IPTV Revenue $26 Billion by 2011

Telcos increasingly are looking to IPTV offerings to augment their declining voice communications revenue, causing the market for IPTV video services to rise by a factor of nearly 34 from 2006 to 2011, iSuppli predicts. The market for IPTV video services will rise to $26.3 billion in 2011, up from $779.2 million in 2006. This figure does not include advertising and value-added TV services.

Telcos view IPTV as an opportunity to recapture the revenue generated by many of the Internet-based services that have bypassed them by traveling through their broadband pipes. However, IPTV will deliver significantly more than just video services, offering access to digital music, on-demand gaming, data services, home security, and other items. These value-added offerings will boost the global IPTV video revenue stream by more than $1 billion by 2010.

While this represents huge growth, IPTV still will have significant room for expansion in the years following 2011.

iSuppli also found that:

• Many IPTV deployment strategies are focused on next-generation video services. Because of this, competition for services is likely to focus on features and benefits, rather than price. Features such as high-definition programming, digital video recording service, and remote access are the main features that telcos are focusing on to gain a competitive advantage. Pay-per-view and video on demand service will combine to generate nearly $300 million in revenue in 2007.
• Advertising promises to be another significant revenue source to augment IPTV video. iSuppli believes IPTV operators have an opportunity to deliver unique value to advertisers through behavioral targeting and interactivity. This will drive IPTV-based advertising revenue to surpass $1 billion annually in 2010.
• In 2011, China will lead the world in IPTV subscribers. The massive size of the population, combined with the government's technology emphasis for the 2008 Olympics, are the principal reasons for the growth. Revenue, however, will be driven by the United States. North America will account for more than $10 billion in IPTV subscription revenue by 2011.

iSuppli's report, "IPTV Content & Services 2007: Telecom Companies Turn up the Heat," provides an analysis of IPTV and reviews the various tiers of service. The report then takes a look at the telco-delivered IPTV market from a value chain perspective including content providers, service providers, broadband portals and aggregators, Internet VoD, Internet TV and "over-the-top" offerings, platforms, BSS and OSS, and CE equipment and technology. The customer premise equipment implications of IPTV are examined in terms of set-top boxes, modems, gateways, home networking, digital rights management and conditional access, middleware, and client software. Finally, the IPTV content and services market is forecasted by geographic region for the IPTV video services market (including VoD, DVR, and HD), advertising models in IPTV, value-added services, community and personalization, and by region.

Credit to tvover.net

Motorola Introduces Open Software Platform for IPTV STB's

Motorola introduces a set-top software solution using an open Internet Protocol platform on its VIP 1200 series set-top boxes. The KreaTV application platform uses the Linux Operating system to help support multiple entertainment and video service applications on Motorola's VIP set-top series, allowing service providers and other third parties to easily customize and deploy revenue-generating applications via development kits and custom training on the toolsets. Interactive features such as programming guides, viewer voting tools, and advanced gaming can be seamlessly integrated by the service provider using the open-platform system in conjunction with third-party middleware and software providers.

Operators in North America can leverage the flexibility of KreaTV software to help introduce features like multi-room DVR, video on-demand and interactive teleconferencing. The open KreaTV software solution is designed to meet carriers' needs and to help satisfy consumer IPTV demand in any market.

Motorola's 2006 acquisition of Kreatel Communications led to the addition of the open software platform on Motorola's popular VIP set-top series.

The Motorola VIP 1200 series with KreaTV is a compact, interactive IP set-top that supports high-definition and standard-definition high-quality digital video. The KreaTV open software platform is integrated with leading North American middleware and conditional access applications to help provide IPTV users with a rich and secure viewing experience.

Motorola is demonstrating the VIP 1200 with KreaTV software at this week's NXTcomm exhibition in Chicago. To date, Motorola has shipped more than one million IPTV set tops.

Credit to tvover.net

Motorola Introduces Open Software Platform for Its IPTV Set Tops in North America

Unleashing the potential of IPTV, Motorola today introduced a set-top software solution using an open Internet Protocol (IP) platform on its VIP 1200 series set-top boxes.

The KreaTV(TM) application platform uses the Linux Operating system to help support multiple entertainment and video service applications on Motorola's VIP set-top series, allowing service providers and other third parties to easily customize and deploy revenue-generating applications via development kits and custom training on the toolsets. Interactive features such as programming guides, viewer voting tools, and advanced gaming can be seamlessly integrated by the service provider using the open-platform system in conjunction with third-party middleware and software providers.

