Paul Kapustka's Blog

Even though Disney makes it sound like they are proud partners in the telco vision of the future, it's clear from today's announcement that big TV players aren't going to wait for AT&T and Verizon to build their so-called super networks. Instead, they're betting that today's network connections are good enough for most people, who will take the tradeoff in broadcast quality to have the convenience of click-here TV.

So -- if these things take off, the need for "dedicated" Web conduits for TV could become a moot point. And then the Disneys of the world wouldn't have to share revenue with the service providers, a fact that might bring the big content powerhouses over to the pro-net neutrality camp. Something to watch for, anyway.

Though I don't watch programs like Desperate Housewives or Lost, I was amazed by the usefulness of CBS's web sports moves, both the NCAA plan and this past weekend's Amen Corner Live feature at masters.org, which according to the Masters folks served 1.3 million video streams over the weekend. The latter gave a clear reason why the Web beats broadcast hands-down: When the Masters' schedule was thrown into disarray Saturday due to rain delays, there was no way to find out what was happening Sunday morning via TV, since the planned "broadcast windows" left viewers in the dark until CBS-TV decided it was time for you to know what was going on.

Online? A user's paradise. Not only was there up-to-the-minute scoring, but also the aforementioned live broadcast of the action at Augusta's famed Amen Corner, the pivotal stretch at holes 11-12-13.

What I really want is something like a Slingbox in reverse, that will use Web technologies and search to find interesting video, and then simply channel it to my big screen. I'm guessing the technology for such a trick is already out there, but why not make it simple? Then we'd really have some must-see TV.

ADDITIONAL READING:

Jeff Jarvis notes that content providers need to make this move sooner, not later, regardless of what their traditional partners think. Just like Microsoft with VoIP -- it's gotta have a PC client, even if it means making Verizon and AT&T mad.

David Berlind over at ZD Net, meanwhile, frets that AT&T and Verizon may soon charge you more to watch Disney's stuff. Maybe he didn't hear about the lovefest between Disney's Robert Iger and the telcos at the recent TelecomNext show? Trust us David, it won't be Disney paying AT&T. It'll be AT&T begging Disney to give it "exclusive" content, which AT&T will probably pay Disney for.