Cable Choice

Create Your Own Channel Lineup

“Imagine a day when you would be in total control of creating your own TV channel lineup.”  Sounds like something Bob or I would write. But its from a must read article on CNET today discussing how programmers are creating content exclusively for broadband delivery. We noted last week about the MotherLoad, Comedy Central’s broadband channel. As true broadband becomes more and more available, programmers will offer more and more content. And consumers will be able to choose what they watch, when they want to watch.

Broadband Optimized Television Channel

Comedy Central, the popular cable TV channel is developing a channel specifically for broadband Internet viewing called The MotherLoad (via CNET, Chris Pirillo, Broadband Reports).  This is a very exciting development because it is indicative of where the future of broadband is headed.  The MotherLoad will operate like a regular TV channel with 5 channels of content offering essentially video-on-demand.    This gives the view more control than what a regular TV network delivers, or rather pushes at a viewer.  And this is all possible with broadband. 

This is the beginning of new and innovative, consumer-friendly applications utilizing broadband.  The future will continue to surprise us.  What do you think will be possible with true broadband down the road?  What do you want to see become reality?  Make a video of your vision and enter the “What True Broadband Means to Me” contest.  You could win one of two iPod Video players.

Consumer Choice Spreading in Texas

Several outlets are reporting on the Texas PUC's recent grant of cable franchises under the new state law that eliminates the town-by-town process and replaces it with a statewide application.  The most recent is an approval for Verizon to provide video service in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area.  What's the result?  Companies competing for consumers' business.  In Keller, TX, the cable operator slashed prices nearly 50% when a major competitor began offering service.  Consumers in Texas are on the forefront of a new era where they have the power to choose and control what they watch.

IPTV Improves the Consumer Experience

ExtremeTech writes today about the progression of technology that has improved the consumer experience. The broad reach of radio broadcasting, the portability of the Sony Walkman (with the iPod Video the zenith of this trend) have revolutionized how consumers utilized new technologies. IPTV promises to be the next in pattern:

The technologies surrounding Internet Protocol (IP)-based video, or IPTV, promise to similarly transform how we interact with both live and recorded video. IP's impact overall will be greatest on the consumer experience, making video as portable, customizable, and usable as the iPod has done for recorded music.

IPTV will have a remarkable transformative effect on how video is produced, who produces it, what a consumer wants to watch and how they watch it. Control shifts away from a few powerful broadcast interests and into the hands of the consumer. Now that’s revolutionary.

iPod Video the Focus of Convergence?

Click Z Experts mention the idea that convergence is now coming into focus and is no longer an abstract dream of some magical technology in one’s home that could surf the net and watch TV on one device.  It’s nice to note that C4CC is not the only voice out there trumpeting the arrival of the future.  Click Z has a marketing angle on the subject, but its clear that devices like the iPod with video are the beginning of a new era in video technology.  True broadband networks will enable consumers to access programming in the form that the consumer chooses, whether its on an iPod, in their living room or on their computer (or cell phone).

Rep. Blackburn Leads on Video Choice

I want to take a moment to thank Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn (TN) for her leadership on clearing the bureaucratic hurdles keeping consumers from enjoying the benefits of true cable competition.  Her bill in Congress, the Video Choice Act of 2005, has garnered 36 co-sponsors and is driving the debate in the House of Representatives.  Rep. Blackburn spoke today at the Consumers for Cable Choice/National Consumers’ League consumer forum where she highlighted the consumer benefits brought by reforming the antiquated franchise laws.  C4CC continues to support Rep. Blackburn and her lead co-sponsor Congressman Albert Wynn (MD) and encourage you speak to your member of Congress to let them know that cable competition is important you.

First Glimpses of the Future of Cable

CNET, the widely read tech website, has a piece on IPTV delivered over fiber cables and what consumers will be able to do with it. It has a very “home of the future” feel to it and new consumer experiences that aren’t available over current cable networks:

The main benefit of IP is that it will allow TV viewers to interact with television programming in ways they've never been able to before. Not only does this mean allowing people to watch what they want when they want, but it also means enabling them to access more and different kinds of content while they're watching TV.

Another thing the article points out is that it’s only available in a handful of cities. Policymakers can change this – and we need your help. Outdated laws are stifling the deployment of real competition in cable. Deployment of new networks put the consumer in control of the marketplace. In order for this to happen, we need national policies in place for these new networks to flourish and put the consumer in the driver’s seat.

How To Create Your Own Videos

Lifehacker has a how-to on making videos for your iPod Video player. And good news is, we’ve extended the deadline to submit videos for the “What True Broadband Means to Me” contest and offering 2 iPod Video players to the top two videos.

So tell us your vision. We need your help to educate policymakers that the future of technology is at stake. What does a true broadband future look like to you?

Apple Announces Video iPod

Since announcing our "What true broadband means to me" video contest on September 6th we received some feedbacks from skeptics - not because of the contest rules, but because of the not-yet-released prize.  Well all that is over.  Today, Apple announced that it is releasing a video iPod.

Blogs like ALT1040, the iPod Observer, iHeartApple and a burst of light thought we had the “inside scoop” because we've been offering a free Apple Video iPod.  Others including The Unofficial Apple Blog and Digital Tech Life, questioned whether our contest is legitimate or just a big hoax. 

C4CC is about the future.  The question is when will the future arrive where we can use all these neat gadgets and true broadband to help change our world.  We're extending the deadline to November 2nd in order to give all the recent skeptics a chance to create their video.  Also, we're going to give away an Apple video iPod to the top TWO best contestants because Apple did such a great job of keeping the price low.  The official rules will be updated shortly.

We hope that people are interested in the contest, not just for the prize, but for the bigger picture - to push legislature allowing compeition in the cable market.  Help us show Congress what consumers want.  Submit your video showing us what you would do with true broadband and you could win an Apple Video iPod. 

As stated in our blog entry from September 7th:

We know that consumers should not be content with the choice of programming that cable companies provide and the so called "high speed" of cable modems and DSL. We also know that convergence is coming - the lines between the Internet and TV are disappearing. Bloggers imaginations about the future has a way of becoming reality.

Current TV Giving Voice to the Viewer

You don’t need to care about politics or be up on the latest candidate speeches to appreciate Current TV, the new network launched by former-vice president Al Gore. Current TV relies on viewer created content for much of its programming. It is by far the biggest effort yet, at least financially, to diversify the source of content that primarily comes from large production companies and the major television networks. Broadband has aided this move making it possible for individuals who create original content to upload submissions to Current TV which would not be so easy under the old way of sending in video tapes through the mail.

Current TV also gives viewers new a new choice for content. Competition in the cable market is allowing a greater diversity of programming. Add in IPTV capabilities and the capacity of fiber networks and the consumer truly is in control of their tv.

Further evidence of how beneficial competition is to consumers, just read this piece about how prices have fallen and the service offerings are improving.