Posts for 'VideoSchmooze'

This was the question I started our VideoSchmooze panel discussion off with this past Tuesday night. Yet 20 minutes of debate among our group of panelists yielded no real answers. This lack of consensus suggests an upcoming period of high anxiety in the industry: for even as viewers shift to online consumption, it is far from clear whether advertising alone will be sufficient to support the creative infrastructure needed to produce premium long-form video.

I continue to believe that broadcast TV networks are the companies most at risk from the unknowns around online video advertising. Lacking the additional revenue stream from distributors that their cable TV network brethren enjoy, broadcast networks must figure out how to make online video advertising work.

However, as I originally wrote over a year ago, and then again here, the fundamental problem the broadcast networks face with their current online implementations is that ad revenue per viewer per program is a fraction of what it is on-air (likely less than 25% by my calculations). In my mind, getting the two into balance is the minimum requirement for the networks to keep their top lines even with where they are today, assuming online viewership substitutes for on-air, as I expect it will over time.

As our panel explained though, the constraints to achieving this parity are significant. First is the issue of just how many ads can be inserted into an online episode. Today sites like Hulu, with their very light ad loads bias significantly in favor of the consumer experience rather than revenue optimization (for more on this see Chuck Salter's fine new article, "Can Hulu Save Traditional TV?" in this month's Fast Company). Just how many ads can be forced into an online episode given the DVR ad-skipping generation's expectations is an unknown. For sure it is fewer than the 16-18 minutes in a traditional one hour on-air program.

So if the quantity of ads must be lower, then each one needs to bring a higher price than their on-air counterparts. The traditional "CPM" metric (the cost per thousand viewers reached) is well-entrenched among ad agency media buyers. On the VideoSchmooze panel, George Kliavkoff, now a Hearst executive, but formerly the chief digital officer at NBCU and the first CEO of Hulu, lamented the CPM framework for online video advertising. He threw down the gauntlet, saying essentially that the whole broadband video industry is in for big trouble if it doesn't break out of selling ads on a CPM basis.

George's point was that it's foolish for a new medium like broadband, which offers content providers new technology-based ways to create value for advertisers, to allow itself to get locked in to the monetization techniques from the prior TV medium. That rationale is compelling enough, but for me another strong reason to get beyond CPM pricing is that not doing so means that media buyers will always be presented with a fundamental question: is it worth paying a 25%/50%/100% (take your pick) premium to reach online vs. on-air eyeballs watching the exact same show? This raises the bar for online ads; the research must show demonstrably higher engagement, recall, purchase intent, etc. to justify the premium. All of this may happen due to online's improved targeting, but even if it does, it won't happen overnight and the upside is likely not that large anyway.

If CPM-based pricing is challenged, then what's better? On the panel we discussed examples of interactive ads that can be quantifiably valued, such as by generating a specific lead or purchase for the advertiser, along with other formats. Of course these ideas have been floating around the TV world for years, but have gained little traction (although it is worth noting that in online, paid search marketing is a pure performance ad format that has worked spectacularly well). As several attendees remarked to me afterward though, these new ad formats face the additional challenge of needing to conform to ad agencies' buying processes, which are research-driven, dominated by younger staffers and not well-suited to understanding innovative ad formats.

Add it all up and significant questions remain about whether advertising alone is going to be able to support premium long-form online video and the creative infrastructure that produces it. Just as newspapers are struggling today to support traditional newsroom expenses on skimpier online ad revenues, broadcast networks accustomed to spending $2 million or more for a single episode of a scripted program could face a similar day of reckoning. This is the core issue, made all the more urgent by viewers' relentless shift to online consumption. Only time will tell whether there are any satisfactory answers to be had here.

What do you think? Post a comment now.

Thanks to everyone who came out for VideoSchmooze last night. We had about 250 people in attendance and thousands more watching live via the NATPE-sponsored Stickam feed (replay available soon). I asked Steve Donohue, a veteran cable TV journalist and friend to cover the panel discussion for VideoNuze while I was moderating. His edited coverage is below; more commentary is available on Twitter, search hashtag #VS09.

Media Executives Debate Online Video Trends at VideoSchmooze

by Steve Donohue

Media companies won't succeed in distributing programming online through sites like Hulu and others unless content providers and advertisers develop new ad formats and better ways to measure video that is distributed on multiple platforms, executives on the VideoSchmooze panel said Tuesday night.

