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!

Sony discuss Internet TV strategy for Europe with Ovum Research

Ovum recently summarized a briefing they attended on Sony’s European TV strategy.  Basically its splits into Video on Demand (VOD) service via the PlayStation Network and an Internet video strategy that provides catch-up broadcast TV content.  The content line-up is looking impressive with deals made with most of the big players in European broadcasting plus deals with popular sites such at YouTube and Dailymotion.

Roll-out is starting but the launch of Bravia Internet Video disc players, TVs and home theater devices in the first half of 2010 really set the strategy in action.

The challenge of quality of video services continues to be an unanswered question with Internet TV but VOD downloads should work and offer competition to satellite, IPTV and cable operators.  2010 may very well be the year interactive TV really happens!