This week I had the opportunity to attend WICT’s Tech It Out conference in Denver. I was amazed with the by the parallels between the cable and satellite operator’s challenges and strategic decisions and those faced by that of the computing industry. In the end, everyone is trying to figure out how best to utilize “the Web” as a distribution channel for content – be it user generated, television, music or motion picture. Issues such as contextual advertising, data privacy, digital rights management (DRM), and supporting a mobile world are all top on the list. The acronyms were different but the general meaning and underlying principles were all the same.
What is clear is that AoIP (anything over IP) – seems to be the best distribution approach when trying to reach customers on multiple devices. So while optimizing content presentation for different devices will likely require multiple distribution channels (open and closed networks), it seems clear that the Web will play an important role for getting cable content out of the living room and onto our laptops and smartphones.
While I was a bit of a conference outsider - mobile SaaS vs. cable industry, I was joined by cross-over vendor Sling Media) and a panel was exclusively set aside to discuss the happenings at CES. The bottom line - it is clear that many of the solutions to achieve the cable industries goals will be enabled by technologies born in the computer products and Internet sectors.
I had the chance to sit in on sessions and chat with cable operators, such as Time-Warner Cable and Comcast. They have some exciting new things coming our way so get ready to hit the sofa, or your desk, or the commuter train, and enjoy the ride that is coming!
