HBO Driving Aggressive Growth Strategy

No longer owned by a cable parent (Time Warner Cable), HBO has become fairly aggressive in fighting back Netflix, Amazon and other premium content providers.  They were early to the OTT game, offering HBO GO to authenticated cable subscribers.  They have always had a robust VOD library to drive value and retention of their cable subscription model.  And they have created a non-cable authentication platform called HBO NOW that will be exclusive to Apple TV for 3 months.  You almost need a scorecard to know what content is exclusive to any of these formats: VOD, GO, and NOW.

But even an exclusive HBO NOW offering with Apple isn't stopping HBO from being accessible to the streaming universe.  In their latest deal, HBO is offering a streaming package to Sling TV, different from Apple TV.  It includes one linear feed to their main channel HBO (not HBO 2,3, 4, etc.) and the cable VOD library and priced to consumers at $15/month.  If Apple thought that they had some exclusivity, then they must be feeling a bit cheated. But for HBO, it is an aggressive strategy to drive subscription whether a cable, Apple TV, or Sling TV customer.

So is there any content exclusivity across any of HBO's platforms? Will there be windows where one platform gets a TV series or movie and the others don't.  Or will shows like Game of Thrones be accessible regardless of the platform, VOD, GO, or NOW?  It may simply be that they are dressed up under different brand extensions but are essentially the same library of content. 

Being free of a cable operator has certainly allowed HBO and its other Turner siblings (TNT, TBS, etc) to negotiate deals without the threat of anti-synergy behavior.  With streaming access a big competitive threat to the traditional cable model, delivering their linear and on demand library as OTT streams, HBO and Turner are delivering content where and how the consumer wishes to watch it. 

Do Cord Cutters Care About Linear TV

The desire to capture a digital friendly audience begs the question, do they even care about linear TV, either broadcast or cable channels.  Many that are cutting the cord to cable tend to be Millennials that have found that they can watch most of their shows free, without paying a subscription fee.  From clips to full length episodes, consumers can watch on You Tube, Crackle, and many more as well as on a slew of pirated sites.  And those willing to pay a small monthly fee per month have access to tons of shows and movies on Netflix, Hulu, and even Amazon Prime.  Borrow a friend or parent's passcode and you get HBO GO.  For those that don't need to watch shows on a linear network can eventually get these same shows on other sites.  It begs the question, do these cord cutters, these Millennials, even need linear TV?

Sling TV, PlaystationVue, and now Apple TV seems to think that this audience will pay for content offered via their platforms.  That the content can be streamed to any device, saved for future airing, and watched when, where, and how the user wishes may drive a value that isn't currently being offered.  And access to some live programming, like sports and events, that needs to be watched as it airs may be a driver to purchase these OTT platforms.  It is the cost/value proposition that will ultimately determine if the Millennial audience sees value to purchase. 

Comcast Leadership Threatened By Disruption

As the leader in the industry, Comcast is facing the same kind of threats that have faced other leaders for years.  Whether a technological change, environmental, external, internal, or even a change in consumer demand, businesses are challenged to retain its core business or risk losing core revenue to drive new revenue growth.  It is why some well known leader brands are no longer around.  They fought so hard to retain their business model while consumer fled to new competitors.  Examples include Sears, Radio Shack, Prodigy, just to name a few.  Feel free to add to the list.  It is an epic reminder of the classic business novel, Who Moved My Cheese?.

Some companies have successfully adapted to change.  Netflix was a DVD mailing company who was able to change to be the streaming content leader.  Apple was willing to let the iPod decline to introduce the iPhone.  And they did it again with the larger iPhone, a possible killer of the iPad mini.  But change is constant and to stay relevant these and other brands must continually look to adapt and change.

Cable operators face those same challenges as a result of the growth of streaming and the launches of new competitors, including PlaystationVue, Sling TV, and Apple, as well as HBO Now, CBSN, Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu.  Consumers can now leave cable, cut the cord, and get a smaller package of relevant content, at a hopefully lower price, and on any device they choose.  It is the cord cutting nightmare driven by a TV Everywhere approach.  So what to do?

