Slowly but surely we’re getting more access to TV on our PCs, iPads, and smartphones. But a comment on Dave’s post about the IMG 1.9 release reminded me that for some folks, the fact that FiOS TV service doesn’t let you move content around easily today is still a deal-breaker.
Until Verizon has a way for me to get TV off their box and onto my PC/ pad/ phone- the same way that Tivo does, I will continue to be a Tivo customer.
What most folks don’t know is that Verizon has done an astounding amount of work on its infrastructure in order to enable services that make content more flexible and accessible on different devices. We learned in January that the telecom had overhauled its hybrid QAM/IP system, making it possible to switch over to all-IP broadcasting for live television in addition to VOD and widget services. More recently, however, the company announced its new Verizon Digital Media Services platform, which both transcodes and formats TV for different devices, and handles session management so you can start watching a show in one place, and finish up somewhere else. (See Light Reading’s stellar coverage here and here)
Verizon claims that VDMS is a one-of-a-kind digital delivery utility, and it’s aiming to sell the technology as a service to cable companies for their TV Everywhere services. I have serious doubts about the potential success of that plan, but for Verizon’s own purposes, VDMS appears to give the company everything it needs to take FiOS TV to the next level. You know how the new WatchESPN service lets you watch live ESPN broadcasts on the go? I’m betting Verizon will offer more linear content the same way in the near future to FiOS TV users, along with the option to transition viewing sessions of VOD and recorded content to various gadgets for mobile viewing. This could be a good year to be a FiOS subscriber.
Industry note: Although I’m impressed at how aggressive Verizon has been with its infrastructure in recent years, I would be remiss in not pointing out one major negative to the FiOS expansion plans. As Karl Bode continually reports, Verizon has pulled back substantially on further FiOS roll-outs, and is still stuck on DSL Internet delivery in many places. Improved infrastructure is all well and good, but only for the people who can actually access the services that go with it.
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Yeah, it's a bummer and I'm a bit surprised Verizon is trailing Comcast and Time Warner in live iPad streaming.
Although that comment you refer to was specific to TiVoToGo - in truly being able to offload/archive content for playback later on a variety of devices. It's actually kinda good TiVo isn't more successful because I expect the content providers would have an issue with it... especially since TiVo's encryption scheme has long since been defeated.
"It’s actually kinda good TiVo isn’t more successful because I expect the content providers would have an issue with it… especially since TiVo’s encryption scheme has long since been defeated."
In one sense, sure. Security via obscurity.
But, on the other hand, the encryption scheme for DVD's and Blu-Rays was successfully cracked, as all multicast encryption schemes always are, and the content companies still happily sell as many of those encryption defeated discs as they can.
And TTG material has quite low filesharing value, since the files are too big, compared to mp4, and of lower quality for compression than Blu-Ray. (Not to mention that movies on TTG are windowed to appear after the Blu-Ray release.)
So, while I'm happy in a way that TTG is stuck in a niche, I actually think TTG as we know it might survive quite well out in the sunshine.
And, of course, most of the non-Verizon wireline providers already disable TTG functionality for everything they can under the law, which they do only because most of the non-Verizon wireline providers own content companies. (A practice which ought to be outlawed some day.)
That's the core reason Verizon gives good wire. It's their only priority. They don't own networks or studios.
"I’m a bit surprised Verizon is trailing Comcast and Time Warner in live iPad streaming."
I'm not. It's not Verizon's style.
Let Comcast unleash their lawyers (as they love to) on the content companies, set the accepted legal boundaries, and then Verizon will jump into the game once the legal rules are set. (TW's gameplan on this seems a bit more muddled to me.)
"Although I’m impressed at how aggressive Verizon has been with its infrastructure in recent years, I would be remiss in not pointing out one major negative to the FiOS expansion plans. As Karl Bode continually reports, Verizon has pulled back substantially on further FiOS roll-outs"
They stopped the build-out a year or more ago, no?
Verizon FIOS is like Apple. They're not after market share. They're after profits.
They've laid down the best infrastructure in the most lucrative markets, and now they can just sit back and make some money.
If you want fibre-to-the-home in rural Arkansas, turn to the Federal Government, not Verizon. It ain't a profit-maker.