Cee Mee – Cee Who – Cee What

I got into interactive TV in the late 1990′s.  I was so happy Canoe Ventures took up the challenge of interactive advertising  (though they now seem to be dropping interactive TV) and conducted some research but I just read the report that was posted – very light.  We are talking about 4,000 televisionaries and results around their tests and experiences.  The market for this in USA alone is 115 million -  4,000 does not seem a big enough sample.  Why aren’t more brands and agencies getting into this?  Canoe Ventures got some $150 million to make some headway into the new media world for the cable industry.  I sincerely hope there is a more detailed report somewhere.  Love the concept but feel we are missing the Internet, mobile, ipad and tablets and user interaction with TV +++

verizon and comcast and kerkorian and van zandts latest venture – all add to a tipping point?

Been away and discovering new media solutions in EU but this catch up reading is exciting.  Has the time come for a real new media challenge – why are the cable guys and the telco guys joining up when they are against each other?  And why is Kerkokorian about to invest again in the movie industry?  So many exciting times – so much to see and then add Ray WJ the YouTube top star earning $1million for his cut of the ad revenue generated by his video commentaries.  Who knew that anyone with more than two million views got so much money from Google/YouTube/whatever??? and then again – FB going for an IPO – essentially selling all our data. – go figger…. Once my jet lag subsides maybe I can see a pattern that doesnt say – yes – again – the consumer got suckered!

What was the real outcome of the cable interactive solutions event?

The recent Cablelabs and Canoe Ventures initiative on advanced advertising seems to have been a real hit with brands according to several blogs.  Twenty four companies participated (not clear if they were selected guests or an industry invitation was sent – also not clear who paid for what which usually shows if the event was meaningful).  Key interactive vendors (mostly long time cable suppliers) also demonstrated solutions.

The event lasted a week and Id love to see the agenda and what was actually gleaned from the event.  I believe these insights are what Canoe needs to be learning and sharing with their investors and advertisers.  Any clues from Cablelabs or Canoe greatly appreciated but the summary that vendors were enthusiastic about a common platform was a bit lame – well yes – one platform, one format, easy implementation – but I had over ten companies working with me on interactive applications in 2001 and the interactive world of cable got bogged down with cable supplier battles and ad agency myopia.  Will it be different this time?  Yes, yes, yes – roll on interactive cable apps!

Walled Gardens are coming to free content online

The latest round of content acquisition by the major cable companies will shortly end the era of free content online in my opinion.  Walls will soon be created and a toll booth will be constructed to make consumers pay for much of the online content that has previously been offered for free.  The new business model of pay per view will emerge in 2010 – well that’s my prediction.  Having worked in interactive TV since 2000, we had a model that offered viewers choice and suggestions based on profile information as well as making some content less expensive or free if the viewer agreed to watch advertisements.  It made sense then and it looks to me as though the major cable guys are gearing to own any of the current online video sites that will still be around in the coming years and set themselves up as the gate-keepers for video content on the TV and online.  The set top box makes the TV smart and there are huge opportunities for new applications and services for both online and TV.  I for one am looking forward to intelligent TV!

Comcast and NBC – interactive advertising goes mainstream!

The recent announcement by Comcast of its acquisition of NBC bodes well for the launch of real interactive advertising.  Comcast has already committed to interactivity with its Canoe Project investment and the roll out of interactive services in Chicago and other regions.  The combined viewing power of Comcast and NBC (with its Hulu online video service) now offers a serious stage to develop interactive and revenues sharing advertising and marketing applications.  Major brands such as P&G are already experimenting with new interactive formats and local advertising solutions.  As an early proponent of interactive advertising, I for one am excited that at last a player of this magnitude is taking the next step.  Park Associates forecasts that advanced TV advertising (including VOD, DVR and addressable commercials) could exceed $4 billion within five years.  That’s a big chu;nk of cable satellite and telco tv revenues.

Cable TV boosts ad sales and gets serious about interactive advertising

Good news from Cablevision last week with COO Tom Rutledge talking about an increase in advertising revenues for the quarter.  His comments pointed to an uplift in the economy and the introduction of interactive advertising into the revenue mix.   The company said Tuesday that ad revenue rose by 18 percent in the third quarter from a year ago, with strength seen in its cable networks AMC, IFC and WE tv.

Its new interactive ads, where viewers use their remote to order free product samples, coupons and others from advertisers, are doing well. Cablevision said a two-week Gillette ad campaign offering a free sample ran out of freebies after the first week.

The key message I took away from the announcement was his comment relating to interactive advertising pricing, “the interesting thing about what we have from a technological perspective is that we can actually determine the effectiveness of advertising and price it accordingly.”

Wow cable is really coming into the digital and interactive arena!

Cable is moving in interactive – are there paddles in Canoe?

Cablevision announced cautious roll out of interactive services in New York area and Comcast is dipping its feet in the water in Chicago. Time Warner has several initiatives and then there is Canoe. The latest news on Canoe Ventures is an alliance with a graduate advertising program. While this is forward thinking and a way to nurture new applications and innovations, will Canoe start to take a lead on new interactive applications or be a lumbering body that plays catch-up as the industry forges ahead?

Let the games begin – cable start charging for web content

Time Warner and Comcast – two industry cable giants have announced an ambitious pilot program to charge subscribers for viewing TV content on the web.  Not sure where this leaves the Hulu business model – maybe it becomes a primer and short form video place to visit.  The words walled garden creep into mind again with cable looking to keep control of its subscribers wherever they view programming.  Looking forward to watching this space emerge.

Cable, Satellite and Telecom meet to find ways to get TV content into a walled garden on the Net

Great article by Roger Cheng in the Wall Street Journal on April 22 discusses the informal meetings being held with Cable, Satellite and Telecom companies to work out business models for net TV viewing in the future. The giants are sitting down to work out how to improve the library of content online and how to get consumers to pay for it. Likely methods will be pin numbers issued to subscribers to mainstream cable, satellite, telecom companies that enable users to view content online as part of their subscription. Broadcasters seem to be going along with the overall concept but fear backlash as we have all become used to the Internet if free right? I believe if the quality of service and content is there and it is what I want to see and available when I want to see it – I will pay. Anything less than that and forget it. My challenge to the IP industry is still making video streaming a seamless and 90% up technology – no way am I watching a major movie that keeps trying to buffer to get me the picture. I think the technology needs to work and then the business model will be accepted.