Aereo WIns Another Federal Case Ruling

While other OTT companies have been unable to retransmit broadcast signals over broadband, Aereo continues to succeed.  In the latest Federal court case, "Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton said Hearst had not proven that Aereo would cause 'irreparable harm' to the broadcaster's business and thus could continue to operate in the Boston area."   And so, Aereo continues to notch court wins to continue to operate its business.  Of course, all these issues regarding the resale and use of over the air signals will eventually need to be heard by the US Supreme Court.  For now, Aereo continues to have the right to resell broadcast signals for broadband reception. 

See It, Buy It Through Twitter

While Twitter mulls a stock offering, their business strategy continues to progress.  Just announced, a partnership with Comcast to connect Comcast services with Tweets.  "In the first step of the partnership, Comcast engineers created a new feature called “See It” that will give millions of Xfinity TV customers the ability to instantly access TV shows, movies and sports directly from a Tweet."  other opportunities include the ability to one click to services like Fandango to purchase movie tickets.  In addition, "The companies also announced an advertising partnership with NBCUniversal in Twitter’s Amplify program which drives awareness of TV programs by embedding sponsored, real-time video clips in tweets."  Should users embrace these new features, Twitter will indeed have found a whole new set of revenue monetization opportunities to enhance future shareholder appeal.  Get the whole article here. 

Another Month, Another Apple Event

Wasn't it just a month ago that Apple held an event to announce new models of the iPhone.  Well, its a month later and Apple is expected to announce another "Event" to highlight upgrades to its iPad lineup of products.  "People familiar with Apple’s plans tell AllThingsD that the company will hold its next invitation-only event on Tuesday, October 22. The focal point of the gathering will be the latest updates to the company’s iPad line, but the new Mac Pro and OS X Mavericks will likely get some stage time as well, I’m told."  Will we ever hear news about new product launches, like an iWatch?  Or do we have to wait till next month for that announcement and the month after that for announced upgrades to Apple TV.  Frankly, to many "Events" just come across as too many.

Samsung Watch Ad Impresses

I haven't had the chance to see the new Galaxy Gear watch by Samsung, but I have seen plenty of print ads and watched the new TV commercial.  Talk about breaking through the clutter, the ad evokes great memories and harkens back to the time when we all wished we had a watch phone.  Check out the ad below:


Whether consumers embrace their watch and paired phone remain to be seen, but the advertising absolutely hits the right chord.

To Apple TV And Others - How To Win The OTT Box Wars

For OTT Set Top Box companies that work with cable operators, TiVo, XBox and some others, their key has been enabling authenticated viewing for cable customers to enjoy their cable TV programming.  Most still rely on a CableCard to authenticate users.  But the challenge for Apple TV, Intel Media, Roku, Amazon (and their recent announcement of their intent to build a set top box) and others, remain gaining access to content.  Content is King.  But so far, offering Netflix, Amazon Prime, You Tube or other content hasn't been enough to gain considerable market share.  Gaming boxes like Microsoft, and TiVo have done much better it seems in offering other content options to the value proposition.

So how can Apple TV, Intel Media, and others find content to make their boxes indispensable when cable and broadcast networks have been reluctant to deal given their current license fee agreements with cable and satellite companies.  They should look no farther than how cable got its foothold with the basic tentpoles of content: sports, news, and music.

For some of these OTT companies, price is no issue, and so it is time to think big.  Regarding sports, I would recommend reaching out to the NFL.  For football fans, the DirecTv Sunday Ticket has been most desired by the cable companies.  They would love to take the deal over from DirecTv.  Apple, Intel, Amazon, and Microsoft all have the resources to compete for this contract.  And the football fan has proven that they will pay for access to these games.  Plus offering it in a stream allows these companies to bring added features including multiple camera angles, box in box, and other viewing options. 

As to news, it is time to build a national news network.  The model worked well for CNN when it first started out.  Offer young reporters a chance to be discovered, invest in regional coverage, and follow the Ted Turner blueprint to create a news network.  While certainly CNN didn't have the same competition when it started, there is an advantage in streaming and offering across all platforms.  Build loyalty through a TV Everywhere approach and be aggressive in news gathering and reporting. 

Music was the earliest to embrace streaming and an OTT set top box may not be able to reinvent this wheel.  Still, enabling ease of access, offering more concert coverage, and pushing new ideas is a great start.  That You Tube is developing its own music awards show to compete with MTV and others demonstrates that kind of creativity. 

So for streaming OTT box companies, there is in front of you a tremendous opportunity to compete with cable operators for consumers and users to your platform.  Content is king and I believe that acquiring special content like the NFL and building out tentpole programming will drive further acceptance of your devices and subscription services.  Major Cable Networks may be reluctant to work with you now, but other great content may still be worth pursuing.

