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Revisiting the Long Tail on My Cable Show Panel Next Week
Next week I’ll be in Vegas for the annual Cable Show. This is the cable TV industry’s annual gathering of operators, programmers and vendors. I’ve been attending this show for years and it’s great fun to reconnect with lots of old colleagues and friends.Last year I moderated a session with video executives from AOL, Google, MSN and Yahoo, which, based on feedback I received afterwards, helped a lot of attendees understand how significant these companies are going to be in the video distribution business (and therefore, why they need to be on cable executives’ radar screens).Once again I’ll be moderating a discussion session, this year entitled, “Video’s Online Adventure: New Ideas for a New Generation of Television.” The session features Doug Hurst, SVP, Scripps Networks, Joe Gillespie, EVP, CNET, Ian Blaine, CEO, thePlatform, Bob Leverone, VP Video, Dow Jones Online and Karl Quist, President, TotalVid.As a former “cable guy”, one of my main goals with these sessions is to continue helping the industry recognize that the world of video is changing dramatically. Cable executives have been remarkably adaptive to change over the years. But with broadband’s openness now allowing scores of new video providers and distributors into the market, many of cable’s fundamental operating assumptions are going to be severely tested.For example, if the concept of the Long Tail (originally an article, and now a book by Chris Anderson), is applied to the cable industry it suggests that cable’s “walled-garden” content paradigm is going to be undermined by broadband’s infinite choice and personalization. I wrote an extensive piece about this way back in March, 2005 and I think it’s truer now than ever.All of the panelists have a great vantage point to comment on the Long Tail’s impact on cable. Bob and Joe come from publishers (print and online respectively) that haven’t done a lot with video previously, but are now aggressively pursuing it. Karl has started a specialty video distribution business that is only possible due to broadband. Doug’s company is leveraging broadband to create many new broadband experiences. Finally Ian’s company is powering many broadband video initiatives from established and startups.All in all, this group will bring an invaluable perspective to attendees trying to figure out how the video proliferation that broadband is causing will impact their corner of the cable business!Categories: Aggregators, Cable Networks, Events, Indie Video, Newspapers
Topics: CNET, Dow Jones Online, Long Tail, Scripps Networks, thePlatform, TotalVid
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CBS Announcement is More Great Fodder for Upcoming NAB Super Session
Yesterday’s announcement from CBS that it has formed the CBS Interactive Audience Network, and partnered with AOL, Microsoft, CNET, Comcast, Joost, Bebo, Brightcove, Netvibes, Sling Media and Veoh provides even more discussion material for the Super Session panel I’m moderating, which is coming up on Tuesday, April 17th at NAB 2007 (“The Revolutionizing Impact of Broadband Video”).
I’m always a little reluctant to use a word like “revolutionizing”, as it just feels a bit hyperbolic. Yet, what CBS announced yesterday, in combination with the NBC-News Corp JV announcement a few weeks ago sure does seem to signal that these networks themselves are willing to take new risks and be much more opportunistic with how their prized programs get to audiences’ homes. I give these companies all a lot of credit – they are demonstrating a willingness to challenge their existing (and longstanding) business models though the economics and potential of these new models are not yet clear.We’ll be getting into all of this and more at NAB – come join us!Categories: Broadcasters, Partnerships
Topics: AOL, Bebo, Brightcove, CBS, CBS Interactive Audience Network, CNET, Comcast, Joost, Microsoft, Netvibes, Sling Media, Veoh
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