The interesting thing to me about this article is not that Hulu scored a coup by getting access to Comedy Central content that Comcast has yet to nail down. Today, broadband distribution via pc offers a far different viewing experience than the TV VOD experience.
What is most interesting to me is that eventually these two types of distribution platforms may truly compete with each other. When broadband content can be viewed directly across the HD TV set, the consumer will have the opportunity to choose which platform (VOD or broadband) to watch this content from. How friendly the navigation device is to searching for content or recommending videos will ultimately determine which path the consumer takes.
But, content distribution is also at stake; Comedy Central currently gets a license fee per subscriber for carriage of its linear network. The VOD content is added value. If Comcast can no longer benefit from this structure, will they decide to drop Comedy Central from its line up. By choosing Hulu over Comcast, is Comedy Central predicting the next distribution model. And as the Hulu model also includes the NBC family of broadcast and cable networks as well as Fox, the impact has far greater ramifications.
It is this intersection of content and distribution, faced with fast technological change, that is affecting the telecommunications and entertainment industries. It is why SAG and AFTRA are fighting for their fair share. Its why cable and telco and satellite are fighting to manage the pipeline to the home. And it offers many businesses new opportunities to build better mousetraps to connect the customer with the content.
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