IPTV - my thoughts

[dvtimes]

I can see IPTV taking off, but I think the UK firm has the problems with getting the boxes out.

In the USA a firm called xtv.com has done a great job of getting its version out. It also provides the boxes.

Yes I know you can watch IPTV on your PC, but the whole point of it, is that you can have it on your TV.

I think I heard that the new IPTV also pick up digital terrestrial TV too, which is a selling point.

I do not think its the end of DVD, far from it. HDDVD will be out soon. But to be honest DVD gives an excellent quality as it is. Most people do not have a huge plasma.

If you can get people to get hold of IPTV set top boxes, then your onto a winner. But if not, its not going to be massive.

[dvtimes]

The USA firm is, http://www.xtv.com/

[Jase]

The simplest challenge it has is the availability of enough bandwidth for the average punter to enjoy watching it - it should be ok in places where LLU is happening and 8MB is available but I live in the middle of Nottingham, less than 1km from the exchange and, despite LLU, can only get 1MB cos the cabling is so old and shite between the exchange and the development I live in.

ADSL-2 will make things better again but I still dont see it killing DVD today or tomorrow no matter what the advocates may say. Look at how long it took for DVD to overtake VHS and digital cameras to overtake traditional film. It will be more of a hit in the States for the same reason that webhosting is such big business over there and why internet use is higher compared to the UK - they can get high amounts of bandwidth cheaply whereas we get shit and pay through the nose for it.

I dont doubt its eventual success but I also dont think its all going to be as simple and problem free as some people claim - oh and as for all the crap I have read about it not being able to be pirated, does anyone wanna put money on it? There hasnt been a single technology launched yet which hasnt been cracked and this will be no exception!!

[xcite-tv]

I can see IPTV taking off, but I think the UK firm has the problems with getting the boxes out.

In the USA a firm called xtv.com has done a great job of getting its version out. It also provides the boxes.

Yes I know you can watch IPTV on your PC, but the whole point of it, is that you can have it on your TV.

I think I heard that the new IPTV also pick up digital terrestrial TV too, which is a selling point.

I do not think its the end of DVD, far from it. HDDVD will be out soon. But to be honest DVD gives an excellent quality as it is. Most people do not have a huge plasma.

If you can get people to get hold of IPTV set top boxes, then your onto a winner. But if not, its not going to be massive.


IPTv has been around for years A company tried a big residential project in UK but the whole package failed and the PLC collapsed..Too many people in it that have no idea on how to build the right business model for it

I imagine that if certain people are trying to get involved as named in other posts then it can only get worse
Maybe the time will be right but its a few years off yet

[dvtimes]

IPTv has been around for years A company tried a big residential project in UK but the whole package failed and the PLC collapsed..Too many people in it that have no idea on how to build the right business model for it

I imagine that if certain people are trying to get involved as named in other posts then it can only get worse
Maybe the time will be right but its a few years off yet

xtv (http://www.xtv.com) said they were going to start pushing the boxes in the UK, as time goes on.

The big problem I see is that once IPTV starts to take off, all that will hapen is that somone such as ITV or Sky will start there own system, as they have millions to invest.

I hope Phil McCavitys firm does well, but I do not think they are big enough to do this.

But its still early days.

It has big problems:
1. You need broadband.
2. You need fast broadband.
3. You need a box.
4. You need to be able to conect the box to broadband (a wire or wifi).

The simple question as a punter is, why would I want it?

How do you convince somone to want it. People are still reluctant to spend £30 for a box, that gets you free terestrial digital channels. With no wire to the phone, no having to pay for mnthly broadband, then a subscription to the on line channels.

From a TV firm, its also an interesting option.

You see, you can buy a channel on say Sky system. OK, if your doing porn its not yet possible to put out hardcore. But you already have millions in the UK with a Sky box. How many have a IPTV box? Probably 5 people if that.

Yes, I know you can use your PC as the box, but then you simply have another form in hih you can download films, and if your doing that, all you need to do is put them on your server.

[videokim]

We think IPTV will take off if it's now or a few years down the line, Jim as worked his nuts off trying to get this off the ground so its up to fellow friends or producers to help him.
His ideas & drive are whats fueling the ones that have agreed to come on board, Sky & the Internet were the same at the start & no one is saying this will work 100% but long term industry workers know as things/formats go out of favour others come into place so we would rather be on board than miss the ship so to speak.
What it is doing is getting the main body of the industry united which in itself is an achievement. Like anything there are people who's noses will be put out of joint if/when it works but this as been happening since porn began in the UK.

Kim

[xcite-tv]

We think IPTV will take off if it's now or a few years down the line, Jim as worked his nuts off trying to get this off the ground so its up to fellow friends or producers to help him.
His ideas & drive are whats fueling the ones that have agreed to come on board, Sky & the Internet were the same at the start & no one is saying this will work 100% but long term industry workers know as things/formats go out of favour others come into place so we would rather be on board than miss the ship so to speak.
What it is doing is getting the main body of the industry united which in itself is an achievement. Like anything there are people who's noses will be put out of joint if/when it works but this as been happening since porn began in the UK.

Kim

We have been involved in the development of IPTV for 4 years with various companies and for various pay-per-view markets....Never heard of JD being the one "to get this of the ground" (if thats what you meant)
There are and were big corporations who dipped their toes in this, BT for example have been looking at this for a few residential and other big installations. but cant decide yet where its going

The adult market has always been a main driver of technology so i dont think people in this business will have their noses put out of joint at all by IPTV.