Hulu and the sites operated by major broadcast TV networks today rely mostly on distributing 15- and 30-second ad units, a tactic criticized by Hearst Entertainment EVP George Kliavkoff, formerly Chief Digital Officer at NBCU and the first CEO of Hulu.

"If that (traditional TV advertising) is the conversation, then we've failed as an industry. I think the conversation should be what's new and engaging, taking advantage of the technology to deliver ads that are not just repurposed 15- and 30-second spots, " Kliavkoff said, reiterating a theme he espoused throughout the night that more needs to be done, and faster, to improve the online video ad model.

But Matt Strauss, Comcast's SVP, New Media said the industry shouldn't abandon traditional advertising. "We need to embrace the fact that there is a model right now on television that we all live with," Strauss said, adding that he hopes Nielsen Media Research will be able to incorporate online viewing into its C3 ratings reports, which measure viewing on TV and through digital video recorders.

The urgency of going beyond the CPM-based model for online video ads was highlighted by panel moderator Will Richmond from VideoNuze, who noted that "today's sites distributing full-length TV shows will not succeed in the long-term by inserting one-fifth the number of ads as done on-air, even if these ads can command a 20-25% price premium."

Perkins Miller, SVP of Digital Media at NBCU Sports explained that his company's live streaming of Sunday Night Football (now in its second season), which carry full ad loads, have been a big a success, saying "users are watching twice as much content because they're engaged." It is important to note that with built-in time-outs to support ad insertion, live sports are in a unique position to replicate their on-air models online.

Still, blip.tv co-founder Dina Kaplan reported that in the last 2-3 years, the online video ad-supported model for entertainment programming has made great strides. Kaplan revealed that blip has recently inked 8 deals with major advertisers, indicating that auto companies, packaged goods firms and other advertisers are moving budgets to online video ads. On the flip side, Kaplan conceded that generating unique creative for online ads will be a key challenge, saying, "with staff reductions at agencies....it's going to be a bigger problem, not a smaller problem, in 2010."

Another area discussed in detail during the panel was TV Everywhere, an initiative to deliver cable and other programming online to subscribers of traditional multichannel video services. Comcast's Strauss said that with 20-25 cable networks involved in the company's TV Everywhere trial, the company has been running fast to keep up with networks' interest.

Richmond mentioned however, that Hulu's 3 media owners, NBCU, Disney and Fox (as well as Viacom), which together constitute 4 of the 5 biggest cable network owners, have not yet publicly committed to distributing their shows via TV Everywhere. Strauss indicated that these companies are taking a "thoughtful" approach to their distribution strategy, and expressed confidence that while all networks may not be represented when Comcast begins rolling out TV Everywhere commercially later this year, the line-up will become more complete over time. "All programmers we've talked to are in agreement that making content more accessible to viewers is important," Strauss added, while also acknowledging that protecting online-distributed content from theft is a key focus of the TV Everywhere initiative.

Lastly, panelists touched on the proliferation of various viewing devices. In particular, Miller praised the significant popularity of the iPhone as an example of how mobile video is becoming a strong priority for NBCU, though still well behind broadband distribution. He also speculated about what's ahead for e-book readers like Amazon's Kindle, when additional features like color screens and video support are offered. To put an exclamation mark on shifting viewing patterns, especially among younger audiences, Strauss capped the discussion off by relating his experience of coming home recently to find his 4 children under the age of 7 huddled around his iPhone watching a show while his 50 inch plasma TV stood just feet away, silent and dark.

Tonight is VideoNuze's "VideoSchmooze" Broadband Video Leadership Evening, from 6-9pm in NYC.

Over 240 industry executives are registered to attend, from many different technology and media companies.

Our panel (which I'll moderate), "Realizing Broadband Video's Potential" features an amazing group of industry executives:

• Dina Kaplan - Co-founder, blip.tv
• George Kliavkoff - EVP & Deputy Group Head, Hearst Entertainment & Syndication (and formerly Chief Digital Officer, NBCU and first CEO of Hulu)
• Perkins Miller - SVP, Digital Media and GM, Universal Sports, NBCU Sports & Olympics
• Matt Strauss - SVP, New Media, Comcast

Click here to learn more and register now.