Operators in North America can leverage the flexibility of KreaTV(TM) software to help introduce features like multi-room DVR, video on-demand (VOD) and interactive teleconferencing. The open KreaTV(TM) software solution is designed to meet carriers' needs and to help satisfy consumer IPTV demand in any market.

Motorola's 2006 acquisition of Kreatel Communications led to the addition of the open software platform on Motorola's popular VIP set-top series.

"Motorola is building on our global IPTV leadership by extending the level of high-quality, on-demand and interactive services for consumers in North America on a proven hardware platform," said Doug Means, Motorola corporate vice president and general manager. "The KreaTV(TM) open-platform software gives service providers a choice in working with the best IPTV allies and application developers."

"As demand for IPTV services and set-tops continues to grow, service providers will be able to leverage an open system to bring together best-of-breed technologies and applications to deliver a truly next-generation experience to consumers," states Michelle Abraham, principal analyst, In-Stat.

The Motorola VIP 1200 series with KreaTV(TM) is a compact, interactive IP set-top that supports high-definition (HD) and standard-definition (SD) high-quality digital video. The KreaTV(TM) open software platform is integrated with leading North American middleware and conditional access applications to help provide IPTV users with a rich and secure viewing experience.

Motorola is demonstrating the VIP 1200 with KreaTV(TM) software at this week's NXTcomm exhibition in Chicago. To date, Motorola has shipped more than one million IPTV set tops.

About Motorola
Motorola (NYSE:MOT) is known around the world for innovation and leadership in wireless and broadband communications. Inspired by our vision of Seamless Mobility, the people of Motorola are committed to helping you get and stay connected simply and seamlessly to the people, information, and entertainment that you want and need. We do this by designing and delivering "must have" products, "must do" experiences and powerful networks -- along with a full complement of support services. A Fortune 100 company with global presence and impact, Motorola had sales of US $42.9 billion in 2006. For more information about our company, our people and our innovations, please visit http://www.motorola.com/.

MOTOROLA and the Stylized M Logo are registered in the US Patent and Trademark Office. Linux is the registered trademark of Linus Torvalds in the U.S. and other countries. All other product or service names are the property of their respective owners.

Credit to thomasnet.com

Mobile Phones As Mass Media: The Upcoming Technonlogical Revolution - Part 1

An evolving historic technological revolution is under way, which is creating new industries, new products, new services and, unmercifully redefining or even destroying others. It is more powerful, with greater reach and is growing faster than any other media-ecology.

It is the grass roots of the mobile mass media.

It is not as clear and coherent, with established well known global brands, as the older Internet is today, with its Google’s, Yahoo’s, YouTube’s and Second Life’s. But the foundations are now being laid for the future corporate giants for the 7th mass media to emerge.

Differing from the internet, mobile as the 7th mass media channel is similar to the five legacy mass media, economically viable with a stable business model from day one. Yet, differing from the legacy mass media, all of which are witnessing a decline in their audiences and revenues, mobile like the internet, is an interactive media enabling it to fully capitalize on social networking and digital communities.

But more importantly from a media audience point-of-view, there already are over twice as many mobile phones worldwide as there are personal computers, nearly twice as many mobiles as TV sets. The only mass media that is carried upon the owner at all times, mobile is also the first mass media where near 100% accuracy is feasible on measuring the audience.

In the following report originally published by Alan Moore, CEO of SMLXL, you will be able to read about the evolution mass media and the trends they established within our culture and our communication habits. Today I republish for you the first part of the white paper, which introduces the topic by rolling out the history of mass media and their characteristics.

Here more details: Read More
Credit to masternewmedia.org

IPTV vs. Internet Television: Key Differences

What is the difference between IPTV, the Internet Protocol-based TV paradigm heralded by major telecom providers and large media groups (Microsoft included) and the Internet Television painted by the Long Tail phenomenon, Ourmedia, the Internet Archive, Brightcove, and the availability of amazing new technology opportunities such as faster and faster net connections, free unlimited storage space, BitTorrent, MPEG4 and powerful low-cost hardware and software production tools?

Are they two opposite and diverging forces or are they the different aspects of the same media phenomenon portrayed in different ways?

If you ask these questions around today, few people will be able to answer in a clear and articulate way. Even those executives working for would-be IPTV ventures would give no credit whatsoever to the idea that an alternative way of leveraging Internet strengths for the commercial delivery of video content exists. Most of the time they see only theirs.

So, what are the key differences between these two radically different approaches to distributing video content via IP and which the related-issues that make them important to me and you?

