We're back from the holidays and pleased to once again resume the weekly IPTV headlines feature article. In the upcoming weeks we are going to be holding a poll on whether you would like to receive this as a weekly newsletter. We've always considered our RSS feed to be our newsletter since you can filter it as you see fit but we have received numerous emails inquiring about a newsletter. To be continued...

This week you will definitely want to take some time reviewing the headlines below. Now I admit...we gathered articles from the entire spectrum of issues that impact TV or IPTV but we believe there are some really informative pieces.

First, the battle between online video providers continues to heat up. Google opened up their video store. AOL bought the video search engine Truveo.

2006 International CES set records last week with more than 150,000 total attendees, 23,000 international attendees, and exhibit space at 1.67 million net square feet.

HD DVD and Blu-ray continue to battle it out in the high definition arena.

Online is the place to be:

• E! online prepares for their launch of their broadband channel
• Sail.tv takes off covering sailing and watersports
• Learning Now Network (LNN) launches with news, educational magazine shows and public service programming and each participating school also receives a "producer kit" that enables teachers and students to create, write, record and produce their own news stories to be seen on LNN

On that last point...where was this when we were in school? Are we preparing the youth for the growing world of video blogging?

And here are the headlines...

As 2005 comes to a close, companies and organizations announce end of year winners. This week Business Week shows off the best of 2005 with podcasting, blogging, and Google coming out as best idea winners. Light Reading announced the 2005 Leading Lights winners with Verizon FiOS TV taking home one of the awards. Verizon continues to garner attention with their IPTV rollout across the U.S. and Internet TV is hot, hot, hot. Whether it be premium content like CNN's Pipeline, video blogging like Rocketboom, iTunes downloadable episodes, or Akimbo's video on demand, Internet TV is standing in the spotlight.

Here are some other interesting reads...

Microsoft's IPTV software platform...ready for primetime?

Television Weekly started the week out with a column stating that Microsoft's clients and competitors are having second thoughts about whether Microsoft's IPTV system will be up to par for their upcoming rollouts. "Everyone who said they were going with Microsoft [for IPTV] is either hedging when they are going to deliver the service or saying they are going to wait," said Brahm Eiley, president of Convergence Consulting Group in Toronto.

The next day Informitv informed us that, "Microsoft is ready to launch this," according to a representative of AT&T quoted by the publication. "We aren't talking to other vendors about backup plans." Based on what we gathered from Microsoft at the PVR conference in Munich, this appears to be the case.

Both articles are referenced below and be sure to check them out.

As some know, this is nothing new for Microsoft. The discussion around whether they are really ready or not goes back to the Swisscom delay.

Will the skepticism continue?

In other news:

• A la carte TV Programming continues to be discussed
• BT signed their first content deals for their future IPTV service
• And Verizon rolled out FiOS TV to a third city

Here are some interesting reads...

A la carte TV programming is on everyones mind after FCC chairman Kevin Martin spoke on Tuesday about a new report that concludes a la carte TV programming is economically feasible and in the best interest of consumers. The new report contradicts an earlier report released in 2004 that states a la carte TV offerings would equal higher rates.

"I had many concerns with this (earlier) report, including the logic and some of the assumptions used," Martin said during his testimony to the Senate forum. "I asked the media bureau, as well as our chief economist, to take a more thorough look at the issue. The staff is now finalizing a report that concludes that the earlier report relied on problematic assumptions and presented incorrect and incomplete analysis."

According to an article in the Red Herring today, the reaction of the telcos is favorable. "Verizon Communications and AT&T, the two largest telecommunications carriers in the United States, see the unbundling of television packages currently being pushed by regulators as an opportunity to steal subscribers from the incumbent cable and satellite operators."

"There is some feeling that this may be a differentiator for Verizon or AT&T," said Verizon spokesperson Eric Rabe. "This could be something that either company adopts to differentiate themselves, but we are still examining our options in this area."

• In other news, Telecom Italia rolled out their IPTV service.
• Intel released an announcement on Viiv, their upcoming PC platform to manage movies, TV, music, games, and photos.
• Skype added video capability to their software with the help of On2.