Following the panel, we'll have networking and cocktails from 7:45-9:00pm. It will be a great opportunity to meet the panelists and industry colleagues.

VideoSchmooze will be held at the Hudson Theater, a beautifully renovated turn-of-the-century venue on West 44th Street just off Times Square. NATPE, VideoNuze's partner since launch, is teaming up with VideoNuze for the event. And I'm extremely grateful to lead sponsor Microsoft Silverlight and supporting sponsors Akamai Technologies, Digitalsmiths, FAST (a Microsoft subsidiary), FreeWheel, Horn Group, Kyte and mPoint for making the evening possible.

Tomorrow is VideoNuze's next "VideoSchmooze" Broadband Video Leadership Evening, from 6-9pm in NYC.

VideoSchmooze promises to be an exciting night of networking and industry learning. We have about 200 executives registered to attend, from across the spectrum of technology and media companies such as MTV, Cisco, NBCU, PBS, Cox, Hearst, Hulu, Tremor Media, Scripps, Showtime, HealthiNation, HBO, FLO TV and many others.

Our panel (which I'll moderate), "Realizing Broadband Video's Potential" features an amazing group of industry executives:

• Dina Kaplan - Co-founder, blip.tv
• George Kliavkoff - EVP & Deputy Group Head, Hearst Entertainment & Syndication (and formerly Chief Digital Officer, NBCU and first CEO of Hulu)
• Perkins Miller - SVP, Digital Media and GM, Universal Sports, NBCU Sports & Olympics
• Matt Strauss - SVP, New Media, Comcast

Click here to learn more and register now.

Following the panel, we'll have networking and cocktails from 7:45-9:00pm. It will be a great opportunity to meet the panelists and industry colleagues.

VideoSchmooze will be held at the Hudson Theater, a beautifully renovated turn-of-the-century venue on West 44th Street just off Times Square. NATPE, VideoNuze's partner since launch, is teaming up with VideoNuze for the event. And I'm extremely grateful to lead sponsor Microsoft Silverlight and supporting sponsors Akamai Technologies, Digitalsmiths, FAST (a Microsoft subsidiary), FreeWheel, Horn Group, Kyte and mPoint for making the evening possible.

Click here to learn more and register now.

The Twitter hashtag for VideoSchmooze is #VS09

New research shows TV viewing shifting - Mediapost had a good piece this week on Horowitz Associates' new research showing that 2% of all TV programming watched now occurs on non-TV devices. This translates to 2 hours of the 130.2 hours of TV that viewers watch each month shifting. This top line number is a little deceiving though, as the research also shows that for viewers who own a PC or laptop, they watch 9%, or 13 hours of TV programming per month, other than on their TV. I plan to follow up to see if I can get breakout info for young age groups, my guess is that their percentages are even higher.

I've been very interested in these kinds of numbers because there has been much debate about whether making full-length programs available online augments or cannibalizes traditional TV viewing. The broadcast networks have forcefully asserted that it only augments. I agree online augments, but I've suspected for a while that it is also beginning to cannibalize. If networks generated as much revenue per program from an online view as they do from an on-air view this shifting wouldn't matter. But as I wrote in Mediapost myself this week, the problem is they probably only earn 20-25% as much online. TV viewers' shifting usage is a key area to focus on as broadband video viewership continues to grow.

PermissionTV becomes VisibleGains, targets B2B selling - PermissionTV, one of the original media-focused online video publishing and management platforms, officially switched gears this week, changing its name to VisibleGains. Cliff Pollan, CEO and Matt Kaplan, VP of Marketing/Chief Strategy Officer briefed me months ago on their plans and I caught up with them again this week. Their new focus is on enabling companies to provide their prospects with informative videos during the information-gathering phase of the sales process.

Cliff argues persuasively that in the old days the sales rep presented 80% of the information about a product to a prospect; now prospects collect 80% of what they need to know online, and the sales rep then fills in the blanks. Through VisibleGains "ask and respond" branching format, companies better inform their prospects, qualify leads and add personality to their typical text-heavy web sites. It's another great example of how video can be used beyond the media model.

