Archive for the ‘Value chain’ Category:
Video Working Group
2002. I had done a lot of research on broadband capacity, edge distribution and CDN management. I foresaw that the Internet would break under the increasing load of online video. I had experienced (eh caused) it myself one time.
The ISP’s would struggle to keep their business case positive. Content owners would be forced to outsource delivery to CDN’s. Who would only be able to distribute to ISP’s.
The iTuner
2005. Inspired by RSS and Podcasting, I began experimenting with video subscription services. Live and VOD streams via RSS. I called this VODcasting.
I was -and still am- convinced that internet video volumes are still small. The big bang is when consumers will consume high quality video streams in their homes. Sitting on their couch, eating chips, drinking cola and staring at their 52″ plasma’s or whatever, for hours.
There had been some initiatives towards internet stream based Set Top Boxes. Most really were crap. Utter total crap. If it wasn’t the hardware, it was the software. Even the Philips Streamium box sucked.
And if the boxes were OK, then they lacked a good interface, or they could only be used in a proprietary setting, with locked protocols, custom codecs and difficult middleware, exclusive content.
Open Play
In 2001 I came in contact with the Dutch Innovation Platform, from the Ministry of Economic Affairs. Because I foresaw a major shift in the value chain.
Thanks to the Internet, consumers were not locked anymore in the old walled garden, linear value chain:
Consumer -> buys television package from cable operator -> buys tv channels distribution rights -> broadcasters add advertising revenues -> pay the content producer.
The open Internet allowed multiple new value chain models:
Consumer -> buys flat-fee broadband. End of chain.
Consumer -> surfs the web for content aggregators who ask money for their service or add advertising revenues -> to pay the content producer.
I called this Open Play. Read more »
Cable co
In 2001 I joined a large Dutch cable company. I went there to introduce streaming media knowledge and technology.
Cable companies traditionally buy content (channels), aggregate and sell cable subscriptions to households.
Cable companies also introduced broadband internet and telephone services. They bundle their 3 core services and call this Triple Play.
I saw a great potential to distribute content via broadband as a new business model next to the existing model.