Skype, Sony Working to Offer On-Demand iTunes Rivals
The field of on-demand video services continues to grow. Both Sony and Skype have announced their intentions to challenge the dominance of iTunes via download services. Sony is going to be offering movie downloads via the PSP, no doubt as a partial rebuff to Microsoft's entry into the field. Meanwhile, Skype is planning to roll out a broadband television service they are calling 'the Venice Project'. Funded with the money made when Skype was sold to eBay, the beta version was apparently launched last week. From the article: "On his blog, Mr Friis said the partners had been 'quietly testing with a small circle of people' for a few months, and that they would now expand the circle. The service will offer high-quality programs through an ad-supported platform. The project aims to bring quality TV programs free to consumers who have a broadband internet connection, the spokesman said."
While I couldn't care less about Sony's offering, Skype's is something I'd be interested in, I have Time Warner digital cable and they offer on demand services, but they are very bland, a couple good music videos, a couple comedy central shows, and a few other good things among a bunch of crap. No variety really, I'd love to have a service that offers just about everything that's on tv and the click of a button.
In a world of acronyms, the words are the real victims.