Unicorn Media demo is impressive - Even as PermissionTV changes its focus, Unicorn Media is entering the crowded video platform space. I mentioned Unicorn, which was founded by Bill Rinehart, founding CEO of Limelight, in my 4 items post a couple months. This week I got a demo from CTO AJ McGowan and Chief Strategy Officer David Rice and I was impressed. Key differentiators AJ focused on were an enterprise-style user rights model for accessing the platform, APIs that allow drag-and-drop content feeds, and an "ad proxy" for configuring ad rules.

Most interesting though is Unicorn's real-time data warehouse feature, which provides granular performance data up to the minute. Data can be displayed in a number of ways, but most compelling was what AJ termed the "magic Frisbee," a clever format for showing multiple data points (e.g. streaming time, ad completes, # of plays, etc.) all at once, so that decision-makers can hone in on performance issues. AJ says prospects are responding to this feature in particular as assembling this level of information today often requires multiple staffers and data sources. David reports that Unicorn is finding its biggest opportunity is with large media companies that have built their own in-house video solutions, as opposed to competing with other 3rd party platforms. Unicorn doesn't charge a platform fee, instead it bills by hours viewed. Separately, I have a briefing next week with yet another stealthy platform company; there seems to be no shortage of interest in this space.

Vitamin D shows breakthrough approach to object recognition in video - Speaking of demos, Greg Shirai, VP of Marketing and Rob Haitani, Chief Product Officer from startup Vitamin D showed me their very cool demo this week. Vitamin D is pioneering a completely new approach to recognizing objects in video streams, using "NuPIC", an intelligent computing platform from Numenta, a company founded by Jeff Hawkins, Donna Dubinsky and Dileep George. Some of you will recognize Hawkins and Dubinsky as the founders of Palm and Handspring.

The demo showed how Vitamin D can recognize the presence of moving humans or objects throughout hours of video footage. While the system starts with the assumption that upright humans are tall and thin, it learns over time that their shapes can vary, if for example they are crouching, or carrying a big box, or are partially obscured behind bushes. Once recognized, it's possible to filter for specific actions the humans are taking, such as walking in and out of a door to a room. Vitamin D is first targeting video surveillance in homes or businesses, but as it is further developed, I see very interesting applications for the technology in online video, particularly in sports and advertising. Say you wanted to filter a Yankees game for all of CC Sabathia's strikeouts, or insert a specific hair care ad only when a blond woman was in the last scene. Vitamin D and others are continuing to raise the bar on visual search which is still in its infancy.

VideoSchmooze is just a week away, on Tues, Oct 13th from 6-9pm at the Hudson Theater in NYC. I'll be moderating a panel titled "Realizing Broadband Video's Potential" with Dina Kaplan (blip.tv), George Kliavkoff (Hearst), Perkins Miller (NBC Sports) and Matt Strauss (Comcast). We'll be digging into all the hottest broadband and mobile video questions, with plenty of time for audience Q&A.

Following the panel we'll have cocktails and networking with industry colleagues you'll want to meet. Approximately 200 people are now registered, from companies like Sprint, Google/YouTube, Cox, MTV, Cox, PBS, NY Times, Morgan Stanley, Hearst, Showtime, Hulu, Telemundo, Cisco, HBO, Motorola and many others. Register now!

Following are 4 news items worth noting from the week of Sept. 26th:

1. Summer '09 was a blockbuster for online video - comScore released U.S. online video viewership data early this week, providing evidence of how big a blockbuster the summer months were for each metric comScore tracks. The 3 metrics that I watch most closely each month showed the healthiest gains vs. April, the last pre-summer month comScore reported. Total videos viewed in August were 25.4 billion, a 51% increase over April's 16.8 billion. The average number of videos watched per viewer was 157, up 41% from April's 111. And the average online video viewer watched 582 minutes (9.7 hours), a 51% increase from April's 385 (6.4 hours).

Also worth noting was YouTube crossing the 10 billion videos viewed in a single month mark for the first time, maintaining a 39.6% share of the market. According to comScore's stats I've collected, YouTube has been in the 39% to 44% market share range since May '08, having increased from 16.2% in Jan '07 when comScore first started reporting. Hulu also notched a winning month. While its unique viewers fell slightly to 38.5M from 40.1M in April, its total video views increased from 396M to 488.2M, with its average viewer watching 12.7 videos for a total of 1 hour and 17 minutes. It will be very interesting to see if September's numbers hold these trends or dip back to pre-summer levels.

