The BBC do seem to be at an advantage, being publicly funded (via the license fee) they can push things that other media companies probably would not want to spend the cash on - this is one example, and the move towards file-sharing the content, see wired.com.
They are also eyeing the multibillion-dollar video game market.
Sony is also looking to get in the downloading act: "Crucially Reeves [A Sony Big Boss] also mentioned Sony's 'ultimate goal' for PlayStation 3: 'To get into electronic broadband distribution'. By 2006, when Reeves anticipates that all of Sony's currently in-development hardware products should be available, Sony hopes users will have always available online access along with viable broadband distribution....This massive statement has huge potential ramifications for the industry at large and is likely to cause a storm among retailers, with the suggestion that Sony plans eventually to sell its games as downloads, cutting overheads, cutting out the middle men and, ultimately, cutting the cost to the consumer."http://www.plugincinema.com/plugin/news/newslist1. php
An alternative look at this from VUNet; "But because MSN will continue to operate moderated chatrooms in the US, Canada and Japan as a subscription-based service, industry experts are suggesting that the real motive is financial.
Ian Brown, director of the Foundation for Information Policy Research, which promotes public debate about the policy implications of new developments in technology, called the announcement an 'hysterical' overreaction if the motive is to protect children online."
On the point of 'Execs are Stupid', this is a very telling quote: That said the industry don't even know if this technology will negatively effect sales. Some argue that services like Napster act as nothing more than a giant promotional tool, allowing fans to sample all kinds of music for free. If this is a possibility, then why is the music industry not embracing the technology? One factor could be that the music industry is notoriously short-sighted. A good example was their ban on playing singles on the Radio! Hard to believe as we know air-time equals sales but as Music writer, David Sinclair notes, "...it was also widely believed that playing records on the radio too often would actually discourage people from buying those records. After all, went the argument if you can hear them on the radio for free, why bother to go out and buy them?"
Slashdot Mirror
If your interest is more on creative media and copyright then we hosted a talk with Richard Stallman, the gist of which is here:m an0504.htm
http://www.plugincinema.com/plugin/articles/stall
The Indymedia Video network projectl e_ivdn.htm
http://www.plugincinema.com/plugin/articles/artic
and
our plugin Free Film Projectp ffp.htm
http://www.plugincinema.com/plugin/plugin_cinema/
The BBC do seem to be at an advantage, being publicly funded (via the license fee) they can push things that other media companies probably would not want to spend the cash on - this is one example, and the move towards file-sharing the content, see wired.com.
I'd always though that a game based on the world of Iain M Banks's Culture Sci-Fi novels would rock...
Sony is also looking to get in the downloading act: "Crucially Reeves [A Sony Big Boss] also mentioned Sony's 'ultimate goal' for PlayStation 3: 'To get into electronic broadband distribution'. By 2006, when Reeves anticipates that all of Sony's currently in-development hardware products should be available, Sony hopes users will have always available online access along with viable broadband distribution....This massive statement has huge potential ramifications for the industry at large and is likely to cause a storm among retailers, with the suggestion that Sony plans eventually to sell its games as downloads, cutting overheads, cutting out the middle men and, ultimately, cutting the cost to the consumer." http://www.plugincinema.com/plugin/news/newslist1. php
An alternative look at this from VUNet; "But because MSN will continue to operate moderated chatrooms in the US, Canada and Japan as a subscription-based service, industry experts are suggesting that the real motive is financial. Ian Brown, director of the Foundation for Information Policy Research, which promotes public debate about the policy implications of new developments in technology, called the announcement an 'hysterical' overreaction if the motive is to protect children online."
This has paralells with the legal letters to young Harry potter fans sued by Warner Bros over copyright issues.
Snif.
[ Wipes tear away ]
That said the industry don't even know if this technology will negatively effect sales. Some argue that services like Napster act as nothing more than a giant promotional tool, allowing fans to sample all kinds of music for free. If this is a possibility, then why is the music industry not embracing the technology? One factor could be that the music industry is notoriously short-sighted. A good example was their ban on playing singles on the Radio! Hard to believe as we know air-time equals sales but as Music writer, David Sinclair notes, "...it was also widely believed that playing records on the radio too often would actually discourage people from buying those records. After all, went the argument if you can hear them on the radio for free, why bother to go out and buy them?"
http://www.plugincinema.com/pl