We also attended the PVR 2006 conference in Munich, Germany. The conference was well executed by thebrainbehind with some interesting concepts coming out of it (More so with the topic sliding quite frequently from PVR to IPTV).

Here are some reads...

Cisco and Scientific Atlanta continued to top headlines this week with predictions of how the combined company will fare. Light Reading writes that further mergers and acquisitions are close behind in the IPTV space.

In other news, we'd like to document a lesson learned from Sony's fiasco in Digital Rights Management (DRM): Don't write poorly written backdoor/spyware software that exposes consumers PCs to hackers in an effort to protect digital rights. If you haven't kept up with this story, the Attorney General for the state of Texas filed a lawsuit against Sony BMG for their rootkit software. The Texas suit alleges the so-called XCP technology that Sony BMG had quietly included on more than 50 CD titles violates the Texas Consumer Protection Against Computer Spyware (CPACS) Act.

"Sony has engaged in a technological version of cloak and dagger deceit against consumers by hiding secret files on their computers," said Greg Abbot, the Texas attorney-general. "Consumers who purchased a Sony CD thought they were buying music. Instead, they received spyware that can damage a computer, subject it to viruses and expose the consumer to possible identity crime."

You can read more about the Sony BMG fiasco at The Register.

Here are the other headlines...

This week ended with a bang as Cisco announced their acquisition of Scientific Atlanta. As more companies move towards IPTV and video-based networking, buying Scientific Atlanta puts Cisco in a good position to benefit. The question is how soon?

"Video is emerging as the key strategic application in the service provider triple play bundle of consumer entertainment, communication and online services," said John Chambers, president and chief executive officer of Cisco Systems. "The combination of Cisco and Scientific-Atlanta brings unmatched experience and innovation in delivering large scale video systems and networks, and the addition of Scientific-Atlanta further extends Cisco's commitment to and leadership in the service provider market. Moreover, Cisco's international presence and IP leadership will also create strategic synergies that accelerate the combined growth opportunity."

Scientic Atlanta will be aligned with Linksys within the company. Cisco said the move would create an "end-to-end" triple play solution for service providers and Cisco will begin to develop and deliver a variety of integrated media services in the connected home.

Cisco will look at leveraging their international relationships to try and sell Scientific Atlanta's products, which are mostly sold in the U.S.

Here are some other headlines...

The TelcoTV conference kept us busy this week. Triple play, VoIP, and IPTV services were blinking in bright lights as companies announced new partnerships, products, and rollouts. If you haven't been in the loop, take a look at our week in review for the latest IPTV news.

In other headlines, there are two articles in particular we found interesting this week:

• First, drop on over to informitv to read William Cooper's first-look at the BBC's integrated Media Player (iMP). The article is a great write-up by a seasoned professional and includes over 10 screen shots of the future player.
  
  iMP - First impressions of BBC media player trial
  Informitv - November 7, 2005
  "The BBC iMP or integrated Media Player project is a broadband service that will enable selected television and radio programmes to be downloaded over the internet up to seven days after first transmission. Based on experience with the trial service, informitv offers an extended review of the innovative offering."
  
  
• Next, don't miss this entertaining column by the great writer, John Dvorak.
  
  Whitacre: Threat or Menace? You Tell Me
  PC Magazine - November 7, 2005
  "Worse, they (Whitacre or Newsweek—you tell me) believe that the "triple play" is phone, Internet, and mobile. The triple play in anyone's parlance refers to three services that come over one conduit. How do you get mobile over the one conduit that is carrying phone and Internet? This is a flaky and wrong use of the term. In fact, it's an idiotic use of the term. It's as if in baseball you'd call two outs and a hot dog a triple play. It just makes no sense unless you want to call any three things, no matter how discrepant, a triple play."

Here are some other good reads...

We've scoured through headlines on broadband, IPTV, VoIP, Triple Play, and all sorts of related topics for 11 months. If there is one thing we can attest from that span of time, it's that there is no longer a lack of journalism covering IPTV-related information. The amount of headlines we read week in and week out just keeps on growing. If that's a sign of the future, then we'll need to hire more help.

Please let us know if you like our weekly IPTV Headlines report or have any suggestions to improve it.