For Comcast and other cable operators to compete in this ever changing entertainment landscape, they will have to reassess how they are delivering their content to the home, what business they want to be, a pipeline or a content aggregator/distributor, and how they want to differentiate to maintain a healthy and profitable subscriber base.  The loss of cable subs means a loss of a monthly subscriber revenue stream as well as a loss of ad revenue from a declining base of users.  As more and more streaming services appear, each building packages of broadcast and cable networks and other programming, more and more consumers will be siphoned off.  The percentage of cord cutters continuing to grow.

To compete successfully, it is time to throw out the old cable boxes.  For Comcast, to push out the IP enabled X1 box, or to offer a TiVo box solution, and enable all programming to be authenticated and offered across all mobile devices, on and off the TV set.  Update your packaging model to encourage consumer choice.  Some homes will always want to buy all programming at one price, but others want to pick and choose their package of service.  Market the availability and accessibility of choice, with online access to quickly pick and choose the networks you want for your personalized package at variable price points.  Let consumers change within their package at a moment's notice or upgrade or downgrade at will.  Make Choice, Accessibility, Variety, Availability, and Simplicity your mantra.  Could CAVAS become the next buzzword?

If consumers are choosing Apple TV over cable TV it will be because Apple enabled consumers to buy a smaller package of content and the choice of where, when, and how to watch.  Comcast can do the same if it wants to save its cable business model and be the ultimate aggregator and distributor of all content.  Or it can become a dumb broadband pipe provider.  More competitors are coming to take your cable business away.

Apple To Become Online Cable Operator

For years it has been speculated that Apple wanted to get into the television viewing business.  But in the last few years, the word television has changed its definition.  Watching content, whether on cable TV or through Netflix, whether on a big screen set or on a mobile device, all seems to fall under the umbrella of television viewing.  Rumors that Apple wanted to build big screen sets or a cable friendly set top box have all been bandied about.  The latest news might just be the direction Apple has decided to take.

The Wall Street Journal says that "The technology giant is in talks with programmers to offer a slimmed-down bundle of TV networks this fall, according to people familiar with the matter. The service would have about 25 channels, anchored by broadcasters such as ABC, CBS and Fox and would be available on Apple devices such as the Apple TV, they said."  Like Sling TV and Playstation Network, announced at the CES, and other aggregators, Apple hopes that its Apple TV device, recently reduced in price from $99 to $69 is the means to drive adoption.  Under the Apple ecosystem, subscribers of the service would be able to view content on any of its devices, from iPod to iPhone, from iPad to Apple TV.  Truly a TV Everywhere approach!

Interestingly, the one content provider not included at the moment is NBCUniversal, home of the NBC broadcast channel, Bravo, Syfy, USA, CNBC, and others.  Also NBCU is owned by Comcast, the largest cable operator, soon to be larger with the acquisition of Time Warner Cable.  While the new service is not planned to launch till later in the year, so too is the approval of the cable operator merger with the FCC.  Could this issue add an extra wrinkle to the approval process?  We must wait and see.

For consumers seeking a cheaper alternative with a smaller set of channels but access to content anywhere and everywhere, and additive premium content from Netflix and HBO Now, this new subscription service could be highly welcomed by the millennial audience.  Ideally this online audience would prefer to pick and choose the nets it wants within the package.  The concern over time will be as more nets do deals to be on the subscription service causing Apple to need to raise its monthly fees.  That is one of the issues that led to cable cord cutting.  That, and the inability to watch content away from home.  With this new online subscription service, TV Everywhere becomes a true reality. 

Avoiding TV Ad Interruptions

As the holidays approach, gifts may include new Apple TV, TiVo, or Roku boxes, a Slingbox or Hopper or two, a subscription to Netflix or other services designed to help us avoid ad interruptions.  These products are popular, not just because they let us watch TV shows and movies, but because they let us skip through or avoid television ad messages.  And the more comfortable we get using these outlets, the more we seek them for our viewing pleasure. 

