ENDAVO BLOG

Lights, Cameras, OTT Action: A Look Back at Digital Hollywood 2010

By Brent Grablachoff

If OTT were a movie in the making, then Digital Hollywood 2010 in Santa Monica was an all-out cast party. Key players assembled from all over the digital media, entertainment and film spectrum—representing everything from software, hardware and services to actors, freelancers and industry professionals. This was definitely the place to be this week. Friendships were formed, partnerships were made, and businesses learned from each other.  

A group of us attended the event as an exhibitor, and our own CEO Paul D Hamm spoke on a panel about the “Models for Change.” Throughout the conference, change seemed to be a common theme. Almost everyone we spoke to wanted to know what will be next in the digital media space, and how they can capitalize from it.

Some main takeaways from Digital Hollywood:

The fourth screen. We’ve all been talking three screens, and now with the immersion of the iPad, we’ve got another. The iPad has sold 1 million devices in a faster timeframe than Apple’s original iPhone offering. This could pose new opportunities for advertisers and everyone in digital media to find new ways to monetize. 

Mobile still key. As with the last few shows we’ve attended—Streaming Media West, OMMA Video and NAB—speakers emphasized the importance of mobile for businesses. Whether it’s offering content designed for mobile devices, offering mobile-specific advertising campaigns, or developing software or ‘apps,’ the sure thing is that a mobile strategy can be key to growth.

Over-The-Top. People are now embracing the importance of OTT. We’ve been talking OTT for the past 6 months. Now, it seems like most in the market understand the way we consume content, the way content producers make money and the way networks deliver content continues to evolve. Many of the event’s speakers shared our projections for OTT being a commonality among telcos and cable companies in the next 2 to 3 years. This will ultimately give consumers more control over how they view content and where they view it.

Overall, the spotlight was on OTT this week as Digital Hollywood rolled out the red carpet for all things Over-the-Top and multiple screens. So based on the “box office numbers” from this conference, OTT is headed for blockbuster status - coming soon to three (or four) screens near you.

Endavo in Cannes for MIPTV

by Jason Anderson

Ahhh…the French Riviera. Who knew syndicating the planet came with a tan? While some of the Endavo team is in Vegas at the 2010 NAB Show, I’m spreading the word about our Platform at MIPTV in Cannes, France. Not a bad gig, huh?

 

This show is all about the TV, film, digital and audiovisual industries—from production to distribution. And it gives the industry a glimpse of the future on a global scale. I mean, we’re talking 13,000 entertainment professionals here from more than 100 countries.

 

So what does the future look like?

 

Pay-as-you-go productions are up and coming, while the glory days of paying big upfront costs are fading. Syndication seems to be a big plus here—as the relationship among producers, distributors and their fans evolves at lightning speed.

 

Getting to know your audience is going to take on a greater role. This will enable you to quickly determine your revenue base and thus production budgets and distribution models.

 

QoS is still big...but pay bigger. At these shows we used to hear: Will new Internet TV platforms deliver TV-quality viewing experiences? Answer: They can. Now, the questions seem to revolve around how to get paid and who’s going to pay for it. Luckily, 2010 will be the year that the terms of trade between producers and distributors will be worked out, and that means adding up more dollar signs.

 

More people will have access to broadband Internet on mobile phones than any other kind of device. Translation: Endavo’s fully-integrated mobile offerings will be huge for telcos and broadcasters.

 

I’m here for another few days…soaking up all the information (and a few rays). So far, it looks like a money-maker future for content producer.

Day 1: Exhibiting at the 2010 NAB Show

Wow. What a difference a year makes. Last year, we spent some time educating those who stopped by our booth, but this year’s 2010 National Association of Broadcasters Show is all business. Content producers, aggregators, and broadcasters talking with us have certainly embraced OTT video and are now in “solution” mode. “How does your platform support my business model? How scalable is your service? How can I leverage your global telco tv partners?” Clearly, they have done their homework and we are excited about the opportunity to help them take their business to the next level by offering enhanced video services to their customers.