The choice, for those who can see it, appears to be between a universe of highly diversified and dynamic independent production and one dominated by secure dedicated private delivery networks distributing more traditional types of video-based content largely provided by Hollywood and other established big media conglomerates.

IPTV is represented by a profile of closed, proprietary TV systems such as those present today on cable services but delivered via IP-based secure channels representing a sharp increase in control of content distribution.

Internet Television is instead an open evolving framework in which a very large number of small and medium-sized video producers contribute highly innovative niche content alongside with offerings from more traditional retail and distribution channels.

Nonetheless key differences, being able to appreciate the true nature of these two models remains a challenging task for the uninitiated reader unless she starts to look a little deeper into the differentiating details.

What is IPTV

IPTV is not TV that is broadcast over the Internet.

"IPTV is generally funded and supported by large telecom providers who have undertaken the mission of creating a competitive replacement product for digital cable and satellite services." (Jeremy Allaire)

"While the "IP" in its name stands for Internet Protocol, that doesn't mean people will log onto their favorite Web page to access television programming. The IP refers to a method of sending information over a secure, tightly managed network that results in a superior entertainment experience."
(Source: Businessweeek - "The real meaning of IPTV")

IPTV is particularly good for the established media content production business, including Hollywood and all of the major television distribution networks on satellite and cable. IPTV allows these organizations to have total control of the content distributed and to greatly reduce opportunities for theft and piracy, which last year cost the cable industry $4.76 billion in unrealized revenue.
(Source: Businessweeek - "The real meaning of IPTV").

The way IPTV television is being conceived integrates multiple ways to monitor and record user choices, preferences and selections over time therefore appearing as an ideal platform on which to add personalized e-commerce options and more targeted advertising.

• IP-TV is a carrier-led and controlled platform. There is a physical carrier that has physical pipes and infrastructure that it operates and controls. The consumer interacts directly with that operator/carrier.
• As such this is an end-to-end system or semi-closed network (infrastructure is all within the carrier environment, and cannot be normally accessed to the Internet as a whole. Further to this, the deployment infrastructure and devices to access it are all managed and operated by the IP-TV carrier).
• IPTV is definitely a massive connectivity infrastructure upgrade to be deployed over a number of years, and which underlines major changes and upgrades to connectivity, transport and delivery devices both on the operator environment as well as on the consumer side.
• IPTV approach is a fundamentally geographically-bound approach. This is mainly due to the fact that the deployment infrastructure is based in regions and in neighborhoods connected to consumer premises (users homes). User experience is also bound to their living rooms and set-top boxes. Local regulations and policies further influence and limit IP-TV to be a strongly geographically-bound model.
• IPTV will offer essentially the same product and programming offered by digital cable and satellite providers. Similar on-demand and pay per view products probably with some extra integration with voice, and different pricing.

IPTV Issues

Will it be easy for the telecom companies to acquire, license and distribute existing commercial video content?

Can the telcos with little or no experience with the licensing of video content, hope to become smart players of this emerging industry?

For now this remains an open question:

"It won't be easy. Already, the entertainment industry is entwined in a web of complicated and often exclusive licensing deals, and getting the right content will be a challenge for the telcos."

This is what Bob Greene, senior vice president of advanced services for Starz Entertainment Group LLC told his audience a few days ago, at the 13th annual Symposium, “Next Generation Media Networks".

"Movies are typically licensed on an exclusive basis for about eight or nine years, says, after which licensing is finally opened up to general broadcast rights." Greene also said that breaking into these exclusive relationships is the biggest barrier to those who want to start delivering video content over IP.
(Source: Lightreading IPTV vs. Me Too TV )

Reed Hasting, founder and CEO of Netflix, adds that "the industry had reached a crucial juncture", and where what we are left with it's a choice between an open and highly diversified grassroots Internet-based TV panorama vs. a highly-commercial, secure and controlled multiplicity of private networks modeled after traditional cable and satellite TV operations governed by major world telcos.

Unfortunately what telcos are doing, is dumping large amounts of money into creating IP-based versions of existing cable and satellite offerings, without any understanding of what the new emerging paradigm of Internet of Video, has really to offer.

A great model for marketing video and television-type content through secure and protected IP telecom networks could be modeled after what successfully done by NTT DoCoMo in Japan, where the telecom giant takes a cut of the overall sales and subscriptions revenues in exchange for providing new content providers with tools and services to market their content on their distribution network.

