Skip to main content

Yahoo! Details Plans for IPTV

Terry Semel, CEO of Yahoo!, outlined his company's television strategy in a speech to UK TV executives at a Royal Television Society Conference this week. He announced that the company is negotiating access to a wide range of content, in addition to persuading broadcasters to open up their content archives and encouraging independent content producers to regard Yahoo! as an alternative delivery channel.

"Terry Semel's speech to UK broadcasters is astute and refreshing; confirming the growing importance of big-name Internet brands such as Yahoo! in what has traditionally been the preserve of content and media behemoths," commented Charlie Davies, senior analyst at Ovum. "Broadband is becoming mass market, which means a brand new distribution channel for TV and video entertainment and information into the home. So far though, the use of broadband for such purposes (otherwise known as IPTV) has been within the traditional boundaries of the existing content distribution framework. We have seen the same content currently distributed via cable, terrestrial and satellite, delivered over broadband within a walled garden and all that entails (conditional access, tight rights management, strict terms of agreement between content providers and distributors)."

He added that: "Content providers should take note of Semel's statement that 'Video search is a way to monetise some of the stuff that's lounging around in warehouses and hasn't made a dime for years'. He is not talking about simply adding another distribution channel for content that is already out there, but actually expanding the market for content. His statement was also aimed at mollifying those worried about Yahoo! stepping on their toes."

"Even though Semel's words sought to placate, the company's activities should conversely make broadcasters feel a little uneasy," said Ovum's Davies. "This is no bad thing: it's always the case that incumbents in any industry need a good deal of prodding, and it's always the case that this comes in the form of competition, albeit sugar-coated."

Popular posts from this blog

Industrial and Manufacturing Technology Growth

In an evolving era of rapid advancement, market demand for innovative technology in the industrial and manufacturing sectors is skyrocketing. Leaders are recognizing the immense potential of digital transformation and are driving initiatives to integrate technologies into their business operations.  These initiatives aim to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and ultimately drive growth and competitiveness in an increasingly digital business upward trajectory. The industrial and manufacturing sectors have been the backbone of the Global Networked Economy, contributing $16 trillion in value in 2021. Industrial and Manufacturing Tech Market Development   This growth represents a 20 percent increase from 2020, highlighting the resilience and adaptability of these sectors in the face of unprecedented challenges, according to the latest worldwide market study by ABI Research . The five largest manufacturing verticals -- automotive, computer and electronic, primary metal, food, and machinery -

Rise of AI-Enabled Smart Traffic Management

The demand for smart traffic management systems has grown due to rising urban populations and increasing vehicle ownership. With more people and cars concentrated in cities, problems like traffic congestion, air pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions are pressing issues. Since the early 2000s, government leaders have been exploring ways to leverage advances in IoT connectivity, sensors, artificial intelligence (AI), and data analytics to address these transportation challenges. The concept of a Smart City emerged in the 2010s, with smart mobility and intelligent traffic management as key components.  Smart Traffic Management Market Development Concerns about continued climate change, as well as cost savings from improved traffic flow, have further motivated local government investment in these advanced systems. According to the latest worldwide market study by Juniper Research, they found that by 2028, smart traffic management investment will be up by 75 percent from a 2023 figure of

How GenAI is Transforming the Role of CIO

The introduction of Artificial intelligence (AI), and the emergence of Generative AI  (GenAI), are now resulting in two key focus areas for Chief Information Officers (CIOs) and their IT leadership team. "GenAI is not just a technology or just a business trend. It is a profound shift in how humans and machines interact," said Mary Mesaglio, VP Analyst at Gartner . "We are moving from what machines can do for us to what machines can be for us." AI platforms are evolving rapidly from being our tools to becoming our teammates. Gartner predicts that by 2025, GenAI will be a workforce partner for 90 percent of companies worldwide. CIO Leadership Market Development CIOs have a major role in how they shape AI and how AI shapes us. According to recent Gartner surveys of CEOs, enterprise CIOs are their number one choice to unlock the value of GenAI tools. In fact, CIOs and IT executives will prioritize two areas to unleash the possibility of AI over the next 12-24 months – t