For content obtained off our TV, it is just as easy to record first and watch later with our finger pressed on the fast forward button every time an ad appears.  For cord cutters and those watching through OTT platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime, shows can be viewed without ever an ad in sight.  We pause when we want to and not because an ad is present.  And so as TV ratings decline and we watch our shows on our DVR or mobile device, we can enjoy all our shows without those dreaded commercial break.

For advertisers, the challenge becomes watching ad rates go up for spots on linear TV viewing while viewership declines.  The economics seem off.  Consumers have grown tired of these ad interruptions with the only exception being big event programming like the Super Bowl where the ads become more interesting and note worthy.  For almost all other times, they are an intrusion. 

This trend toward ad skipping and ad avoidance with subscription programming will only continue to grow.  The current model seems broken and it may now be time to revisit the TV ad model.  Branded entertainment, product placement, show sponsorship may now become the ideal means to assure that advertised brands get noticed regardless of where or how the content is being consumed.  You can't avoid ads baked into the content of the show.  Till then, ad avoidance seems like to continue to grow.

Sling Media Derides Cable's Current TV Everywhere Platform

Sling Media doesn't mind slinging a little mud in its latest advertising campaign against cable TV.  As I've argued, cable needs to embrace a true TV everywhere approach to enable its authenticated customer to watch all its programming, both on and off the cable box.  Unfortunately, programming agreements and content rights management currently hampers the ability to push such a strategy.  But Sling Media has built the elegant work-around with a box that talks to the cable box and then streams it to other mobile devices. 

Sling's owner, Dish Network, integrates Sling into its box making it a more ideal approach, but cable operators have been reticent to bring Sling technology into their own cable box.  So to attract non-Dish customers to Sling, according to Deadline, "launched an ad and social-media campaign that ridicules TV Everywhere – the cable and satellite initiatives that stream programming to subscribers. The messages urge consumers not to get “C.W.A.P”, a Sling acronym for 'Can’t Watch Anywhere Pain.'” 

As I mentioned, buying Slingbox has its advantages but it also requires that you have a cable set top box that can be used specifically for streaming.  Those in the home can't use the cable box while it is being used by the Slingbox.  And only one channel can be streamed at a time so that different members of the household can't all "sling" at the same time.  Despite all this though, it does provide the opportunity to watch every linear and on demand show that comes off the cable box, through the Slingbox, and streamed to any mobile device around the world.  It is a true TV Everywhere approach. 

Will this ad campaign move sales of the Slingbox?  Most households tend to be technologically challenged.  Heck, we even need help from our cable company to set up our cable box, modem, and wifi.  For those in the know, the Slingbox can be an exceptional value. 

Traditional TV Viewing Drops 4%

First and foremost, television is not dead.  It may have matured quite a bit, but opportunities still abound for those companies that see growth.  Still, the news out of Nielsen, from today's Wall Street Journal, is that "traditional television dropped nearly 4% last quarter, as online video streaming jumped 60%, according to a new report from Nielsen, crystallizing a trend for TV-channel owners amid ratings declines."  Expect that percentage to continue to drop. 

The simple truth is that there is only 24 hours in a day and the rise of new media means that old media must lose some usage as users aggregate to the new trends.  Print is feeling that effect from digital, radio felt it from broadcast and broadcast from cable.  Online viewing will simply take from those platforms.  But television, and the people that control them, can still drive success and growth. 

The notion of authenticated TV Everywhere with the cable operator bridging the gap of the cable box in the home with online access anywhere and everywhere still makes sense.  It enables customization, personalization, recommendation, and ultimately owns and tracks the viewer regardless of the device used to view the media on.  That consolidation and convergence creates an advanced advertising approach and data collection so valuable these days.  But until cable operators fully envelop the consumer in this bubble, consumers will find entertainment outside the cable box with other content and other OTT platforms. 

A 4% drop in traditional TV viewing is not the death of traditional TV.  Hopefully, it is a real wake up call to once again purse a TV Everywhere strategy.  Slingbox offers the technological tools to do it.  TiVo may as well.  Cable operators need to push it further and market the TV Everywhere value that they can one day deliver.