And to further help promote our OTT video services capabilities, we’ve taken our website to the next level. So if you don’t get a chance to stop by our Broadband Innovations Booth SU9506U, (check out the photo below), you can always catch up on the latest from Endavo at our newly renovated site: http://endavomedia.com/. And stay tuned for more; we have a feeling this is going to be an exciting show for the industry.

Day 2: IPTV World Forum Buzz

Day 2 has now come to a close at the IPTV World Forum 2010 in London. And we were somehow able to snap a photo of our CTO Scott Bell sitting down—the first time all day.

Scott and CEO Paul Hamm spent the day demonstrating the integration of our media management system with AirTies hybrid set-top-box. It offers telcos, content producers and broadcasters the power of OTT videos services, and there is plenty of “buzz” about OTT at the booth.

• Visitors are already sold on the business potential of OTT video services. They’re focused on finding the best solution, one that integrates all the pieces of the equation, and Endavo/AirTies is an example of how it all comes together.
• They like the fact that Endavo/AirTies offers access to content already packaged and ready. They need content, beyond IPTV, and they want an easy way to acquire, manage, deliver and monetize it.
• AirTies users note its UI speed and ease of use, and they certainly like the integrated home networking and wireless access capabilities when it comes to their OTT set-top box offerings.
• Overall, flexibility, ease of deployment, ease of use (consumer QoE), and access to content/services beyond IPTV are major factors being cited as important to operators evaluating OTT solutions.

Now that the day is over, we finally get a chance to truly sit back, relax and watch some OTT-TV. Until tomorrow…

Day 1: Going Over-The-Top at IPTV World Forum

Day 1 is over at the IPTV World Forum in London and we’re off to a great start. We’ve teamed up with wireless networking vendor AirTies this week to showcase our solution for over-the-top (OTT) video services. The world of online video is changing—and we’re right in the thick of this evolution of technology and entertainment. Talk about exciting times.

It’s been non-stop for our CEO Paul Hamm, pictured below with AirTies CEO Bulent Celebi. Paul’s been meeting with content producers, broadcasters, telcos and other industry representatives and sharing new ways to reach more people, in more places, with more ways to monetize by offering OTT video services. Throughout the day, people from around the world have been viewing the AirTies hybrid demo of OTT and digital video broadcasting (dvb-t) supported by our Endavo Media Management System. I think it’s safe to say, OTT is going global.

So syndicating the planet…here we come (that is, right after we grab some fish 'n' chips).

 

IPTV World Forum 3-Day Experience

Day 1: Going Over-The-Top at IPTV World Forum

03/24/2010- Day 1 is over at the IPTV World Forum in London and we’re off to a great start. We’ve teamed up with wireless networking vendor AirTies this week to showcase our solution for over-the-top (OTT) video services. The world of online video is changing—and we’re right in the thick of this evolution of technology and entertainment. Talk about exciting times.

It’s been non-stop for our CEO Paul Hamm, pictured with AirTies CEO Bulent Celebi. Paul’s been meeting with content producers, broadcasters, telcos and other industry representatives and sharing new ways to reach more people, in more places, with more ways to monetize by offering OTT video services. Throughout the day, people from around the world have been viewing the AirTies hybrid demo of OTT and digital video broadcasting (dvb-t) supported by our Endavo Media Management System. I think it’s safe to say, OTT is going global.

So syndicating the planet…here we come (that is, right after we grab some fish 'n' chips).

 Day 2: IPTV World Forum Buzz

03/25/2010- Day 2 has now come to a close at the IPTV World Forum 2010 in London. And we were somehow able to snap a photo of our CTO Scott Bell sitting down—the first time all day. 

Scott and CEO Paul Hamm spent the day demonstrating the integration of our media management system with AirTies hybrid set-top-box. It offers telcos, content producers and broadcasters the power of OTT videos services, and there is plenty of “buzz” about OTT at the booth.

