Aug
25
2008

Today’s Contentinople announced that the video/multimedia platform, CONVIVA, received a $20M B Round funding. See the article by Contentinople writer, Ryan Lawler.
According to the article, Conviva received the funding to “target broadcasters and sports leagues that want to broadcast live video on the Internet” with “a brand new and built from the ground up” platform for live web video delivery. This is important news for digital distribution. It demonstrates significant movement in the henceforth slow-to-market aim to make the Internet the central vehicle for complex media access.
Jul
02
2008

Another negotiation between media giants — this time, between Hollywood and a web goliath — will further chip away at the current digital content delivery dividing lines.
According to an article published in today’s “New York Times”, by Media reporter, Brooks Barnes, “Google is experimenting with a new method of distributing original material on the Web, and some Hollywood film financiers are betting millions that the company will succeed.” Episodes of Seth McFarlane’s popular FOX Broadcasting animated series “Family Guy“ will be made available exclusively for online viewing.
Google’s expected distribution method extends beyond exclusivity, to innovation. The NYT article goes on to say that Google’s “AdSense advertising system” — dynamic video banners — will bring Family Guy episodes “to thousands of Web sites that are predetermined to be gathering spots for Mr. MacFarlane’s target audience” as well as on YouTube.
Google’s move is a wise one. Not only does will it utilize the web in new ways to reach new audiences, it will create a revolution in codifying advertising ROI.
I discussed with a wise colleague a couple of years ago what the then pre-Google YouTube would eventually become. He articulated plainly what was already in my mind, “television.” It is now here.