Ideas are our currency

October 30, 2009 // Posted in Uncategorized  |  No Comments

Thomas EdisonRecently one of my friends and collegues, Scott Meikle was quoted as saying “ideas are our currency”.  This is of course absolutely right (he is not often wrong), it is the ideas that separate our ability to no just undertake projects but really add value – something from nothing – to our clients business, be it functionality or a particular message.

This reminded me of an article I read on Thomas Edison (the man to whom ideas come more often than hot dinners) recently.  Apparently Edison had moments of inspiration by falling asleep in a chair with a ball in his hand and would waken from that “twilight zone” just before dropping completely off.  It was at this moment he would have flashes of brilliance.

So… never one to not give things a go, I tired it recently with a candle in my hand.  Just as I nodded of I dropped it and it landed right on my the edge of my toe, leading to not inspiration but the air turning blue.  This has to go down as another moment of me copying – not Mr Edison – but Frank Spenser. 

Here is a link that might explain the on going connection to me and Frank! !  www.ipso.tv

Viewer, viewer, viewer….

October 3, 2009 // Posted in events (Tags: , ) |  No Comments

OpeningCocktailMipcom

Another October another MIPCOM… ah… Cannes in the Autumn (the weather looks better that it was in April at MIPTV thankfully).
I think I first visited MIPTV in 2004 to meet with the studios to discuss hollywood content for a FTTH opportunity.  The company I was with had a great, leading edge IPTV system (end-to-end including proprietary real-time encoders and stb middleware) and needed a compelling viewer proposition to break out of hospitality into residential.  Unfortunately the price and model that all studios were discussing simply wasn’t viable and put far too much pressure on the model to hit the right proposition.  We made the right decision
and cut that project off when we saw the viewer proposition wouldn’t stack up – even if we’d negotiated harder, the investment required was right for our profile at the time.
Since then I’ve seen a lot of people take their eye off the viewer proposition and focus on the technology, or the content owner proposition to their detrement. Something I learned back in 04 was focus on the consumer… if it ain’t gonna work… focus your efforts elsewhere.

Another October another MIPCOM… ah… Cannes in the Autumn (the weather looks better that it was in April at MIPTV thankfully).

I think I first visited MIPTV in 2004 to meet with the studios to discuss hollywood content for a FTTH opportunity.  The company I was with had a great, leading edge IPTV system (end-to-end including proprietary real-time encoders and stb middleware) and needed a compelling viewer proposition to break out of hospitality into residential.  Unfortunately the price and model that all studios were discussing simply wasn’t viable and put far too much pressure on the model to hit the right proposition.  We made the right decision

and cut that project off when we saw the viewer proposition wouldn’t stack up – even if we’d negotiated harder, the investment required was right for our profile at the time.

Since then I’ve seen a lot of people take their eye off the viewer proposition and focus on the technology, or the content owner proposition to their detrement. Something I learned back in 04 was focus on the consumer… if it ain’t gonna work… focus your efforts on a completely  different project.

Panasonic’s HD Everything

July 6, 2009 // Posted in IPTV consumer premise equipment (Tags: , , , , ) |  No Comments

HD EverythingPanasonic launch their HD Everything box this week.  They are playing heavily on the HD side but, from an IPTV perspective, it’s the mix of features and the inclusion of VIERA CAST that I’m most interested in.   Now VIERA CAST has been available embedded in  Panasonic TV’s since Feb, but this is the first box that means you can get all the features and not change the TV you have.

IPTV Content

The content is  from YouTube and photos from Picasa.  Strangely on the Panasonic TV’s with VIERA CAST content is also from EuroSport and Bloomberg, these must be quick to follow?  And at the moment all content is free (unsurprisingly given lack of reach).  Surely this is just the tip of the iceberg however and there is more to follow…  including the iPlayer??  I’m keen to develop a content site that is optimised for the player… watch this space.

What about those IPTV benefits of personalisation and interactivity.  Well, local weather and regional content is on offer and apparently the ability to change round the order of widgets is on the way.   Early days but the ability to change the skin to how you want it, to select your preferred channels and programmes, recommendations from both Panasonic and your mates must be coming.  Panasonic have the brand and the budget to really make this work properly.

Target Market

What market is Panasonic after?  Is this really a contender to kick SKY out of your living room, or is this for the SKY detractors that want something better than Freeview?  In the UK it still stands, if you want premium content (sport or movies) you’ll go for SKY first (although Virgin Media’s V+ offering of good, mature VoD selection including the BBC iPlayer with truly fast Internet now make it a viable option in the decision making process).

So the market is those that want Freesat+++.  Multi-channel HD TV without a subscription with PVR and online content and Blu-ray and copying – that’s a lot of value add that make’s it a good option.  What’s the damage?

Well £699 for the basic XS350 to £999 for the BS850 it doesn’t come cheap and is certainly no easy decision, but if you want “HD everything” in one box (and not in the TV) this will give it to you.

Finally, how have they managed the tricky transition between broadcast TV and online content – by plonking a VIERA CAST button on the remote control – how else?

Up next, wonder what the ISP’s make of all this?

(Pendants point, when searching for stockists the Panasonic website should prefill the product tickbox)