• Visitors are already sold on the business potential of OTT video services. They’re focused on finding the best solution, one that integrates all the pieces of the equation, and Endavo/AirTies is an example of how it all comes together. 
• They like the fact that Endavo/AirTies offers access to content already packaged and ready. They need content, beyond IPTV, and they want an easy way to acquire, manage, deliver and monetize it.
• AirTies users note its UI speed and ease of use, and they certainly like the integrated home networking and wireless access capabilities when it comes to their OTT set-top box offerings. 
• Overall, flexibility, ease of deployment, ease of use (consumer QoE), and access to content/services beyond IPTV are major factors being cited as important to operators evaluating OTT solutions.

Now that the day is over, we finally get a chance to truly sit back, relax and watch some OTT-TV. Until tomorrow…

Day 3: An Over-The-Top Overview at IPTV World Forum 2010

03/26/2010- IPTV World Forum 2010 has come to a close and while we make our way back across the Atlantic, we leave knowing that the OTT video revolution is in full swing around the globe.

It was no surprise that most everyone at the show “gets” OTT. But the market is still struggling to marry up IPTV with OTT to create business and delivery models that make sense, and then figure out where they play in the new converged world. As we demonstrated with AirTies, the trend is toward hybrid OTT and IPTV. One thing is for certain, however. Everyone needs content AND a platform. So while the market understands that the OTT/hybrid delivery model is there, a big concern is getting content into it. This of course is good news for Endavo as it is core to our solution. In fact, when Massimo Marinelli from UBS Investment was asked where he’d invest $100 million in the media services arena, he said content distribution platforms.

Another big take away from the Forum was the desire for an iPhone-like consumer experience on the TV. In order for the Internet to truly make its way into the TV realm, there needs to be more widgets, apps and sites designed specifically for IPTV. For telcos, they have an advantage in this because they own the pipes to manage OTT/hybrid service delivery to deliver a better quality user experience. In fact, SoftAtHome, which Endavo demonstrated with on the Etisalat booth during the Gitex event, is already doing this. The company showcased a new version of its application that has more of an iPhone-like experience. SoftAtHome is saying, “instead of trying to build services around the current TV experience, we need to build a new experience on the TV (like the iPhone) that happens to include TV.”

Three-screen is still hot—as it gives operators an opportunity to increase user base, activity and average revenue per user (ARPU). And while the best ways to monetize content are still being debated, paid is winning out over ad based as the preferred model. Free content is being replaced with a freemium model, which offers a mix of free services with intent to up-sell to premium services.

While OTT is still defining itself as a market, the keys to success are apparent: Quality content, interactive features and the ability to watch anywhere, at any time, and on multiple screens. Sounds like a job for Endavo…as we continue our mission to syndicate the planet.

OTTCon 2010: Go Over-The-Top!

By Brent Grablachoff

Early this February, I packed my bags and headed to San Jose, California, for OTTCon 2010. These days, everyone is trying to figure out where the Internet TV revolution is headed. Many folks were looking for a simple answer to the big question, “What is the role of OTT in the rapidly-changing world of TV,” while others wanted to know, "What device will emerge as the "entertainment box of choice? ...or is a box even the best solution?”

Speakers and industry pundits at the conference discussed their view of Over-The-Top and how they envision Internet TV being delivered. Although the majority of presenters had great solutions for certain pieces of the puzzle, no single company really offered a full end-to-end turn-key solution.

