Does Legal Online Video Content Delivery Exist?

RingDev asks: "I'm working on a system integration project for my CIS capstone. One of the systems we are integrating is a Windows MCE PVR. One of the topics that came up implementing a movie on demand or rental system using an existing online content provider. But the question we have run into is, are there any? Is the only option for online video content (TV shows, movies) P2P and BT clients? Is there no company out there that handles licensing and provides DRM'd content?"

Comments

Re:Counterintuitive

[RingDev]

"Seems like you're interested in providing existing Hollywood TV and movie products. The question I throw it back at you is: why bother?"

Why bother? A $50 BILLION industry? The $30 Billion battle over DVDs, 2.6 MILLION netflix subscribers? And you say why bother? A seemless open standard DRM could open up huge markets as broadband penetration continues to rise. Having tools in place to immediately take advantage of such a DRM, and the connections/money to get in bed with the content producers (Hollywood) could put a company in excellent position to make a trimendous profit.

"Jeez, I can't watch enough of those shows on WB network, and darn it, where can I pay to download them online?"

Yet how many people have downloaded Dr. Who? Firefly? or Battleship Galactica? You may say why bother, but consumers are demanding it, and all the industry has to do is offer a legal means to get the content and people will swarm to it.

-Rick

Streaming video does...

[sam1am]

There are at least a couple streaming video solutions out there:

ESPN Gameplan

MLB.tv

Probably not exactly what you're looking for, though...

Re:Counterintuitive

[RingDev]

I disagree. Papers have shown that illegal file sharing has little effect on profit margines. And as such, can be assumed to be a mitigated loss. There will always be people who break DRMs. Look at DeCCS, by your logic, every signle DVD released should have been immediately pirated and made as available as public domain. But they weren't. Why? because it's too much of a hassle. Why deal with multiple clients, crappy searchs, fake files, and days worth of waiting to get a movie that you could drive down to the video store and picked up for $2?

I'm not dreaming about a PERFECT system, I'm dreaming about a system that is good enough to provide a simple way for the majority of consumers to legally obtain content online.

Look at iTunes. Personally, I think their specific DRM sucks donkey balls. BUT, all they did was provide a way for consumers to easily and legally aquire content online. And now it is a multi-million dollar revenue source for Apple. This should be a screaming fireball of a wake up call for veture capitalist to invest in DRMs and content delivery. Because if Apple can wrap content in a crap sandwich, offer it up on a silver platter and make millions, what do you think a GOOD solution could do?

Imagine an international open standard DRM. One that has a simple API for authenticating the user, and determining the date. That API could be availible to Windows, Linux, Apple, what ever. No more of this iPod/Tunes only crap. No more DMCA violations to watch DVDs on Linux. Just one open standard DRM. You could even advance the DRM technology and maintain the standard API. So if someone ever cracks the DRM, you can patch it with out having to re-write all of the readers and delivery system.

-Rick

Re:I'm an engineer, not a marketeer.

[enrico_suave]

I find windows MCE a curious choice... with plenty of good extentadble or open source 3rd party PVR software solutions out there. *Shrug*

Someone has pointed out movielink... beyond media has it integrated into it's frontend... I believe Meedio does or would have a plugin for it. Meedio has a ton of HTPC/home automation stuff that might be worth investigating fruther.

it's not hollywood, but creative common's licensed material of interest is Downhill Battle's Particpatory Culture DTV thingie

e.