to Neuf customers’ televisions. 

The service features a clear, intuitive system of navigation accessible via remote control.  Content can be searched by title, actor, and director as well as by genre, new releases, etc. Prices range from €.49 to 4€99 for 48 hours of unlimited access, and until January 31st, customers can obtain a promotional code that will entitle them to one complementary rental.

This launch is further proof that European companies have taking the lead in making IPTV and VoD a commercial reality. In France just this week, both Alice and Neuf Cegetel, two of the main telecommunications services providers, announced VoD service launches.

It’s no wonder European telcos are vying for a piece of this market at a rate seemingly far higher than their American counterparts. A recent study conducted by market research firm NPA Conseil, specialists in the audiovisual and telecommunications industries, projected extraordinary growth of the VoD market in France – from around €17 million in 2006 to €339 by 2011.

Neuf is the second large company in France to select glowria to power their on-demand services. FNAC, France’s leading consumer electronics and cultural products retailer, launched their VoD offering, also based on the glowria platform.

IPTV Growth Strong, Steady in Europe - Are Independent Operators the Key?

The new IPTV Global Forecast Report  released this week by market research firm Multimedia Research Group, Inc. (MRG)  shows strong and steady growth in both IPTV subscribers and revenues, especially in Europe and Asia.

North America, however, is proving to be somewhat of an exception.

According to MRG's IPTV Director, Bob Larribeau, delay in delivery of Microsoft's software is a major reason for stalled service deployments. Furthermore, the report points out that the US IPTV market is not benefiting from innovation and subscriber growth driven by small providers Neuf [which is powered by glowia], stating:

"Microsoft's slowness to market has had a strong negative effect on the forecast for North America in particular, which has not been offset by the stronger growth of small independent operators and of Verizon's (IPTV-based) VOD services."

Overall, MRG forecasts that there will be 50.5 million IPTV subscribers worldwide by the end of 2010, with revenue of $16.7 billion ($12.8 billion in service revenue and $3.9 billion in system and software revenue).

[source: TVOver.net]

Netgear Introduces Digital Media Adapter with Support for Intel Viiv

Networking products maker Netgear on Monday introduced a digital media adapter that supports Intel's Viiv technology for connecting PCs with home entertainment systems. The $269 Netgear Digital Entertainer (EVA700) lets consumers stream digital media content, applications and services from PCs, USB devices and the Internet via a home network to televisions and home entertainment systems.

The release can be read here.

(from Digital Media Wire)

- Editor