Some of the major topics of interest at the conference were:

• The emergence of Blu-ray players as a preferred OTT delivery solution
• Quality of Service (QoS) and how network service providers (telcos and MSOs) can guarantee a superb user experience over a managed network
• Best-efforts Internet vs. delivering your content through a predictable medium
• TV Everywhere and the ability to distribute video content to PC, TV and mobile devices

Some of the major concerns and areas of opportunity that were commonly shared among network service providers were:

• Monetizing video content remains a key focus
• Providers want their content delivered to as many subscriber devices as possible
• Ability to deliver HD or better quality content with no buffering, e.g. Smooth Streaming, Adaptive Streaming
• Improving the end user’s experience
• Giving their subscribers more options and flexibility
• Controlled distribution of content via authenticated devices

Consumer expectations are already being set with initiatives like TV Everywhere, and although the technology already exists to broadcast to multiple devices, the total experience must first be integrated and seamless. Ultimately, the end user should be able to casually turn on their linear TV channel, or browse through a VOD library from various content sources, without any drop in the experience. If you’re away on vacation or out on business with your laptop, you should be able to enjoy your video content wherever you are, with TV, netbook or mobile phone. It takes something like enhanced OTT video services, which combine the benefits of managed network delivery of IPTV with the interactivity of the Internet to address this opportunity. Ideally, your audience should be able to watch their TV channels and VOD content anywhere, anyplace, anytime, on any device…delivered with sufficient QoS to meet their expectations.

With new technology comes a new set of questions and concerns, but the age-old success formula remains the same -- listen to your customers, give them the experience that they want, and you’ll be providing real value as a business. It's a real win-win situation…if you can deliver.

Hey, anyone else attend OTTCon this year? Have something to say or want to share your experiences? Just send me an email.

Takeaways From Streaming Media West & Online Video Platform Summit ’09: Part 2

By Brent Grablachoff

Last week I shared a few key insights gleaned from attending the recent Streaming Media West and Online Video Platform Summit ’09. I wrote on 3-Screen Delivery and Mobile Video Delivery. Today, I will be concluding with Paid/Premium Content, Detailed Video Analytics and Live Streaming.

Live Streaming

Most visitors to our Endavo booth were overwhelmingly interested in streaming live video. I'm watching as live streaming gradually becomes a higher priority. These days, we live in a world where people want to see real events, right NOW. The demand and need for Video on Demand (VOD) cannot be ignored.

Paid/Premium Content

Because businesses are in the business of making money, many are starting to notice ways to monetize their online video content, too. This question is on everyone's mind, "Why create a Web site offering high-quality and premium video content, if we're just going to give it away for free?" That’s why conference attendees were asking us about video monetization models, and if Pay-Per-View offers a better ROI over Subscription or Membership models.

While there is no universally accepted single “best” online video monetization model, there are multiple ways available that will offer an effective combination of revenue generating tools for your business. We feel it’s crucial that each businesses assess and decide what’s important to their audiences – then apply a monetization model that best achieves their specific business objectives.

Detailed Video Analytics

Without a goal or plan, your business is like a ship without a sail. Because it’s important to track and measure results, I was especially interested in the conference’s discussion on ‘Analytics & Measurements’. At Endavo, we believe creating deeper analytics will become more of a development priority in the digital media revolution. Metrics such as total videos views, most watched videos, and what’s generating buzz are helpful, but you should demand more. The Streaming Media West panel predicted in 2010 we’ll see more detailed analytics, such as: How long did the user view the video? Did they skip through the ads? Did they watch the video in its entirety? Where did they drop off?

Also, as discussed, we’ll see more proven tracking methods for geographical drill-downs and metrics showing video viewership on a global, country, state and city-wide radius. While overall online video technology continues to evolve, we believe the capability to dive deeper into online video viewership dynamics will help companies realize better ROI, monitor and track marketing and sales goals, and appreciate the contribution of online video to their business mix.

Conclusion

Online video has come a long way the past 5 years – but we have an even longer way to go in the next two. Technology continues to evolve, new companies are launching every day ... and best practices continue to be implemented.

I admit that I can get wrapped up in the capabilities of online video, and the myriad of services offered ... and why our platform is so great. But it’s important to not get too focused on the array of technical services available throughout digital media. You should instead do your research, stay up to date as best as you can and ultimately find solutions that solve problems and make sense for your business.

