On Tuesday we pointed to Om Malik’s commentary on the web TV battle between IPTV and broadband TV (or TV over IP). Corporations like Microsoft are investing a lot of money in technologies behind IPTV such as new fibre glass networks to deliver an interactive TV like experience. Meanwhile, Malik argued, video over broadband (the stuff we all generally watch on the computer) is flourishing with concerted efforts by content providers like MTV with their MTV U Uber broadband show.
Analysis by Russ Taylor on the Digital Lifestyle’s site suggests to us that the new version of iTunes will accelerate broadband TV’s appeal. iTunes 6 allows users to buy and download music videos and, in the US, TV shows. Why would you get a specilaized service, when the web offers a similar and, probably, near free service?
Taylor adds his concern that regulators are drawing up plans for IPTV that ignore the market shift towards broadband TV:
"Broadband, broadband,broadband. The number one priority for
policy-makers should be to get faster, cheaper broadband to more areas
of the country. With these types of services and free PC-to-PC VoIP, is
there any policy goal more important than broadband if you really have
the interests of consumers at heart?
Public service broadcasters (PSB) in Europe beware.
The ‘quality and universality’ arguments you’ve made over the years to
avoid true competition are about to be seriously put to the test."
OK,ok. So it’s early days yet… but iTunes 6 is something to watch with special interest, PSFK thinks.
Digital Life Article
PSFK Article On Web TV: IPTV Or TV Over IP?
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