2. So this is how to make funny viral branded videos - I was intrigued by a piece in ClickZ this week, "There's a Serious Business Behind Funny Viral Videos" which provided three points of view - from CollegeHumor.com, The Onion and Mekanism (a S.F.-based creative production agency) - about how to make branded content funny and then how to make it go viral. The article points out that a whole new sub-specialty has emerged to service brands looking to get noticed online with their own humorous content.

Humor works so well because the time to hook someone into a video is no more than 2-3 seconds according to Mekanism's Tommy Means. Beyond humor, successful videos most often include stunts or cool special effects or shock value. Once produced the real trick is leveraging the right distribution network to drive viral reach. For example, Means describes a network of 100 influencers with YouTube channels who can make a video stand out. After reading the article you get the impression that there's nothing random about which funny videos get circulated; there's a lot of strategy and discipline involved behind the scenes.

3. Wired magazine's article on Netflix is too optimistic - I've had several people forward me a link to Wired magazine's article, "Netflix Everywhere: Sorry Cable You're History" in which author Daniel Roth makes the case that by Netflix embedding its streaming video software in multiple consumer electronics devices, the company has laid the groundwork for a rash of cable cord-cutting by consumers.

I've been bullish for sometime on Netflix's potential as an "over-the-top" video alternative. But despite all of Netflix's great progress, particularly on the device side, its Achilles' heel remains content selection for its Watch Instantly streaming feature (as an example, my wife and I have repeatedly tried to find appealing recent movies to stream, but still often end up settling for classic, but older movies like "The English Patient").

Roth touches on this conundrum too, but in my opinion takes a far too optimistic point of view about what a deal like the one Netflix did with Starz will do to eventually give Netflix access to Hollywood's biggest and most current hits. The Hollywood windowing system is so rigid and well-protected that I've long-since concluded the only way Netflix is going to crack the system is by being willing to write big checks to Hollywood, a move that Netflix CEO is unlikely to make. The impending launch of TV Everywhere is going to create whole new issues for budding OTT players.

Although I'm a big Netflix fan, and in fact just ordered another Roku, I'm challenged to understand how Netflix is going to solve its content selection dilemma. This is one of the topics we'll discuss at VideoNuze's CTAM Summit breakfast on Oct. 26th in Denver, which includes Roku's VP of Consumer Products Tim Twerdahl.

4. VideoSchmooze is just 1 1/2 weeks away - Time is running out to register for the "VideoSchmooze" Broadband Video Leadership Evening, coming up on Tues, Oct 13th from 6-9pm at the Hudson Theater in NYC. We have an amazing discussion panel I'll be moderating with Dina Kaplan (blip.tv), George Kliavkoff (Hearst), Perkins Miller (NBC Sports) and Matt Strauss (Comcast). We'll be digging into all the hottest broadband and mobile video questions, with plenty of time for audience Q&A.

Following the panel we'll have cocktails and networking with industry colleagues you'll want to meet. Registration is running very strong, with companies like Sprint, Google/YouTube, Cox, MTV, Cox, PBS, NY Times, Morgan Stanley, Hearst, Showtime, Hulu, Telemundo, Cisco, HBO, Motorola and many others all represented. Register now!

Today is the last day to purchase early bird discounted tickets to VideoNuze's next "VideoSchmooze" Broadband Video Leadership Evening. VideoSchmooze is 2 weeks from tonight, on Oct. 13th, 6-9pm in NYC. Save by registering today! An early bird ticket for $60 includes hors' d'oeuvres and a drink (cash bar to follow), the panel discussion plus great industry networking.

VideoSchmooze promises to be an exciting night of networking and industry learning. Registered already are executives from across the spectrum of technology and media companies such as Cisco, HBO, A&E, Hulu, Google, HealthiNation, Motorola, FLO TV, HealthiNation, 5Min, Tremor Media, Scripps, Adap.tv and many others.