As for fellow producers, etc getting involved....Lots already are and we have been for a few years...its not really that ground breaking any more.

We have 6 years worth of experience in the pay-per-view markets including IPTV and have masses of research in the business models....
Good luck as your going to be dealing with people who take years not days or even weeks to make decisions
I hope it goes well for you..

[strictlybroadband]

IPTv has been around for years A company tried a big residential project in UK but the whole package failed and the PLC collapsed..Too many people in it that have no idea on how to build the right business model for it

I imagine that if certain people are trying to get involved as named in other posts then it can only get worse
Maybe the time will be right but its a few years off yet

Homechoice do ADSL-based IPTV, and have been around since the last millennium. I think they're finally making some headway, but they've run out of money and been refinanced a couple of times along the way.

[dvtimes]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/4459830.stm

TV delivered over broadband internet connections will become increasingly popular in Europe over the next four years, new research has predicted.
The number of subscribers is set to hit 8.7 million in 2009 - up from 658,000 now - giving operators almost 9.5% of the pay-TV market, Screen Digest said.

The leading enthusiasts in Europe are currently viewers in France and Italy.

But the services have taken longer to catch on in the UK, amid competition from satellite and cable firms.

The report into IPTV (internet protocol TV) looked at standard broadcasts and on-demand programming delivered via broadband on normal telephone lines to TV screens.

Staying competitive

Europe's telecoms firms are looking to both IPTV and broadband to offset falling income from their traditional fixed-line business - offering a so-called "triple-play" service.

The Screen Digest research suggests IPTV is set to pose a significant challenge to established cable and satellite operators, although they too are starting to invest in the area.

The impact of IPTV is predicted to be strongest in France, Italy and Spain where operators would have between a 16% and 20% share of the pay-TV market by 2009.

UK services

London-based Homechoice, which has announced plans to expand beyond the capital, is the UK's leading IPTV service provider.

The market is set to get more crowded next year with new services from BT and other broadband providers.

About 7.5% of pay-TV viewers in the UK could be using IPTV in four years, Screen Digest said.

"Although some technical and content issues have yet to be resolved, the combination of compelling, competitively priced triple-play offers that include true video-on-demand will prove a winning formula," said report author David Schmitt.

"Many traditional pay television providers are finding that they too must adopt IPTV technologies in order to remain competitive."

[Mattyboy]

About 7.5% of pay-TV viewers in the UK could be using IPTV in four years, Screen Digest said.

Thats a small amount of viewers in a long period of time.

[dvtimes]

Thats a small amount of viewers in a long period of time.
In truth, if they get that amount in 4 years I will be impressed.

You see in the UK we have digital TV, the box is £30. That's it. No leads. No more cost.

But with IPTV, you need a FAST broadband. A lead to your phone (unless its WiFi I am not sure people will want to trail a long lead from there phone to TV). Plus have to pay for the channels.

The BIG problem is the boxes. Does your local TV shop sell IPTV boxes. I bet not. And I wonder if they will. Put it this way they get commission from selling Sky Boxes.

In 10 years time maybe it will be a different matter. But unless there are some great channels to make it worth bying a box, its going to struggle to take off.

But in countries where they have not got digital TV, then it will be a different matter.

[Mattyboy]

In truth, if they get that amount in 4 years I will be impressed.

You see in the UK we have digital TV, the box is £30. That's it. No leads. No more cost.

But with IPTV, you need a FAST broadband. A lead to your phone (unless its WiFi I am not sure people will want to trail a long lead from there phone to TV). Plus have to pay for the channels.

The BIG problem is the boxes. Does your local TV shop sell IPTV boxes. I bet not. And I wonder if they will. Put it this way they get commission from selling Sky Boxes.

In 10 years time maybe it will be a different matter. But unless there are some great channels to make it worth bying a box, its going to struggle to take off.

But in countries where they have not got digital TV, then it will be a different matter.


Any idea what these IPTV boxes will cost??

[dvtimes]

Any idea what these IPTV boxes will cost??They could be free, as in subscribe to a channel and get a box free.

I suspect that the boxes will be around £100.

But do the boxes exsist yet. By this I mean, can you walk into your local TV shop and buy them? If not, then its like me selling holiday homes on mars. Great idea, but they do not exsist.

[dvtimes]

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/09/28/bt_iptv/

Looks like BT are going to start there version in 2006.

The question to me is, will the boxes they use let you watch other channels.

[xcite-tv]

Any idea what these IPTV boxes will cost??

The cost to produce these boxes is just a few pounds each

[-HF]

The cost to produce these boxes is just a few pounds each
same counts for ipods, and yet...

[dvtimes]

same counts for ipods, and yet...

And which would you prefer?

I would prefer an iPod.

[-HF]

i see little difference between ipods and Nike.

you could run and walk just as well with any other quality sneaker and save shitloads of cash by not buying Nike. same goes for mp3 players.
in fact i find those seeing the need to sport their white earplug cables a tad pathetic.

[dvtimes]

i see little difference between ipods and Nike.

you could run and walk just as well with any other quality sneaker and save shitloads of cash by not buying Nike. same goes for mp3 players.
in fact i find those seeing the need to sport their white earplug cables a tad pathetic.

Last night on the gadget show they said 85% of all mp3's are iPods.

[-HF]

just cos something is far spread, doesn't mean it's good.