Amazon Wants Its Own Set Top Box To Send Its Content

Its one thing to have the content and another to have the distribution.  While Netflix has relied on third parties to distribute its subscription services, Amazon has taken a more technological approach.  Like Apple, Amazon built its own tablet to run its content.  And like Apple and its Apple TV box, Amazon now wants to distribute a set top box to stream to the television set.  "The device is code-named "Cinnamon," and will have apps for playing games and streaming video and music from other companies, not just Amazon, according to the WSJ. It will be released for the holiday shopping season." Certainly there are other devices already streaming Amazon content to the TV, but Amazon has hgad a strategy of selling devices at near cost to drive usage.  I suspect an Amazon set top box will also be priced cheaply (definitely below Apple TV's retail price of $99) to encourage new consumers to enter the marketplace.  And by pairing its Kindle with its new set top box, Amazon customers get an integrated usage experience sure to please the user. 

What apps and other video streams will be featured on the new Amazon box?  No word yet but I would doubt that other subscription services would be made available.  Perhaps free OTT like You Tube or even Vimeo or Crackle could be a possibility.  With so many OTT boxes for consumers to add, including their own cable TV box for now, Apple TV, Roku, new Smart TVs like Samsung and certain blu-ray players, and gaming consoles like XBox and Playstation, is the consumer ready for one more.  Certainly Amazon benefits by pairing this new box with its own best selling tablets, but other devices do the same thing through apps installed on tablets already.  The market is quickly becoming more crowded and consumers will have to decide which set top box or how many boxes they wish to connect to their TV set; or perhaps the answer is none as Smart TVs will be enabled to do all the work. 

Amazon Adding More Original Streaming Content

Amazon knows that to keep its streaming customers happy, you must continue to grow your video content library.  Syndicated content is great, especially titles with high perceived value.  But the key to superiority is not just having the most content to stream, but also original exclusive content.  Netflix has done it quite well with House of Cards and Arrested Development and Amazon wants the same notoriety. 

And so Amazon has formally announced three new comedies for 2014 including Mozart in the Jungle, The Outlaws, and Transparent.  Also according to Deadline Hollywood, unofficially Amazon has a couple dramas for streaming.  They include Bosch and The After.  Competition for viewers away from the TV screen is only getting more intense. 

With the growth of more streaming shows, viewers will have to decide whether to watch broadcast, cable, or streaming shows.  The more choice open to them away from cable, the more consumers will question whether it is time to star cutting the cord.  Amazon, Netflix, Hulu, and others are starting to make their inroads for greater share of market. 

Hulu Plus adds A New Distribution Outlet

While we all enjoy watching our favorite videos on our personal laptops, tablets, and smartphones, there is a reason why we buy big screen TVs.  We like to watch our shows on big devices, too.  In the competitive world of streaming subscription services, the easier it is to watch your shows across multiple devices, the better to market its value and ease of use.  As Hulu strikes out on its own, no longer being primed for acquisition, it has turned its attention to new ways to improve.  Thanks to a new partnership with Google and its Chromecast service, "Instead of watching video content from the online provider on an Android smartphone, tablet or Apple iPad, folks can shoot Hulu Plus to an HDTV."   

This kind of announcement is good news for both Chromecast and Hulu, making each a more valuable service to market to customers.  For Chromecast, it represents an important video partner to its stream.  For Hulu Plus, it puts them on equal footing with its competitor Netflix on the device.  But access alone is not enough of a reason; Hulu Plus also needs to keep pushing its exclusive content and library of available titles to keep growing its subscriber base.  Additional distribution platforms help but content remains king. 

More Broadcast Networks Go Dark On Cable

While the current word may be that a short term agreement has prevented ABC/ESPN Nets from going dark on Dish Network, another broadcaster failed to stay on.  Media General's 18 broadcast networks got shut down at midnight when no renewal was reached with Dish Network.  "Media General's retrans agreement originally expired in June, but Media General extended negotiations for 90 days."  So Dish consumers in those markets are now without their stations during the most important time for broadcasters, the Fall season. 

Who is to blame?  Frankly, the blame should be shared among all parties, Dish, Media General, and even the FCC for enabling broadcasters to charge for broadcast networks and the use of over the air spectrum.  This fight between operator and broadcaster continues to repeat itself endlessly.  And while Dish and ABC may have put into place an extension, it may still end up with networks being dropped off Dish.  It was only last month that Time Warner Cable faced this same issue with CBS; it will only happen again.  Broadcast networks should not be enabled to charge; if they want to then free up the airwaves and become cable networks. It is time for the FCC to intervene.