Cable Nevers And Cord Cutters Aren't The Same Thing

As cable subscriptions drop, many cite the rising niche of cord cutters as the cause.  They are households who once had a cable subscription that decide to drop their service, likely for a broadband only video world.  Cord cutters may be motivated to their action due to the rising costs of TV programming that gets passed on to the consumer by price hikes.  The rise of streaming services like the new CBS streaming app and HBO GO to offer non-cable streaming access to its content is seen as a way to recapture these cord cutters.  But perhaps they are not the only non cable groups.

Cable Nevers, or households that have never had a cable subscription, may also be on the rise.  They are the next generation of home or apartment owners, fresh out of school, or on limited budgets, that determine that a broadband connection is more valuable to them then a cable subscription.  Under a household controlled by their parents, they enjoyed the fruits of cable, but on their own, they beg, borrow and steal to get access.  Some stay connected to their parents Netflix account, or their authenticated HBO GO subscription or perhaps an Amazon Prime account and some may connect to a Slingbox from a friend or family.  At the same time they enjoy access to a ton of free content from You Tube, Hulu, Crackle, and more.  And when they must watch a linear show, a local bar might just offer a game or two.

The threat of high costs of cable subscriptions may not be that current subscribers will cut the cord; we may be too addicted to give up on all that content.  The real worry is that the next generation of households will start their homes without a cable connection.  On limited budgets, their video entertainment will come from OTT connections and Cable Nevers they will remain.

Is Aereo Dead?

Now that the Supreme Court ruled that Aereo doesn't have the right to repurpose free over the air signals to consumers, now comes news that a federal court also ruled that Aereo can't operate as a cable TV operator either.  Aereo can't seem to find any wiggle room it seems to continue to operate as an OTT service for broadcast signals.  Will Aereo continue to fight or is time to shut down completely?  For consumers seeking a low cost way to get broadcast signals that can be streamed to their mobile devices, it may be time to buy a digital antenna and a sling box.

Will The Demise Of Aereo Hurt Broadcasters?

An interesting article in re/code that argues that the shutdown of Aereo is actually bad news for broadcasters.  As the younger generation continues to spend more and more time on their mobile devices, they have made bigger stars of some You Tube celebrities than TV ones.  From Bethany Mota to PewDiePie, to many that my kids know of and I have no clue who they are.  Still, that is who my kids are watching and broadcast, especially linear broadcast becomes more and more irrelevant. 

As the article note, Aereo made broadcast more accessible to that streaming crowd and opened up accessibility to the cord cutters.  Without it, viewers have to either find new ways to access broadcast programming or continue to skip it for Netflix, Amazon Prime, You Tube and others.  And the broadcasters have lost access to the future generation of potential viewers.  It is over the long run then that broadcasters have more to worry about. 

Aereo was admonished for copyright infringement stemming from the rental of an antenna on a remote antenna farm.  Other companies are now trying new ways to skirt the ruling.  Rather than rent, the antenna needs to be purchased and installed in the home; a box attached to it, captures and transmits wirelessly to authorized devices.  Does ownership of equipment change the result?  Certainly, Slingbox has been doing similar capturing and streaming for some time now.

For now, Aereo has lost and the broadcasters believe they have won.  But as viewership shifts from wired to streaming, from linear to on demand, consumers will seek out shows from multiple devices at times that best suit them and on platforms that are easy to access and appeal to their interests.  Tomorrow's audience may simply not care what broadcasters are pitching on old technology.

A battle may be lost, but the war is certainly not over either.  Much can happen to reshift interest back to broadcast.  New technologies, new strategies, new content.  I have consistently argued that linear wins with live programming.  It hits a home run when it is available on every platform.  And there are many examples to justify it including The World Cup matches on ESPN and streamed online, NBC's Sound of Music, NFL Football, etc.  Once broadcasters truly embrace streaming of their content, their future will be much brighter.

Slingbox Standalone vs Slingbox Cable

Given the number of boxes aiming to connect with the television set, it makes sense to partner with the leader in the field, the cable set top box.  It is a strategy that TiVo has recognized and been following in order to gain a deeper household penetration.  But working with cable operators comes with a price, and that issue is working under the content licensing agreements as well.

