Mark Cuban is using peer-to-peer technology to distribute free downloads of high-definition video from his HDNet network. The initiative will begin by offering a special 20-minute program of highlights from the network's exclusive live coverage of the launch of the Discovery space shuttle. HDNet partnered with peer-to-peer delivery specialists Red Swoosh and online storage and technology company Box.net on the promotional project, which is designed to expose the widest possible audience to HDNet programming and high-definition content in general. "The combination of RSS delivery from Box.net and Red Swoosh P2P technology, particularly their backend services, has created a new opportunity to test the delivery of promotional high-definition HDNet content to those who might not otherwise get HDNet," Cuban said. "As unique opportunities come up to highlight our content, we will use this great delivery platform." The content is delivered in 1080i resolution and Windows Media Video HD format using Red Swoosh's secure peer-to-peer technology. Users can obtain this and all future content by visiting www.hd.net/downloads and signing on to receive HDNet's BetaFeed powered by Box.net.
The global streaming industry has spent the better part of a decade chasing subscriber counts as the primary metric of success. That era is now formally over. New market data from Omdia confirms that the industry has crossed a decisive threshold; one that shifts the competitive playing field from growth-at-all-costs to monetization discipline. For senior executives navigating media, advertising, and technology strategy, the implications extend well beyond entertainment. A Historic Revenue Crossover Online video revenue increased 13.5 percent to $176 billion in 2025, while pay-TV revenue declined 4 percent to $170 billion; marking the first time in the industry's history that streaming has surpassed legacy pay-TV in revenue terms. This is not a rounding error or a statistical artifact; it represents the culmination of more than a decade of structural disruption to the traditional broadcast and cable TV model. Global subscriptions to online video services reached 2.24 billion by the ...