A few notable headlines this week that aren't listed here (because we covered them) are:

• SBC confirms that Project Lightspeed is full speed ahead.
• The FCC opens an investigation into allegations that local authorities may be making the process of getting franchises unreasonably difficult.
• Comedy Central and CBS both expand their Internet TV offerings.

Here are our other interesting reads...

BT was atop the IPTV headlines this week as announcements of their agreement with Philips to provide set-top boxes for their future broadband offering came out. BT plans on launching their broadband service next year.

The service will combine digital terrestrial channels, video on demand, and catchup TV which will allow users to watch any of the previous seven days television schedule on-demand. Other features include communication services such as instant messaging, chat and video telephony all via the television.

The TELECOM 2005 conference took place this week with some interesting speeches coming out of it. You can jump over to the TELECOM '05 web site and watch videos of the speeches.

Lastly, the Connected Home 2005 also took place this week. There's an interesting article below entitled, "Networked Home 'too confusing' for consumers" that came out of that conference.

Here are some interesting reads...

It was a busy week sifting through the IPTV and Internet TV headlines. This may be our biggest one week list to-date of headlines relating to IPTV or Internet TV.

In headlines not mentioned here since we covered them through the week:

• UK's ITV launched an Internet TV station featuring local communities. We'll be working on adding that to our Internet TV directory.
• IPTV companies are gearing up for the Telecom '05 conference taking place next week in Las Vegas. Click over to our IPTV Events section for more information.

In not-so-related to IPTV news, be sure to catch up on the latest developments in the Blu-ray vs HD-DVD battle.

Here are the headlines...

The Apple fell from the tree this week that rocked the media world. Apple announced iTunes 6, the new version of the popular software that now allows users to download music videos and television shows to their computer. The announcement was in conjunction with an announcement for their new video iPod, that can store and play up to 150 hours of television shows, music videos and film clips downloaded via the Internet. The new iPod will hit shelves in the United States next week, Apple founder and chief executive Steve Jobs said.

Apple sealed a large content deal with Disney to make episodes of shows such as Lost and Desperate Housewives available via its online iTunes store. The videos will be available the day after they are aired and will be commercial free.

Now that is our idea of video on demand. Apple changed the way consumers paid for music and it worked. Will they perform the same feat for TV?

Here are some other interesting reads...

It was a rather slow week for IPTV and Internet TV headlines but in week 2 (or round 2 as we like to call it) Verizon continues to be the talk of the town as they roll out FiOS TV. Verizon came out this week announcing that they would accelerate availability of FiOS TV in Texas. Additionally, they sealed content agreements with MTV, BET, and Scripps.

Comcast returned fire with CEO Brian Roberts stating Comcast Corp.'s future in the cable business depends on offering more content to its subscribers, in many cases for free.

Will Verizon be successful in peeling away customers from the incumbent cable companies? Let us know your thoughts. In the meantime, grab a bag of popcorn and enjoy the show!

Here are some other interesting reads...

Finally, the day has come. Move over cable and satellite and make room for Verizon.

Verizon unleashed their counter-attack to cable companies who now offer VoIP (voice over IP) by kicking off their highly anticipated IPTV service. Verizon officially started taking orders Thursday for the new IPTV service, called FiOS TV, in Keller, Texas. Click here to read about the features and pricing plans.

Will Verizon be successful in peeling away customers from the cable and satellite industries? We'll stay tuned...

Here are some other interesting articles...

Microsoft has topped the headlines this last week on topics ranging IPTV set-top boxes to talks of buying AOL. Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer were interviewed this week by CNET News.com and BusinessWeek where they were questioned about their feelings regarding Google and the future of Microsoft.

Steve Ballmer was quoted as saying, "If you take a look broadly through our company, we've got more empowered, innovative people than any other company in the world."

In both interviews, the Microsoft head honchos do not hide their excitement about IPTV and their future offering. "Our IPTV [Internet protocol TV] work releases in the next 12 months -- it will change the way video gets delivered around the world, incredibly powerful innovation coming to market this year," said Ballmer.

Here are some other headlines worth reading...

I can tell you this week's IPTV headlines in one word:

IBC
IBC
IBC

Gotta run, the press releases are pouring in from companies around the world participating at IBC.

Here are some other reads if you don't already have enough...