What is Internet Television

So, what is then the alternative open internet of video that Jeremy Allaire of Brightcove evangelizes about?

• Internet Television, is quite different in terms of the model for the consumer, the publisher and for the infrastructure used itself.
• In the Internet of Video, as Jeremy Allaire calls it, or Internet Television approach, the model is open to any rights holder, as it is based on the same publishing model that exists on the Web: anyone can create an endpoint and publish that on a global basis.
• Internet Television is open to any rights holder no matter whether this is an individual creating a video for a very small audience or a traditional publisher that offers linear cable channels.
• The Internet Television approach the publisher has a direct communication channel to the consumer.

The content publisher is able to directly reach the consumers on the multiple devices independent of any specific carrier or operator. Internet Television is in fact an approach that also attempts to be as device independent as possible. Thanks to open standards and formats which have helped create this opportunity, Internet Television wants to be just as the web is today. Accessible from any type of computer and connection around the world..... and not physically tied to the user living room or set-top box.

• Internet Television will be deeply integrated into the existing Internet user experience and into the mechanisms that users use to access services, discover resources and share experiences in the Internet world, in the near future will merge with the world of video and television services seamlessly.
• Internet Television is an outgrowth, not an overhaul. Internet Television is able to ride on existing lowest common denominator infrastructure including broadband, ADSL, wi-fi, cable, satellite doesn't require new infrastructure to work or provide value to users.
• Internet Television uses a global reach business model, where video and television services that are offered in one geography can be accessed from any other global geography (as long as content distribution rights are in place).
• Internet Television promises access to many new products and much broader range of programming that we have been accustomed to retail video world and dramatically more control, as to when and where and how users can access that video/tv programming."

"An open platform gives content providers control over the brand and customer relationship," says Jeremy Allaire of BrightCove.

This, he feels, will create an explosion of niche content that people can access directly over open, IP-based systems. "Nearly every small niche can be economically supportable."

And also:

"Beyond looking at Internet Television as an ideal platform for marketing and distribution, it is interesting to think about how the Internet facilitates a distributed and collaborative environment for media production.

It won't surprise me to see new "media collectives" modeled after open source projects that form together to put forth a particular view point - be it for entertainment or informational programs.

Is this a missing piece to create a platform for citizen's media? "

But the question is: Which one would YOU want, and why?

Credit to MasterNewMedia.org
Technorati Tags: IPTV , IPTV Deployment , HDTV , Digital TV , Technology , Tech , Internet , Internet Television , Television

IPTV Deployment - IPTV changes the way consumers watch television

IPTV is a system of delivering television content to consumers over the infrastructure of the Internet. With the proliferation of broadband networks set up by telephone companies to offer broadband Internet to consumers, IPTV has overcome the problem of having limited bandwidth that was once a major barrier to deployment.

Currently there are two different ways consumers can get IPTV. They can buy a "set top box" which will convert a IPTV signal and play it on their television. The other option is to watch on a PC. Many IPTV service providers also offer voice and data capabilities with the IPTV service, making it a true "triple play" use of the broadband network. In the market of broadband applications IPTV is a major upset. With the advent of IPTV many cable television companies are being ousted from the market of providing low cost television, data and voice broadband applications to consumers.

Business applications are also in development. Services such as streaming video are widely available on IPTV due to the scalability of the medium. In Michigan the house of representatives uses IPTV to keep their employees. Two cameras in House chambers provide live coverage of floor debates and proceedings. This is one example of how IPTV can be applied in a work environment due to the flexibility and choices available in the many IPTV systems. The excitement that such a technology creates is immense for the possible applications of such a "do it yourself" television broadcasting system are endless.

The categories within IPTV are still gelling, but possibilities are still wide open as to which of the many versions of IPTV will become standard. Companies are in the initial struggle to become leaders of the market, but at this point it is anyone's game. There is no doubt that IPTV will be the next generation for television content, but it has yet to be determined which companies will be the benefactors of the innovations that are now taking place.

By Ian Elwood
Fresh IPTV News

Find more: IPTV , IPTV Deployment , HDTV , Digital TV , Technology , Tech

Interactive TV Services for IPTV

IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) is a method of distributing television content over broadband that enables a more customised and interactive user experience. IPTV will mean a fundamental change in viewing habits. Viewers will be able to watch what they want, when they want to. Interactive TV services will be a key differentiator for the multitude of IPTV offerings that are emerging. Interactivity via a fast two-way connection will lift IPTV ahead of today’s television.