Our panel (which I'll moderate), "Realizing Broadband Video's Potential" features an amazing group of industry executives:

• Dina Kaplan - Co-founder, blip.tv
• George Kliavkoff - EVP & Deputy Group Head, Hearst Entertainment & Syndication (and formerly Chief Digital Officer, NBCU and first CEO of Hulu)
• Perkins Miller - SVP, Digital Media and GM, Universal Sports, NBCU Sports & Olympics
• Matt Strauss - SVP, New Media, Comcast

Click here to learn more and register for the early bird discount

Following the panel, we'll have networking and cocktails from 7:45-9:00pm. It will be a great opportunity to meet the panelists and industry colleagues. This is a highly targeted and valuable networking opportunity - past VideoSchmooze attendees have repeatedly told me about new partners, customers and job leads they've gained from VideoSchmooze.

VideoSchmooze will be held at the Hudson Theater, a beautifully renovated turn-of-the-century venue on West 44th Street just off Times Square. NATPE, VideoNuze's partner since launch, is teaming up with VideoNuze for the event. And I'm extremely grateful to lead sponsor Microsoft Silverlight and supporting sponsors Akamai Technologies, Digitalsmiths, FAST (a Microsoft subsidiary), FreeWheel, Horn Group and mPoint for making the evening possible.

At the last VideoSchmooze in March, '09 we had 270+ industry executives. Space is filling up fast for this must-attend event....I encourage you to register now to secure a spot and save with the early bird discount.

Click here to learn more and register for the early bird discount

I look forward to seeing you on Oct. 13th!

Early bird discounted tickets to VideoNuze's next "VideoSchmooze" Broadband Video Leadership Evening on Oct. 13th, 6-9pm in NYC, will end next Tuesday, and then revert to their standard prices. Save by registering today! An early bird ticket for $60 includes hors' d'oeuvres and a drink (cash bar to follow), the panel discussion plus great industry networking.

We have no shortage of topics to discuss and dig into. For example, how are TV Everywhere trials progressing, and what will it take to get all cable networks on board; how are sports leagues like the NFL and MLB benefiting from their aggressive push into broadband video; what are independent video producers doing to weather the advertising downturn; how threatening are "over-the-top" video services to incumbents, and plenty more. There will be lots of time for audience Q&A as well!

Following the panel, we'll have networking and cocktails from 7:45-9:00pm. It will be a great opportunity to meet the panelists and industry colleagues. This is a highly targeted and valuable networking opportunity - past VideoSchmooze attendees have repeatedly told me about new partners, customers and job leads they've gained from VideoSchmooze.

VideoSchmooze will be held at the Hudson Theater, a beautifully renovated turn-of-the-century venue on West 44th Street just off Times Square. NATPE, VideoNuze's partner since launch, is teaming up with VideoNuze for the event. And I'm extremely grateful to lead sponsor Microsoft Silverlight and supporting sponsors Akamai Technologies, Digitalsmiths, FAST (a Microsoft subsidiary), FreeWheel, Horn Group and mPoint for making the evening possible.

Space is filling up fast for this must-attend event....I encourage you to register now to secure a spot and save with the early bird discount.

Click here to learn more and register for the early bird discount

I look forward to seeing you on Oct. 13th!

Please join me for VideoNuze's next "VideoSchmooze" Broadband Video Leadership Evening, on Tuesday evening, October 13th, 6pm-9pm in New York City. Save by registering now for the early bird rate of $60 which includes hors' d'oeuvres and a drink.

We'll start with a panel discussion I'll moderate, "Realizing Broadband Video's Potential" featuring a terrific group of industry executives:

• Dina Kaplan - COO and co-founder, blip.tv
• George Kliavkoff - EVP & Deputy Group Head, Hearst Entertainment & Syndication (and formerly Chief Digital Officer, NBCU)
• Perkins Miller - SVP, Digital Media and GM, NBCU Sports & Olympics
• Matt Strauss - SVP, New Media, Comcast

Click here to learn more and register for the early bird discount

Included among topics we'll discuss are the status of TV Everywhere trials and future strategy, how the NFL and other sports leagues are succeeding with broadband distribution, whether independent video producers are getting traction online, if advertising can support TV programs online or if a paid/subscription augment is required, and lots more. We'll have plenty of time for audience Q&A as well!

