GoogleTV generated buzz at CES this year, which should not be surprising given the market clout of Google and the rework needed to the tarnished image of GoogleTV. Most of us will agree that GoogleTV has failed to perform. Personally,
Category Archives: Commentary
January 22, 2012 by Sam Vasisht | No comments
The Binary Prospects of Google TV. Is it Beholden to what Apple Does?
December 19, 2011 by Sam Vasisht | No comments
2011 Has Been a Landmark Year for Online Video
As 2011 comes to a close, it is hard to deny that it was a definitive year for online video even against the backdrop of the assertive pace that the industry has been on for the past few years. The
Posted in: Commentary | Tags: Amazon, Amazon Prime, Apple, AppleTV, EchoStar, Facebook, Google, GoogleTV, Hulu Plus, LinkedIn, Netflix, OTT, PayTV, TVEverywhere, UltraViolet, vudu, YouTube
November 09, 2011 by Sam Vasisht | Comments Off
Content Remains King
If the recent gyrations of Netflix and Hulu demonstrate anything, it is that content still rules. We can talk about the new forms of services, devices and formats, but at the end of the day content dictates the business.
Posted in: Business Models, Commentary, Hulu.com, Netflix Inc, UltraViolet | Tags: Hulu, LinkedIn, Netflix, OTT
September 21, 2011 by Sam Vasisht | Comments Off
Netflix: Weathering A Storm Or Causing A Tempest In A Teacup?
Just as dumb companies do not turn innovative overnight, innovative and smart companies don’t turn dumb suddenly. Past performance is generally a good indicator of future performance, at least in the near term. Netflix was the darling of video innovation,
September 19, 2011 by Sam Vasisht | Comments Off
Did Netflix Overlook Consumer Inertia?
With everything being said about the Netflix price increase and its ripple effect in projected subscriber loss as well as the steep drop in stock price, we still may not know everything that caused this unexpected turn of events for
Posted in: Commentary, Consumers, Marketing, Strategy | Tags: consumer, Customer, DVD, LinkedIn, Netflix, Redbox, Share price, streaming media, Subscription business model
August 24, 2011 by Sam Vasisht | Comments Off
Is Smart TV an Oxymoron?
Just so you don’t misunderstand me, let me start with the disclaimer that I love the idea of Internet-connected TVs. If the future is to have most things connected to the Internet, such as your toaster, refrigerator and washing machine,
August 16, 2011 by Sam Vasisht | Comments Off
Google and Motorola – Nothing More than the IP
There’s never a dull day in tech, and digital media in particular! Just when you think there’s enough to handle with questions around who’s going to end up with Hulu, what Netflix’ price hike will do to its subscriber numbers,
June 08, 2011 by Sam Vasisht | No comments
TV Audience Erosion: Cord-Cutting Or Something Bigger?
A few years ago, the term “YouTube generation” emerged, describing those who watch video online on their PCs. What a novel idea! The YouTube generation was generally identified to be males between 18 and 34 years of age. Even before
Posted in: Analytics, Commentary, Consumers, Television | Tags: cord cutting, LinkedIn, Television, YouTube
May 28, 2011 by Sam Vasisht | No comments
Why Google TV and Apple TV are Still Hobbies
In an earlier article, I talked about why the nomenclature for GoogleTV and AppleTV is ill-conceived, and why Google and Apple are doing the marketing of these products a disservice. At the same time, the opportunity to bring Internet and digital
Posted in: Commentary, Devices, Internet Television, Marketing, Strategy | Tags: AppleTV, GoogleTV, LinkedIn 
Online Video Industry Fragmentation – Creating Opportunities Within the Industry
Online video has experienced the Big-Bang, and as this universe expands, fragmentation ensues. The fragmentation of the online video ecosystem was prominently discussed recently at OTTCON in Santa Clara. We have lived through the somewhat recent Apple vs. Flash fracas