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Free Net TV Threatens Telecoms
An anonymous reader writes "C|Net's running an article about the threat free television on the internet poses to traditional telecoms and cable companies." From the article: "No one is expecting Internet television to cannibalize traditional TV models overnight. Despite advancements in streaming technology, video delivered on the Web can still be choppy, with frequent interruptions as data packets buffer and reload on the screen. In fact many viewers who watched the NCAA tournament aired by CBS on the Internet last month complained about the network being overloaded."
I've been looking for advice and opinions on a "dream" of mine on the verge of coming true -- an idea I call No Copyright Studios. Basically the idea was initially to sponsor bands who dropped all their music into the public domain in exchange for all the free marketing that could drive more fans to their shows. Now we're looking at enticing another group of artists to work to build a digital library of free programming in exchange for driving people to see them live: the theatre group.
I've been thinking about all the great actors I personally know (I love SOME local theatre) and how they could record some of their skits as mini-TV-shows to broadcast freely online. I've also thought that we could get a few different groups throughout the country to work on similar vignettes, creating interest not just in my local Chicago area.
The more I look at the quality increases of amateur performers online, the more I realize that the big cartels that controlled distribution for nearly 70 year ARE in trouble. No, we aren't there yet, but we're getting there. I just picked up 3 3-chip DV cams for under US$4000 total, brand new, 16:9. Amazing what competition can do to drive prices down so that amateurs can start competing with the big guys. Even HD cams are dropping in price.
I think the big issue right now is forgoing "protection" of the medium or the data and just letting it go wherever it can go. In the long run, people seem to be willing to pay for a la carte entertainment, so I believe that we can see a return to the old days when artists were sponsored by the masses solely to create. No Copyright Studios has numerous ways for artists to make money without copyright, including charging for fans to watch the band in the studio live (via the web). As more people embrace the idea of letting your digital product become your marketing sysetem, the quality will go up. Competition still exists even when a product is given away.
The question is: what will the cartels do to stop it? The big print media outlets are forming blogs, which are succeeding within reason (Slate?). The big radio outlets are jumping beyond their pre-set formats, bringing some people back to the radio, and some are even podcasting.
Can big media hold on when the prices are quickly dropping to zero and advertising can be bypassed with the press of a button? What is the next step for them?
If thats the case then use this: http://feelingtea.com/decode/google/index.php It is a fM Google, Youtube & Ifilm Video Downloader (from the site), and it works great.
Web can still be choppy, with frequent interruptions as data packets buffer and reload on the screen
Some broadcasters seem to get it much better than others:
http://delicast.com/tv/Ministry_of_Sound
or
http://delicast.com/tv/NASA_TV
The bitrates are not impressive, but I can't recall a single pause/buffering issue with them (adsl2+, UK).
In short, he thinks small icon advertisements (eg. "drink coke") should be put in the corner of a TV show, and then the TV show should be freely distributed on bittorrent. Everyone wins.
s /diamonds/mystique1.htmlc le.jsp?cid=90486&mainArticleId=118128
I'm also a fan of product placement, so long as its done tastefully. Products are a part of our culture, we use them all the time. Its unlikely that a billionaire business tycoon on TV would drive a 1976 Pinto. Why not have Ferarri or some high end/high dollar car manufacturer compete for having this new billionaire business tycoon drive one of their products instead of the Pinto?
Probably the most successful product placement campaign in history was by the De Beers diamond cartel. In a few decades they were able to convince much of the world that their rocks were always something involved with love and marriage, especially those failed Hollywood marriages, and you too should participate and give them money in the name of love.
http://americanradioworks.publicradio.org/feature
http://www.turnerclassicmovies.com/thismonth/arti
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debeers#Marketing
Despite the complete marketing con and manipulation by De Beers, it does not really bother me because it was tastefully done. Diamonds are a girl's best friend is a cute song, and metaphorically it sums up a majority of Eastern European derived women.
Life is better when you have a child's understanding of the world. Beyond that, I don't know whether to laugh or cry.