Archives For Video

The Verizon FiOS TV 1.6 Update

Dave Zatz —  August 2, 2008 — 59 Comments

FiOS TV customers will begin receiving the 1.6 set-top box software update in a staggered rollout beginning later this summer. Since I’ve already covered streaming Internet video features slated for deployment towards the end of this year or early next, this post focuses on more immediate functionality. However, we’ve seen much of this previewed before… The major upgrade had been pushed back to squeeze in a maintenance release (1.5) – inclusive of improved video quality, higher VOD reliability, and support for new Morotola (MPEG-4 capable) CableCARD set-top boxes to meet the FCC’s July 1 separable security extension deadline.

In addition to over 200 bug fixes and enhancements, here’s a run-down of some of the more visible and significant features of 1.6:

Widgets – More informational widgets with 1.6 at launch and going forward. Internet-based data is pulled via RSS/XML. Pictures of news, local weather, and horoscopes below. Though I still prefer Moxi’s ticker style presentation of this info (think ESPN or CNN).

Games – A variety of games will be offered. Some of the casual gaming will be free and/or sponsored (notice the ad in the Sudoku pic below), while other games will incur a fee. Of course the real power and promise comes via Internet-connectivity… and the ESPN Fantasy Football integration looks hot.

HD Streaming – Multi-room viewing will be available in HD. Stream recorded HD content from a DVR to other HD Verizon set-top boxes (DVR or not) around the house, up to two simultaneous streams. Somewhat related, the new Motorola boxes have slightly larger hard drive capacities though an external storage option will not be available until 2009.

Content Discovery – What’s Hot displays what other folks in your region are watching (anonymously). Content discovery functionality will ultimately be expanded to include affinity (friends) and computed show recommendations.

Web Scheduling – Real-time DVR web access will be made available including scheduling, management of currently recorded programing, and a free space indicator. Initially customers in the top tier DVR package will receive access, though it’ll ultimately be made available to all. Related, DVR phone scheduling will also be made available later this year.

PC-based Video Streaming – Verizon Media Manager software will be updated to allow the transcoding and streaming of a variety of PC-based video (including high definition), in addition to the existing photo and music support.

Continue Reading…

In DVR, Video , ,
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Digital Video Revenues Start to Matter

Mari Silbey —  July 31, 2008 — 1 Comment

Silicon Alley Insider noted an interesting tidbit this morning in Disney’s earnings. Apparently Internet revenue helped offset lower broadcast ad revenues last quarter for ABC, lending credence to the reasons behind the writers’ strike last season.

From the SEC filing:

Broadcasting revenues increased $7 million reflecting higher internet revenues, partially offset by lower advertising revenues at the owned television stations. The increase in internet revenues included Club Penguin which was acquired in the fourth quarter of the prior year. Revenues at the ABC Television Network were comparable to the prior year as the impact of lower ratings was offset by higher advertising rates and digital media revenues.

The implications of Disney’s admission are huge. Think of the impact on the advertising business, traditional network TV, cable and telecom video services, and even, potentially, national broadband policy. If the entertainment industry can make money off video on the Internet, suddenly there’s a good reason to push greater broadband access and higher broadband speeds. Money is a powerful incentive for change.

In Advertising, Industry, Video ,
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V Cast Spam and Why I Don’t Do Video on My Phone

Mari Silbey —  July 30, 2008 — 6 Comments

Anyone familiar with me knows that I don’t carry around the most up-to-date cell phone. I like to use my phone for phone calls, and am content to save other apps for other gadgets. Until very recently I clung to a Motorola E815. That phone took a beating, but it always worked, and I liked the feel of it in my hand.  Then a couple weeks ago I upgraded to a first-gen Motorola RAZR. The adjustment has been easy because the interface is similar to the E815, and the RAZR has already survived several drops to the pavement. So far, so good.

A few days ago on my RAZR I received my first Verizon V CAST spam messages. The first one warned me to “stay tuned” to my phone for a “hot new opportunity from Verizon Wireless.”  The second one downloaded a video for me about  ESPN MVP on V CAST. Kind of irritating, but kind of cool. After all, I’ve never watched video on my own phone.

The little promo clip had a talking head and some screenshots showing how to set up my Fantasy Football league using V CAST. The video quality was crappy to say the least, but I found myself still entranced my moving pictures on my cell phone. If I was utterly bored and standing in line somewhere, I can see myself watching more video clips on my RAZR. Why not?

