[opendtv] Re: The Stream of Fear: The Real Reason They're Blocking Google TV
- From: Craig Birkmaier <craig@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sat, 13 Nov 2010 08:02:38 -0500
At 5:15 PM -0600 11/12/10, Manfredi, Albert E wrote:
http://lauren.vortex.com/archive/000779.html
The blog is self contradictory.
First, he argues that anyone can put Internet TV on a big screen
without using Google, so that cannot be the reason why congoms don't
like Google TV. Next, he argues that the real problem is the
supposed "equality" that Google would bring to TV content available
on the Internet:
"Google TV terrifies the mainstream industry because, really for the
first time, it demonstrates the positive impact on consumers that
comes with providing essentially equal access both to conventional
television viewing and Internet video."
Somehow Bert always see conflict in the wrong places.
Lauren is exactly right - these statements are NOT in conflict. There
is no logic in why some devices are blocked and others are not. The
end result is exactly the same, regardless of the hardware and
software that is used. The only logical explanation is that the
"Media Empire" is reacting to their fears that replacing "TV GUIDE"
with a search engine is going to level the playing field.
These fears are well founded and have been playing out for more than
two decades.
They are the same fears that caused the congloms to get their backs
up when video compression enabled the transition from the million
dollar edit suites of the '80s to the <$10,000 desktop production
systems that exist today ( not to mention the ability to shoot and
edit HD on a smartphone).
They are the same fears that caused the congloms to get their backs
up when the computer industry suggested a more open path to digital
television, one that would allow for continuous innovation and
convergence as opposed to the isolation and obsolescence that IS the
ATSC standard.
They are the same fears that caused the music congloms to treat their
customers like common criminals rather than adapting to changing
technologies. Far worse, the music industry experience reads like a
road map for the future of video, where the content creators now have
the ability to bypass the old gatekeepers.
The dominant form of search for TV today are the electronic program
guides that are integral to the MVPD services. Even TV guide has
fallen to the wayside, along with the daily TV listings in the
newspapers that are dying. These electronic guides live inside the
REAL walled gardens controlled by the Media Storm Troopers.
If consumers get accustomed to using ANY Internet search engine on
that big screen, their monopolistic advantage is significantly
diminished. It matters not whether the search results take you to a
store operated by Apple for their devices, or to some yet to be
conceived "open platform, such as the All Video (known as AllVid) STB
concept currently being discussed by the FCC.
Inconsistent arguments don't convince. There are many search engines
available out there. If he didn't like the argument that Google TV
would make Internet TV easily available on large screens, because
other ways exist to achieve this, then there's no reason to buy an
argument that assumes Google to be the only search engine in
existence.
Funny. I found his arguments to be both consistent and prescient, if
not convincing.
Bert is correct. Google TV is not the only TV search engine. You can
search for video using Yahoo, BING, Google et al. Google just happens
to be the Luke Skywalker character in this episode of the Future of
TV.
Instead, what would make more sense is what mnost people who use
computers already know. What any search engine places on the first
page of results is what the vast majority of people will use.
Therefore, it makes no sense to say that search engines bring
"equality." They don't. They can easily be used to bias the viewers.
When search engines collude with content owners, people have every
reason to suspect that just this sort of biasing WILL occur. If one
search engine is attempting to monoplize this Internet TV field, the
congloms have reason to be suspicious.
Yes, Google has made a fortune by monetizing "search."
And yes, search engines DO reflect popularity...
Apparently Bert has never heard of Neilsen Ratings or Social networks.
People do look to their peers and to ratings services for opinions.
There's a good reason that You Tube has become so popular and that
some videos go "viral."
Nobody knows how all of this will play out. In all likelihood there
will be multiple successes and failures.
Some folks will migrate to the more controlled environment that Apple
is creating. Some will opt for the openness that Bert is seeking.
We are bombarded with promos on network television today. This week I
read a blog about how annoying those animated promos are that run
simultaneously with the program content on the networks. Perhaps Bert
is offended by these too, but they are certainly no worse that what
happens on Google now. In the future the networks will pay Google and
Bing, et all for those preferred search placements...
Is this any different than buying radio ads to promote TV shows. or
getting you radio news department to run stories about your TV shows?
I seriously doubt that Google is trying to monopolize TV search any
more than Apple is trying to monopolize the PC market. They are
trying to build a business. If they do a good job and consumers use
their service they "may" grab a good share of the market.
At least there IS a market and real competition in the Internet
space. When a company does something right - as Apple has done
recently - it creates new markets and new competitors.
This is something we have not seen in the Media space in for decades...
Regards
Craig
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