The Wall Street Journal on Internet Video
The Wall Street Journal has an interesting article on why Internet video on the TV hasn't taken off, The Internet. The TV.
What's the holdup? Generally speaking, the video players are just too complicated to hook up, too expensive and too limited in what they can do. There are skeptics, too, who think Internet video players are trying to solve a problem that simply doesn't exist -- especially as cable companies enhance on-demand video services."The issue with these next-generation set-top boxes is they're hard to use, hard to install and the return on investment isn't particularly large because the content is available elsewhere," says Mike Volpi, CEO of Joost NV, a London-based Internet television service available through PCs.
Wall Street Journal video that reviews the Apple TV, TiVo, Vudu, and more.
Interesting tidbit from the story: 80% of people surveyed would not want an Internet video device at any price.
Netflix is going to tell us in January about their plans to get Watch Instantly on televisions. What do you think they're going to do? A separate set-top box (the Netflix Player), or a partnership with Microsoft, AT&T, etc?
I would think they would go with the xbox 360 to test the waters. They are in millions of homes. Their users are internet savvy, plus it's just a matter or implementing the software. I mean you can already rent movies through their marketplace. Adding the netflix name and library would only help microsoft. And I'm sure there are a ton of 360 owners that would subscribe to netflix after they see what is available.
I wonder if Sony would allow their movies to be rented through the 360 though.
Posted by: Super-Bat-Man | December 11, 2007 at 02:58 PM
Boy, I'd run out and buy an X-Box 360 in a heartbeat if I could attach it to my Hi Def TV for using the NF Watch Now feature ... And I have no interest in gaming.
Posted by: CJ | December 11, 2007 at 08:38 PM
Reed H joined the Microsoft Board of Directors 3/07. Gee, do you think a Gates/Hastings deal is in the works?
You might want to start looking for deals on that XBox CJ!
Posted by: DoDahMn | December 12, 2007 at 12:06 AM