Online video distribution to the PC is predominantly an open platform: if you can launch a web site, you can distribute your content. But the distribution picture to the TV is quite different. Here, closed platforms provide a fixed set of content from which users can pick. For an Internet content provider to deliver video to the TV, a deal is required with the platform provider first. In 2008, Sir Howard Stringer, Sony's CEO, said "Sony's unique position in electronics and entertainment will enable us to provide specialized offering for Sony customers directly to their television outside conventional distributors..." Can companies such as Sony, Apple and Microsoft control the delivery of Internet video to the television? Or can open solutions such as Google TV win out?

Join Colin Dixon, TDG's Senior Partner, Advisory, and Will Richmond, editor and publisher of VideoNuze as they dig into the issues. They will look at all sides of the debate including issues such as:

• Are manufacturer controlled TV portals a good solution?
• Is an open video platform a good idea for consumers?
• Can the cross-platform, but closed, approach of Netflix be repeated?
• Will the Huluplus subscription service be successful?
• Will mobile devices evolve as predominantly open or closed Internet video devices?
• Can independent players such as Roku, Google and Boxee open up the TV platform?

There will also be plenty of time for audience Q&A.

This is the third in a series of six webinars sponsored exclusively by ActiveVideo Networks and is complimentary for industry professionals.

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