Following the panel, we'll have networking and cocktails from 7:45-9:00pm. Chat with the panelists and expand your network...whether you're pursuing business or personal opportunities in the industry, the people who come to VideoSchmooze are the ones you want to know!

Once again VideoSchmooze will be held at the Hudson Theater, a gorgeous facility on West 44th Street just off Times Square. NATPE, VideoNuze's partner since launch, is on board for the event. And I'm extremely grateful to lead sponsor Microsoft Silverlight and supporting sponsors Akamai Technologies, Digitalsmiths, FAST (a Microsoft subsidiary), FreeWheel, Horn Group and mPoint for making the evening possible.

Space is filling up fast for this must-attend event....at the last VideoSchmooze in March, we had 270+ attendees, so if you're interested in joining us, I encourage you to register early to secure a spot!

Click here to learn more and register for the early bird discount

I look forward to seeing you on Oct. 13th!

I'm pleased to announce that early bird registration is now open for VideoNuze's next "VideoSchmooze" Broadband Video Leadership Evening, on Tuesday evening, October 13th in New York City. The event will start with a panel discussion I'll moderate, "Realizing Broadband Video's Potential" with an A+ group of industry executives:

• Dina Kaplan - COO and co-founder, blip.tv
• George Kliavkoff - EVP & Deputy Group Head, Hearst Entertainment & Syndication (and formerly Chief Digital Officer, NBCU)
• Perkins Miller - SVP, Digital Media and GM, NBCU Sports & Olympics
• Matt Strauss - SVP, New Media, Comcast

Click here to learn more and register for the early bird discount

Each of the panelists and their companies are playing a key role in broadband video's growth and evolution. Expect a rigorous discussion as we dig deep into the key technology, business model and strategy topics that I write about each day on VideoNuze. There will also be ample audience Q&A time. Attendees will benefit from a unique learning experience.

Following the discussion, from 7:45pm-9:00pm, we'll have networking and cocktails (note 1 drink plus hors' d'oeuvres are included with each ticket; cash bar to follow). This is a premier opportunity to meet the panelists and expand your network, whether you're pursuing business or personal opportunities in the industry. As with past events, I expect a strong mix of established media and technology executives, along with interesting early stage companies, entrepreneurs and investors.

The event will be held at the gorgeous Hudson Theater, a historic gem on West 44th Street just off Times Square. I'm pleased to have NATPE, VideoNuze's partner since launch, on board for the event. And I'm extremely grateful to lead sponsor Microsoft Silverlight and supporting sponsors Akamai Technologies, Digitalsmiths, FAST Search & Transfer, FreeWheel, Horn Group and mPoint for making the evening possible.

At the last VideoSchmooze in March, we had 270+ attendees, so if you're interested in joining us, I encourage you to register early to secure a spot!

I've also created more deeply discounted "5-Pack" and "10-Pack" tickets for those of you who plan to come with colleagues. A reminder that VideoSchmooze is being held on the eve of the IP Media Expo, so if you're already planning to come into town for that show, please book your travel plan accordingly so you're able to join us too (I've arranged a discounted room block at the adjacent Millennium Broadway Hotel.)

Click here to learn more and register for the early bird discount

I look forward to seeing you on Oct. 13th!

With September's start, the kids heading back to school and overnight lows in the chilly 40s here in the Boston area, it is time to recognize, reluctantly, that this unusually long (and wet!) summer is coming to an end. As many of you, like me, prepare to return to your "regular" routines, I'd like to pause and say a few words of thanks.

First, a huge thanks to VideoNuze's many thousands of readers who give purpose to my daily work. Nearly two years since launching VideoNuze, readership continues to build, with over 9,000 industry participants now receiving the daily VideoNuze email and over 100,000 unique visitors coming to the web site each month. I'm delighted at how VideoNuze has found its place as a trusted source of analysis and news for many in the industry.

This summer has been very productive: 82 analyses comprising almost 50,000 words, 490 industry news items posted to the site from over 25 sources and 11 podcasts with my partner Daisy Whitney. While other sites crank out a far greater quantity than VideoNuze, I'd like to think none offer higher quality. This summer I also managed to squeeze in a couple of consulting projects, 4 speaking engagements, 3 panels I moderated and a 10 day vacation in Israel. Last but not least, VideoNuze's next 2 events coming up in October took shape (registration for the Oct. 13th "VideoSchmooze" NYC event is now live). Whew!

