The Web: Internet TV ready for prime time

United Press International ^ | March 9, 2005 | Gene Koprowski

[kerrywearsbotox]

CHICAGO, March 9 (UPI) -- Newton Minnow once famously called television a "vast wasteland." Referring to the mix of action-adventure programming, situation comedies, variety shows, quiz shows and cheap movies, Minnow, who at the time was chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, also told TV executives he was not convinced that viewers' "taste is as low as some of you assume."One rightly wonders what Minnow, who was speaking of the nascent TV business in 1961, would think of the fare being offered by today's Internet protocol television, also known as IPTV. A flurry of deals in the past two months suggests that major phone and cable TV companies are taking IPTV seriously and are promising new services, much in the same way they embraced Internet telephony a year or so ago. The problem for viewers, however, is most programming from regular TV and cable is not available on IPTV and, in many cases, the new medium offers only cheap adult entertainment. Despite the dearth of content -- a new wasteland, Minnow might say -- executives told UPI's The Web that IPTV is getting ready for prime time, whether anyone wants it or not."There is a lot of noise in the marketplace," said Kenny Van Zant, executive vice president of marketing at Motive Inc. in Austin, Texas, a firm that works with IPTV networks. "Vendors are clamoring to get into this space. The time is right. The technology is viable. Now is the time to get going with trials -- and that's happening in Europe, the United States and Asia."

[kerrywearsbotox]

A story about the development of Internet TV.

[Truth29]

Is this a device for TV type broadcasts over the Internet or something else There is already a system for Internet, computer terminal like, access on TV's - MSM TV (AKA WebTV).

[JoJo Gunn]

MINOW is the correct spelling.

"Minnow" is the boat on Gilligan's Island, named in Minow's "honor".

[JoJo Gunn]

bump

[ShadowAce]

Tech Ping!

[Sprite518]

Yes this is why BellSouth will be turning up their DSL from 3.0 Mega bits per second to 6 Mega Bits per second. So now they will have DSL light with 750 Mega Bits a second, DSL regular with 1.5 Mega Bits, DSL Extreme 3.0 Mega Bits, and IPTV with 6.0 Mega Bits. It should launch in 2006, but probably will not be mainstream for at least 5 more years. Say goodbye to the Cooper lines, and hello to Voice over IP.

[Alia]

bump

[KevinDavis]

and more layoff notices from Willie Green.

[Jay Howard Smith]

A story about the development of Internet TV

I spent 8 years on MsnTv (originally WebTv). Best thing I ever saw. Sit back in my recliner in front of my 52 incher w/my remote keyboard.....watching FoxNews while Emailing, Instant Messaging and general Web Surfing all simultaneously. Not aware of anything over here (S.Korea) like it. Sure do miss it..!

[herewego]

Internet TV has been pretty cool- nothing on the regular 250 cable channels- but 24/7 of Penn & Teller Bullsh*t corrupting most of the liberal mindset.
It's been great, the recycling show was hilarious!