But here’s the kicker. Would I pay for video on my phone today? Hardly. First, there are a million video screens in my life. I don’t need to pay for one more. Second, my phone is not today’s most powerful hardware (and I’m fine with that), so why would I use it, and its tiny screen, for resource-hogging video when I have so many other options? Third, I can justify shelling out money once for a gadget, but I hate adding to my regular monthly bills, particularly when there’s the possibility I could end up exceeding a flat-fee service rate by going over a bandwidth cap.

So here’s a message to Verizon. Want to get me hooked on mobile video? You’re going to have to send me a lot more free video, and it’s going to have to be stuff I really want to see. Fantasy Football leagues? Meh.  Send me clips from the Olympics in a week and a half. Send me clips of the Redskins when football season actually starts. Send me trailers from some of the best new TV shows scheduled for the fall. Send it all to me for free. Get me in the habit of watching video regularly on my phone, and maybe I’ll decide it’s worth paying for some content in the future. I don’t need mobile video, so you’ll have to convince me I want it badly enough to add on the monthly fee. Otherwise, my cell phone is just going to act as a cell phone for years to come.

In Advertising, Mobile, Video
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Battle Royale On Hold

Dave Zatz —  July 26, 2008 — 5 Comments

Two recent events have put the video download Battle Royale on hold… 1) Ben wants his Apple TV back – and who can blame him, I’ve been sitting on it for months. 2) Sony finally entered the fray with a Playstation video store, and I don’t own a PS3. Maybe I’ll get to it, maybe not.

But here’s what I will tell you: Today, the most enjoyable set-top box movie download experience is provided by Vudu ($300). The interface has a few quirks, but it’s quite efficient at navigating their large selection of nice-looking content and playback is often instantaneous. And for awhile, the software updates were fast and furious – which I appreciate. I believe Apple TV offers more HD content and makes it available perhaps sooner than Vudu. Apple TV is also cheaper ($230) and provides a variety of functionality (photos, music, video podcasts) plus iTunes beats everyone in the amount of television content available (for purchase). But for whatever reasons (probably starting with the remote), I just don’t like it. Meanwhile my Netflix box ($100) sits in the closet, waiting for a day when more current releases and/or high(er) def movies are available – via Netflix, or someone else.

My ideal solution would see TiVo and Amazon (or CinemaNow) pull the trigger on HD video rentals. I’d rather use my primary television accessory for the majority of my television viewing functions. Which is why these guys largely compete with the cable companies (PPV/VOD), rather than each other for mindshare (and revenue). And for a large percentage of the population, price is a factor – an existing cable box is much more economical than a Vudu.

I’m only bummed I couldn’t deliver on providing the much-requested head-to-head HD video quality comparison. In many cases the differences are subtle and difficult to definitively identify by swapping cables on the same television. (Not to mention, it’d be different cables – my Xbox 360 predates HDMI support.) I was hopeful of doing some side-by-side comparisons at my old office where they’ve got some Westinghouse flat panels lined up. But the timing hasn’t worked out. The downside of a day job (mostly on the other coast). Perhaps CNET‘s John Falcone can round up a few folks on his team to pull together a professional and comprehensive comparison for us?

In Industry, Media, Video
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Hands On With ZvBox

Dave Zatz —  July 25, 2008 — 21 Comments

At a (work) event in NYC last week, I managed to sneak in a few minutes with the ZvBox. The device essentially broadcasts all PC output over existing coaxial cable to a television in your home. Unlike a typical media extender or something like the D-Link PC-on-TV device, the ZvBox sits at the computer and supports multiple televisions – which they’re hoping helps consumers justify the steep $500 price tag. (ZvBox can currently be pre-ordered via Amazon, with shipments expected to begin in the next week or so.)

The box itself is solidly constructed and looks sharp, though it runs quite hot – the result of forgoing a fan and using the case as a giant heatsink. The typical current usage scenario is controlling a web browser or media player, as you would from a computer, using the 2-way remote with integrated touchpad – to playback Hulu, YouTube, downloaded shows, etc. Select web video content will ultimately be presented directly within their interface and played at full screen – in many cases indexing shows via RSS. Quality looks good (as good as the source, anyway) with the ZvBox supporting up to 1080i and 5.1 audio – essentially streaming nearly anything the PC can throw at it. One feature I’d like to see them integrate into their software/experience, and something that the forthcoming SlingCatcher offers, is the ability to selectively isolate a video window and present that content fullscreen – assuming of course that the box or PC can do a better job scaling than Flash.

As more primary STBs and network-connected televisions offer the ability to access Internet video (YouTube on TiVo, Veoh on Verizon) and/or act as media extenders (HP MediaSmart HDTVs), the desire for stand-alone devices such as these may dwindle… In fact, the Yankee Group predicts the demise of the DMA product category.

In HDTV, Video
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