I always welcome readers' emails or calls, whether they're to agree or disagree with what I've written. Though I'm not a hound for compliments, I will admit that I greatly enjoy the emails I receive saying things like, "Thanks for the consistently high quality analysis," "Just wanted to say how useful VideoNuze has been here in the U.K." "Your stuff is consistently enlightening" or "I enjoy your writing and the thoughtfulness your perspective brings to what is typically an over-hyped and under-analyzed topic."

These types of emails help answer some variant of a question I've been asked more than any other in the past two years: "How the hell do you churn this thing out every single day?!" Beyond the pat answer that "every job requires a certain discipline," the real explanation is that for me, VideoNuze is what Malcolm Gladwell, in his superb third book, "Outliers," describes simply as "meaningful work." I love analyzing and writing about the technology and media industries and the change that broadband and mobile are bringing to the video landscape. It's painstaking yet intellectually stimulating to try putting the puzzle pieces together and gratifying to know I have a role in influencing how industry executives determine their strategies and execute their plans.

Second, a huge thanks to VideoNuze's sponsors. From VideoNuze's original 8 charter sponsors, there have now been over 30 companies that have sponsored VideoNuze at one time or another. There isn't room to acknowledge them all, but I encourage you to visit the sponsors' page of the web site and to click through and learn more about each. Beyond the important technology and services each is offering to the industry, many also provide education in the form of free webinars, white papers, etc. As VideoNuze's traffic has grown, the value of sponsoring has as well. I've tried to keep rates reasonable, ensuring a strong ROI along many different metrics (as always, if you're interested in sponsoring VideoNuze, please contact me).

I look forward to continuing to explore broadband and mobile video's future with all of you.

Please save the date for 2 amazing VideoNuze events coming up in October.

First, on Tuesday, Oct. 13th, VideoNuze will host its next "VideoSchmooze" broadband video leadership evening at the magnificent Hudson Theater in New York City. Microsoft Silverlight is the lead sponsor of the evening, with Akamai, FAST Search & Transfer and mPoint currently on board as supporting sponsors. Once again, NATPE is partnering with VideoNuze for the event.

As with the March '09 VideoSchmooze, the evening will run from 6-9pm and feature great industry networking plus a discussion I'll moderate with an awesome group of industry executives:

• Dina Kaplan - COO and co-founder, blip.tv
• George Kliavkoff - EVP & Deputy Group Head, Hearst Entertainment & Syndication (and formerly Chief Digital Officer, NBCU)
• Perkins Miller - SVP, Digital Media and GM, NBCU Sports & Olympics
• Matt Strauss - SVP, New Media, Comcast

Each of the panelists and their companies are playing a key role in broadband video's growth and evolution. The title of the discussion is "Realizing Broadband Video's Potential" and we'll dig deep into all of the key technology, business model and strategy topics that I write about each day, while also allowing ample time for audience Q&A.

Early bird registration will open soon. At the last VideoSchmooze in March, we had 270+ attendees, so if you're interested in joining us, I encourage you to register early to secure a spot.

Then on Monday morning, October 26th, VideoNuze will host its second "Broadband Video Leadership Breakfast" at the CTAM Summit, this year in Denver, CO. thePlatform is the lead sponsor of the breakfast, with Akamai, ExtendMedia and KickApps currently on board as supporting sponsors. During the sit-down continental breakfast, I'll moderate a panel titled "How Cable Succeeds in the Broadband Video Era" with:

• Ian Blaine - CEO, thePlatform
• Rebecca Glashow - SVP, Digital Media Distribution, Discovery Communications
• Bruce Leichtman - President and Principal Analyst, Leichtman Research Group (the leading broadband and cable industry market research firm)
• Plus 1 other executive

As VideoNuze readers know, the cable TV industry - both operators and networks - is a central player in broadband video's ongoing development. You can expect to hear an in-depth and data-driven discussion of TV Everywhere, walled-garden vs. open video distribution strategies, paid vs. ad-supported business models, changing consumer viewing preferences and behaviors, viability of "over-the-top" competition and recent technology/convergence device developments.

I look forward to seeing you at one or both of these exciting industry events!