With Netflix Deal, XBox Prepares to Own Your TV
July 15, 2008
This week’s announcement that XBox would stream movies from Netflix was a significant step in Microsoft’s bid to own the digital living subscription and, potentially, marketing dollars. In the Netflix deal, Microsoft got more than a movie partner, they got a brand. For consumers that have trouble seeing the XBox as a movie box, the Netflix association should help quite a bit.
Is Google Old News? XBox, PS3 and Others Prepare to Leapfrog Search
July 8, 2008
Google dominates search on the PC screen, is making a play to dominate no the mobile screen but so far has shown little momentum on the screen that delivers, and will probably continue to deliver, big advertising revenue - the television screen.
Why?
- Ads still look best on television and they will become as interactive as online advertising. IPTV and interactive TV platforms will allow increased targeted and clicks and purchases right from the couch (couch potato purchases).
- People want TV. Remote clicking couch potatoes don’t want to become desk potatoes but they do watch Hulu when that’s the only way to get TV on demand (and we are in a when-we-want-it era). As online video become increasingly accessible through the TV (fast, high quality, TV interface etc), many web video hours will revert to TV watching hours.
- Your set top box will increase it’s share of Web features and technology while retaining that couch potato optimized TV interface and remote control controllability.
For an example of where we are heading, just plug in an XBox and you can download a variety of HD content for television watching using a remote control. Plug in a Sony Playstation 3 (or Nintendo Wii) and you can watch video through Web video sites using your remote control for the console. I particularly like the PS3 video in a Web browser experience as it shows the equivalent of unlimited TV on demand. From a media perspective, it’s the equivalent of being able to launch unlimited video channels just as you would as Web page (since it’s all Web technology designed for the bigger screen).
Now, in addition to the XBox 360’s and PS3’s (to be launched) video download stores, there are rumors of Netflix (and a few wishful rumors about Hulu) being made available through these consoles.
Now add in a video advertising network to these platforms and you have a whole new world of television media. Instead of watching a Netflix movie on a pay per view basis, you can watch a free one with commercials or in-video ads (which you can click on to purchase goods or get more information.
In the end, consumers, entertainers (would you rather be a TV star on a 17 inch screen or a 62 inch screen), media companies, brands and advertisers all are big fans of television. When they can combine TV screen size with Web type interactivity, choice and features, the hype momentum and dollars will likely swing back to focusing on the large screen. Set top box makers, cable and IPTV companies and the video game console makers are planning for that day.
What is Sony thinking with Qore?
June 8, 2008
When Sony announced the first original video series for the Playstation 3, the first reaction from a lot of people was “what the….” Why would anyone pay a few dollars per episode for what is essentially a video that markets Playstation 3 content? Yes, it takes you behind the scenes. But is that worth money? However, there may be a method to their madness.