Slingbox, as a standalone box, simply needs a wire between cable set top and the Slingbox, and then a wire to the TV set.  It may be a number of wires between the devices but it allows the Slingbox to talk to the cable box.  It then enables all mobile devices to access that cable box, through the Slingbox,  although the big downside is that only one user can watch a show at a time from this set-up.  TiVo offers an option for a CableCard to make it a cable set top box, although depending on the operator, it may not access the on demand features.

Under the standalone feature, a user has a complete TV Everywhere experience at his disposal.  Still, Sling the company, recognizes to gain more households, it may be necessary to follow the TiVo model and put their technology INSIDE the cable set top box.  But that ultimately limits the true value of the Slingbox.  By working with the cable operator, Sling would be subject to their licensing deals that for many networks limits access to streaming of their channels.  "TV Everywhere is a nightmare for consumers because of these unresolved issues," whether cable operators work with Sling technology or not. 

Sling may want to get closer to the cable operator but networks are already developing their own streaming apps for each of their channels.  It does give networks more control over their content but it becomes much more confusing for the customer trying to find which app to use to get to the content they want to watch.  An aggregated app, like the one a standalone Slingbox offers, seems the easiest to manage for users.  That is until someone comes up with an app that provides a complete line-up of content choices, linear and on demand and links to the app to best serve it to the consumer.  An extra step, but perhaps a likely next step as a go around of the cable operator.  Given the cost and difficulty of getting a TV Everywhere experience, it is why users have found alternatives with OTT and ditching the cable box completely.  And that is something Sling, TiVo and the cable operators really have to worry about. 

TiVo Adds Slingbox Capabilities, Are More Cable Partnerships Coming

TiVo has announced its latest DVR box that seems to do everything from show live and on demand programming to watching streaming video from the web and pushing it out to the TV screen or to any mobile device.  While expensive, with the top of the line box costing $600, it also seems to deliver the kind of rich media experience that heavy video users want, high capacity recorder, TV Everywhere capabilities, and cable and streaming connections.  And of course TiVo is known for a recommendation engine that records shows that might also interest you. 

"The Roamio enhancements could also help the cable industry slow the wave of consumer defections, known as cord-cutters."  The challenge of the cost and the ease of interface with cable operators still matters.  Most cable customers expect their cable operator to deliver them a box ready to plug in and use, with easy installation and service from the company.  Those cable operators already partnering with TiVo deserve praise for seeing the value this option gives to their customers.  Other cable operators need to also start partnering with TiVo.  It becomes too much trouble to make the consumer go through too many steps to get a TiVo and ensure that it works correctly on their cable system.  From getting a CableCard to correct installation and handshake with the cable technology creates trouble.  We should be beyond that for authentication purposes.  It is time for cable operators to get on the TiVo bandwagon and embrace what is an anti-cord cutting machine. 

Slingbox Gets An Update

Do you travel frequently?  Do you wish you could watch your shows on multiple devices outside the home.  If you can't wait to watch shows when you are resting comfortably in your own home, then Slingbox may just be the right box for you.  And it's redesign includes an added benefit, the ability to push content from your smartphone and laptop back to the Slingbox and the TV set.  "Both products support up to full 1080p HD-quality streaming of live or recorded TV programming and Ethernet connectivity. In addition, the 500 -- which looks like a conventional set-top box that has been twisted in half -- includes HDMI inputs and outputs, plus dual-band Wi-Fi."  So Hi Def and a new design.

Echostar and Slingbox hope this new product will expand its audience reach beyond "sports fans and techno-geeks”, according to their VP of marketing.  Still, like TiVo, their biggest source of growth will be working with other cable operators to integrate their software into the cable box that currently controls the home.  If not, then the marketing push will be demonstrating just how easy the box can plug and play with the current box sitting under the TV set.

Does Your Cable Operator Provide TV Everywhere?