IPTV brings together the television, internet and telephone. Much like cable or satellite television, IPTV uses a set-top box (STB) that allows viewers to watch hundreds of channels and order movies through video-on-demand (VOD). IPTV uses broadband ADSL, the same technology that delivers high-speed Internet to the computer. This opens the door to much more interactivity and the potential for thousands, as opposed to hundreds, of channels.

Find What’s On

All IPTV services will offer basic interactivity to support navigation and search of the vast amounts of content. An electronic programme guide (EPG) will allow viewers to browse the linear and on-demand content that is available.

EPGs are likely to allow viewers to look at programme listings up to two weeks in advance, and also look back over programmes from the previous seven days broadcast schedule. A powerful search facility will allow viewers to look for programmes by title, genre and keywords. Filters will allow viewers to display lists of movies, music, pay-per-view events and high definition programmes.

The EPG will be customisable by viewers, who will be able to create their own line-up of favourite channels and content. As well as full-screen layouts, EPGs will have a mini-overlay mode which will allow the viewer to keep watching the current programme while browsing the schedule.

Personal Video Recorder

Many IPTV set top boxes will incorporate a Personal Video Recorder (PVR) that will allow programmes and interactive content to be recorded. Viewers will be able to watch one programme while recording another. They’ll also be able to use interactive services or video on demand while recording in the background. While watching linear TV programming, viewers will be able to pause and rewind live television.

The PVR will be programmed via the Electronic Programme Guide. Intelligent series linking will allow programme episodes to be recorded based on preferences; first-runs, repeats, or all occurrences. Programme and movie trailers will contain interactive links that can be selected to schedule a recording. Remote scheduling of recording will also be possible using a mobile phone or the web.

Enhanced TV

With IPTV, viewers will be able to watch a lot more television at the same time. Sports fans will be able to keep an eye on six games at once, on the same screen, or study one game from multiple camera angles. Viewer involvement will be encouraged through voting, competitions and messaging services.

Advertising

Interactive advertising will extend traditional linear advertising. It will allow advertisers to give product information in the form of an on-screen interactive brochure. This will re-enforce the brand messages and encourage viewer involvement with the product. It will also allow a direct element to be added to any TV campaign, with responses being captured from viewers.

Communication Services

The two-way nature of an IPTV connection makes it ideal for providing person-to-person communication services. Instant messaging services will allow viewers to ‘chat’ via text messages while continuing to watch TV. Video conferencing over television will allow virtual family gatherings when family members are spread across the world.

Services will be used both as stand-alone applications, and as add-ons to programming. Friends will be able to chat while watching a programme ‘together’ in different locations. Phone-in shows will be able to display callers, linked directly from their home.

Community Services

IPTV will provide many feeds of news, entertainment and information. Viewers will be able to personalise their ‘feed reader’ to match their particular interests. This will then collect up-to-date information such as news headlines, sports results, share prices and travel updates in a single place.

Dating services will allow subscribers to set up a profile and find compatible ‘matches’ to communicate with. Messages will be exchanged quickly, cheaply and safely, without the security concerns of meeting in the real world.

Betting & Gaming

IPTV will offer a range of betting and gaming on demand services. These will include sports betting services, where bets are placed on both live and virtual sports. The betting will be closely linked to the TV coverage, and will include in-running betting. There will also be a range of casino style games including roulette, blackjack, slots and poker. Some of these will be stand-alone games, others will be linked to programming with either live or virtual presenters.

Personal Content

IPTV will enable the secure sharing of video recordings, photos and music. Users with a home network will be able to share digital content with other devices such as PCs and portable media players. IPTV will be a key component in the connected home.

Users will also be able to share content with family and friends across the Internet. Effective digital content protection with consumer flexibility will be essential for such sharing to flourish. IPTV could even allow users to have their own television channel where they could share their views, photos and videos with the rest of the world as a video podcast.

Conclusion

Interactive television will provide genuinely useful applications that enhance the overall user experience of IPTV. Interactive services must be seen as part of the overall infrastructure of delivering television – not just a bolt on.

To get the right interactive services to meet consumer demands will require experimentation. Content providers, broadcasters and network owners need to develop, trial, refine and roll-out interactive services. A lot has been learnt over the past ten years about interactive TV. This knowledge can help inform the design of interactive services for IPTV.

John Withnell is Managing Director of Long Dog, a company that provides a one-stop-shop for project planning, design and build of interactive TV solutions. See http://www.longdog.tv/ for details.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Withnell
Technorati Tags : IPTV , HDTV , Digital TV , Television , Broadband