ENDAVO BLOG

OTTCon East: Timing and Trends

By Shaun Pope

OTTCon East was buzzing with energy and excitement last week. The show was brimming with OTT innovators and vendors, as well as telcos, content producers and broadcasters—all searching for answers to some of the industry’s biggest questions.

So what were they saying? Here’s a look at some of the top points of discussion:

Timing (Connected TV). There was a lot of debate on when all this OTT content and interactive TV technology would actually become commercially available to the consumer in a seamless home-viewing experience.

Some said it would be 5 to 8 years, while others argued it’s already here. From my point of view, the “here now” crowd is really saying the technology is available now, but the market and the service providers that control it are moving at a slower pace. Question is: How long can incumbent SP’s hold back the flood?

Consumers. Many are betting on the next wave of consumers. It was interesting to hear several speakers talk about “cord cutters” almost as if they needed to reassure themselves that the trend is real. Unfortunately, it’s not (at the moment, see: http://shar.es/miuNY).

Point being, many in the space are making wide, generalized assumptions on both market trends and shifts in consumer behavior (e.g., some making the point that the expectations and content consumption habits of the 18-24 crowd will eventually lead to explosive adoption of pure OTT video services as those consumers move into adulthood).

I’m not saying they’re wrong—just pointing out that many are stating it as fact when it’s actually only prediction.

Google TV. With the recent announcement of the Google/Sony/DISH/Intel (aka Google TV) solution, many were asking if this was a positive or negative development in the OTT space. Will Google dominate the market, or will it accelerate it to the benefit of multiple OTT players?

From the show, however, one thing is clear. The time is now for telcos, content producers and broadcasters to forge the right alliances and go for that long-term win.

OTTCon East: Observations and Opportunities

By Ryan Busing

OTTCon East may be over, but let me tell you -- after a busy couple of days of our team presenting and demonstrating at the show, everything OTT is just getting underway.

The industry’s top performers and innovators filled the Atlanta Capitol Conference Center this week, sharing their views of multiple screens, content discovery and hybrid IPTV/OTT TV. The fact is, television is changing quickly, including how people view it, all thanks to OTT.

Channel Surfing. As OTT video begins to work its way into the screens of consumers, content discovery will need to evolve as TV lineups go from hundreds of channels to potentially thousands. Just as we’ve seen the old TV Guide evolve first into electronic and now interactive program guides, future “OTT Program Guides” will need to develop new features.

Soon, users will be able to view seamlessly between broadcast and broadband content, as well as discover broadband content and advance metadata search capabilities—all while watching TV. Consumers, when faced with this unlimited programming, will expect (and rely) on discovery and recommendation processes—providing ease-of-use in building personalized viewing options.

Hybrid IPTV/OTT TV. While many of the technical aspects of the hybrid IPTV/OTT TV model are being addressed, delivering content to three screens (outside of traditional managed TV networks) raises issues for content producers and service providers beyond just the platform integration.

The advent of OTT presents multiple opportunities for content providers to consider as part of their business strategy. Should they deliver their content directly to consumers? Strike deals with service providers with their own OTT solution? Integrate content with one or a number of consumer electronics companies with OTT devices? Most likely, the answer is all or some combination of these or even others still yet to be defined.  And of course, there are many related issues such as how to preserve brand quality, control the experience of the audience, protect content from being pirated and determine the best combination of monetization services across multiple devices.

To this end, many vendors are concentrating on one aspect of the value chain and expecting the service providers to pull all the pieces together for delivery to the consumers. Finding an end-to-end technology that has a complete solution, including content management, monetization, multi-screen distribution, all wrapped with the capability to deliver a quality user experience, is a must for any successful OTT video services solution for anyone delivering OTT Video services to their customers. And if OTTCon East is any indication, the level of interest in the emerging OTT opportunity is growing fast. 

Savvy Content Providers Generating New Cash with Over-the-Top Offerings

By Jason Anderson

My recent trips to industry trade shows and events have revealed a trend. Looks like most content distributors and broadcasters are still reluctant to start syndicating their content beyond the TV. In entertainment biz lingo, producers are afraid they’re stepping over broadcast dollars to grab digital dimes. However, a few content providers aren’t just dipping their toes in the cross-platform waters. These smart folks are diving head-over-heels into a sea of new revenue by pushing content “over the top” to paying viewers on any screen. The Weather Channel and Dori Media are two examples that come to mind.

This week, The Weather Channel settled its long-running dispute with Dish Network over carriage fees and revealed plans to deliver a bevy of new offerings for subscribers online and though mobile devices.  Dish Network Programming VP Dave Shull stated, “This agreement recognizes the importance of cross-platform video delivery, ensuring that our subscribers will have the most detailed local weather information available at their fingertips anytime, anywhere.”

On the distributor front, Dori Media is well on its way to bringing in digital cash to supplement its broadcast success.  On the heels of digital telenovela Amanda O, Dori will soon launch a subscription-based video on demand platform aimed at U.S. Hispanic audiences and viewers throughout Latin America. By branching out and distributing their content to more screens, Dori is able to generate new revenue and build distributor brand identity. Ah, the joys of multi-screen syndication!

I understand how difficult it can be to step out of a comfort zone, but TV-only syndication is quickly becoming a thing of the past. And, as more viewers start turning off their TVs and turning on their mobile devices and PCs, they expect the content to follow. It’s time to embrace change and offer cross-platform, over-the-top syndication directly to viewers, on all screens.

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

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…

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.