According to the research, only one in five cable customers know that their provider offers a TV Everywhere experience.  What that means is that few current cable customers know that they can access TV shows through their cable provider's apps on mobile and computer devices.  Not a good sign for those providers that hoped that by finally offering a TV Everywhere experience, their customers would be less likely to cut the cord and go to the web.

For me, I do know that my cable provider offers shows through their app but I, like I assume most others, have gotten conditioned to look elsewhere for my TV Everywhere content.  With iTunes, Hulu, YouTube, Netflix, and others, my cable app is the last place I would think to go too find content.  Add to that my MLB  access and my TV Everywhere experience seems almost complete.  It seems the real challenge for cable operators is that they are so late to the game.  Dish delivers the slingbox experience which makes their access to linear and DVR programming appealing; other cable operators have been reluctant to offer a similar experience.

The other issue and one that really hurts the cable operator today is the rising costs of a cable subscription.  "It’s all about dollars and the perception of value. Cable subscriptions declined 2.7 percent in the first quarter, according to Bernstein data, as cash-strapped consumers look for less expensive TV viewing alternatives."  By not building a differentiated product, consumers can get a similar viewing experience at a much lower cost.  For them, cable programming is a commodity that can be served anywhere.

And so cable operators are facing some real challenges, a service that has lost its value proposition, a product that  is being served cheaper elsewhere, and a next generation consumer that is becoming more oriented to over the top programming.  For cable operators, they may soon find themselves considering a change in the business model, to a dumb pipeline with wired and wireless access for a monthly fee.  With declining profit margins the cable subscription business may finally be losing some steam.

TiVo To Add Slingbox Feature

The Mercedes of DVRs is finally adding a very useful feature for the mobile consumer, a Slingbox-like feature to stream live and recorded programming to another device.  Do I sense a patent suit from Dish to follow?  Finally, an easy authenticated device that enables cable subscribers to watch their favorite shows or live sporting events when they are away from their home.  Cable MSOs should be embracing this new TiVo box as they promote their cable subscription, yet few have truly embraced TiVo.  Perhaps because they are an agnostic box, willing to work with any and all providers, cable, telco and satellite.  And that is why the big MSOs have not made it easy to add a TiVo box to the house or to enable it to also access the cable operators on demand features.

"TiVo will debut both products at retail, or through partnerships with multichannel TV service providers including DirecTV, Charter Communications, Suddenlink and the UK’s Virgin Media, later this year."  For those providers that do partner with TiVo, this new Slingbox-like feature is a great added value.

Is NimbleTV The Next Generation Slingbox For TV Everywhere

There's a new service being talked about that could bring true TV Everywhere to the consumer, across any device, and without a set top box.  The service, NimbleTV, says on its website that they work with both content providers and content producers to accomplish that task.  To me, that means that the cost of the service is an additional fee to take your cable, satellite, or telco line-up and access it from the cloud.

In today's New York Times, NimbleTV is the next generation of Slingbox, as labeled by its former executive, Jason Hirschhorn.  "NimbleTV says it has the same functionality as a Slingbox and DVR, but without the actual boxes". But will the content distributors and producers accept this use of their product without some incremental payoff.  And like anything, those costs will only increase the total costs for content to the consumer.

Consumers do want TV Everywhere; they want the flexibility, the variety, and the access, so that content follows them and not the other way around.  But what they don't want is the cost.  Consumers are seeking ways to lower their bills, not raise them.  It is why consumers are flocking to You Tube, Netflix, and Hulu as lower cost alternatives that also give them mobility.  For those currently subscribing to cable, they want the added value of TV Everywhere, but not the added costs.  For them, their cable bill needs more value attached to it to accept the high costs of their cable bills.  Higher rates will only cause further cord cutting to these OTT alternatives.

Can NimbleTV find success?  If embraced by cable operators and networks, yes; but as they have yet to embrace Slingbox, I doubt they will find this next player a friend either.