And most importantly, develop a solution that provides your audience an opportunity to engage, interact and consume ... and keep giving them reasons to come back for more.

Takeaways From Streaming Media West & Online Video Platform Summit ’09: Part 1

By Brent Grablachoff

Many here at Endavo Media recently attended Streaming Media West and Online Video Platform Summit ’09, a three-day conference rich with live demonstrations, expert speakers and business-building opportunities for professional video content producers, video technology companies and online video platform providers. I spoke with countless industry experts, providers, producers, and attendees, all of which helped confirm problems the online video industry is experiencing, and the need for solutions for future digital media delivery systems.

Because there is so much conference information to share, I’m providing the first of a two-part blog post in hopes to educate and inform you of the latest happenings in our digital world. Today I’m writing on 3-Screen Delivery and Mobile Video Delivery. Next week I’ll conclude with Paid/Premium Content, Detailed Video Analytics and Live Streaming.

3-Screen Delivery (PC/Mobile/IPTV)

Mobile delivery was the most widely discussed topic with 3-Screen Delivery not far behind. Three-Screen Delivery is simply another way to describe the ability to publish digital media to the computer, mobile phone and TV. While interest in IPTV was somewhat tempered, many telecommunications companies with whom I spoke was touting set-top box and its importance in the future of online video delivery.

Most experts believe telecommunications providers, cable companies, and global broadcasting companies will be offering “TV Everywhere” by 2013.

Mobile Video Delivery

Being a sports nut and former college football player, there have been countless sporting events I missed because I was away from a TV or Computer, or my cable company wasn’t airing that particular game. Rejoice! I no longer have to worry about that.

Today we can simply enter the mobile URL of your favorite sports video Web site and catch the game live or on-demand from a mobile phone. No doubt mobile video delivery has arrived and is capturing tons of viewership!

While most conference exhibitors seemed focused on standard video delivery to Web sites, we saw heavy interest in vendors promoting mobile video delivery. Content producers were seeking an easy and effective solution to distribute content to mobile phones. Also, there was considerable talk about piracy and illegal downloads of content—that’s always a concern of video content producers. But rest assured, there are measures for distributing content safely without limiting its global reach.

Based on feedback and interactions at the Endavo Media booth, and discussions with others at the conference, I believe mobile video delivery will be the HOT TOPIC in the online video world for at least the next six months. 

Be Prepared to Set Sail with Mobile Video Opportunity

According to data from Nielsen Online, visits to web sites from mobile devices grew 34 percent during July 2008 to 2009. What’s more, the growth is spreading beyond the typical early-adopting age bracket of 18- to 34-year-olds. Youths and seniors experienced a surge in growth, according to an article by ClickZ last month. In fact, users over 65 years old saw a remarkable 67 percent growth (although the base amount started off very low).

So, where are you with your strategy to move beyond your online video platform to embrace the opportunity with mobile delivery? Even if you don't think your content or customers would be a perfect fit for mobile just yet, the mobile user population is growing and should be given serious consideration in your strategy.

The evidence of recent mobile video trends were clearly shown at Streaming Media West and the Online Video Platform Summit in San Jose last week with many demonstrations focused on delivering content to the mobile screen. (On top of this, the number of broadband-enabled devices continues to grow with what feels like everyone getting into the game with their own set-top box. Hey, even Flip may be entering into the space.)

But before you go jumping headfirst into the deep end of the “mobile pool,” you’ll want to carefully wade in with a solid strategy for extending your brand and content to each screen. It’s too easy to get caught up in the latest wave of features, specs and codecs being tossed around as if the technology alone is the solution. Your business goals need to be front and center when defining the requirements you seek for your mobile video solution.

Technology needs to be supportive, not the driver, of your strategy for packaging, promoting, delivering and monetizing mobile content for your customers. This approach will help keep you afloat as you begin crafting your mobile video strategy.