Cablevision Brings Linear TV To The iPad And More

Untethered, but still required to be inside the home, Cablevision subscribers can now watch their linear TV without a set top box or big screen TV.  With an iPad, iPod, iPhone, laptop, or PC, the TV experience can now be watched in any room in the house.  Multichannel states "To use the software, a customer must have a subscription to iO TV and a Cablevision-supplied modem. (If a customer is not an Optimum Online customer, Cablevision will provide a specialized modem that allows access to the streaming TV apps but not the Internet.)"

The limitation is obvious, access is limited to the home.  For those that don't want to string a cable line to every room in the house, this feature brings a new benefit to the subscriber.  For others, it may not be enough.  For those that want access away from the home, "Dish Network provides similar functionality through its Slingbox-enabled products."

So far the Cablevision App has been downloaded more than 1 million times, indicative of a successful first step in bringing TV Everywhere to the customer.

Every TV Seems To Need A Connected Box

The days of turning on a TV set and turning the knob to different channels are long over. Our kids have no idea what a UHF or VHF channel is and only use one button on the TV set for on and off. A channel is locked on to one frequency and then the work of the other box begins.

So how many different connected boxes are attached to your set? Of course there is the cable converter box offering us HD signals and perhaps even a DVR. Others love their TiVo box for recording shows and some have even gotten CableCards to access cable programming. Those that need their programming to follow them outside the home have attached a Slingbox to their set. And some have unplugged themselves from this cord but still need the connection to the web for their over the top boxes, including Roku. And with every new one you buy, is one finally unplugged? Perhaps you have added a Blu-Ray but disconnected your DVD player and your VHS player was removed years ago. And for the gamers in the family, a connection is needed for the Xbox, Wii, Playstation 3, or even a classic Atari (although I hope not).

And TV manufacturers have tried to incorporate connectivity to the web so homes can access their Hulu Plus or Netflix subscriptions through the TV directly and not through another box. But it seems there is a need for an external box whether we like it or not. Perhaps Apple should update their Apple TV box with Siri and enable it to talk to all the other boxes that connect to the TV set. Then at least we could reduce the number of remotes on our coffee table.

The DVR Is Not Dead - TiVo Posts Gains

With so much talk lately about cloud services, streaming services, and on demand viewing, it's nice to hear some encouraging news about the growth of DVR subscribers from the premier service, TiVo. In Q3, TiVo grew over 100,000 units a complete turnaround from the previous quarter when they lost more than 30,000. So what changed? "Basically, the key takeaway point is that TiVo stopped focusing heavily on retail sales and is distributing more through cable companies -- a strategy that appears to have worked." New deals with cable partners like RCN, and better relationships with DirecTV and Comcast.

So what is TiVo's next step? Perhaps a better relationship with Echostar and a discussion to integrate Slingbox technology with TiVo. A stronger push with its cable partners to increase its rollout of TiVo set top boxes with a ton of marketing promotion behind it.

So here is to TiVo. Let's hope that this first quarterly increase in four years is not an anomaly but rather the start of renewed growth for the company. A great product deserves great marketing and higher use.

Authenticated Cable TV Viewing Outside The Home

Content companies, especially those with TV networks, have been negotiating with cable operators to receive incremental license fee payments for access to their networks outside the home on iPads and other mobile devices. Today, that access has been mostly limited to mobile devices inside the home. But why should a cable operator agree to pay more for these rights with any network when that access is already possible with technology? Why pay each network when cable companies could be integrating Slingbox technology into their current cable box?

The latest news from Slingbox is the integration of a player within Facebook, enabling a bit of sharing about what you are watching. Cute, but not so earth shattering. Couldn't this be better done with 2 screens.

Is it that consumers don't yet feel the need to have immediate access to their TV outside the home. Slingbox has been around for some time and consumers could on their own buy a box and add it to their system. But we don't seem to hear much news about how Slingbox sales are growing, although all of Echostar's equipment sales were down double digit in the third quarter. Is the idea of TV viewing outside the home what consumers really want? Do we prefer an out of home experience to strictly be an on demand one, where we can access a particular show when and where we want? Do we really desire linear access outside our home?

As to the pull on cable operators to negotiate higher license fees for out of home authentication, perhaps current technology is an alternative to raising costs and ultimately raising fees.