A small group of individuals at the University of Texas at Austin are working to change the method video could be broadcasted over the Internet. They claim that their new software, called Alluvium, will allow any individual to turn an Internet-connected computer into a TV station.

The new software uses peer-to-peer technology similar to that of BitTorrent which will allow people to stream video to multiple users nonstop, regardless of whether they have a high-speed Internet connection. Joseph T. Lopez, a graduate student who co-founded the software project, states the software is not just for tech enthusiast and struggling artists, but it could serve plenty of prosaic purposes -- like letting parents broadcast their childrens' soccer games for family members, or helping community groups find a high-tech alternative to public-access TV.

Revelations Entertainment and Intel Corporation announced the formation of a new digital entertainment company focused on distributing premium movies directly to consumers over the Internet, connecting filmmakers to film fans worldwide.

Revelations, a partnership between actor Morgan Freeman and producer Lori McCreary, has formed ClickStar Inc. with an investment from Intel.

MobiTV, the world's first global television network and technology platform providing live television on mobile phones, and ESPN, The Worldwide Leader In Sports, announced that video content from ESPN is now available to mobile phones via MobiTV. Fans with the MobiTV service can now view regularly updated ESPN content -- selected and edited specifically for the mobile viewer -- including sports news, fantasy sports updates, college sports, X Games highlights, and ESPN original content anytime, anywhere on their mobile phones.

VH1 is launching its content-rich broadband entertainment network VSPOT, on Thursday, July 7 with the exclusive world premiere of the first episode of the new season of "The Surreal Life 5" -- three days before the series premieres on VH1.

Accessible through VH1's web site, VSPOT is VH1's new hybrid network offering three distinct channels of original and exclusive music and pop culture programming.

Nickelodeon, continuing its mission to serving kids across all the media platforms they use and love, launches TurboNick, a broadband video platform available on Nick.com that for the first time, allows kids to watch full length shows online at any time. The announcement was made by Mike Skagerlind, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Nickelodeon Online.

The launch of TurboNick is the latest multi-platform experience created to allow kids to access Nickelodeon, joining its existing Video on Demand offerings on cable, as well as ring tones and video clips that are available via wireless providers. As the first kid's network to provide full length video programming online, combined with the recent acquisition of Neopets,® a global online entertainment network with over 25 million members worldwide that generates more than five billion page views per month, Nickelodeon now offers more multi-platform experiences than any other kid's entertainment company.

Eagle Broadband, Inc., a leading provider of broadband, Internet protocol (IP) and communications technology and services, and GlobeCast, a subsidiary of France Telecom and the world's leading satellite services provider, announced today that All Access Technologies has selected the companies' IPTVComplete ^TM video solution to deliver advanced video and entertainment services to residential subscribers in Florida, Texas and Nevada.

Verizon Fios TV to Offer Turner Broadcasting News, Entertainment and Animation Networks, Including TNT in HD, CNN en Espanol

Verizon today announced a programming- distribution agreement with Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. (TBS, Inc.) to carry TBS, TNT, CNN, Headline News, Cartoon Network, Turner Classic Movies (TCM), CNN International, CNN en Espanol and Boomerang. It is the latest in a series of content agreements that Verizon has announced.

UTStarcom, Inc., a global leader in IP-based, end-to-end networking solutions and services, announced that Softbank BB, the leading provider of broadband services in Japan, has chosen UTStarcom's mVision ^TM end-to-end IPTV system to support its new "BBTV" IPTV service, which launched on July 1, 2005.

As everyone keeps a close eye on the G-8 summit this week, in the background, AOLMusic.com and Live 8 continue to headline news and blogs ("More Live 8 on Web than TV", "Better Live than on TV", "ABC's modest Live 8 special rocked by AOL") around the world as people chatter about the startling online experience.

More than 5 million people logged onto the Web to watch the concerts, with 175,000 simultaneous streams at any one time, making it "by far the biggest Internet event in history," said AOL vice president Ruth Sarfaty.

If AOL's broadcasting of Live 8 was not enough reassurance that streaming TV over the Internet is ready, I don't know what else could be.

Click on over to the forums. We want to hear your thoughts.

BellSouth told the Federal Communications Commission on June 30th that it plans to deploy fiber to almost 60 percent more locations in 2005 than it did in 2004.

Installations of fiber-to-the-curb in 2004 were 30 percent ahead of 2003.

The commission ruled in 2004 that fiber-to-the-curb was functionally equivalent to fiber-to-the-home. Elimination of the regulatory distinction meant that BellSouth could invest in its chosen method of fiber deployment without governmental mandates to turn over its fiber loops to competitors.

One of the greatest collaborative efforts in history is occurring across the world as musicians and people join in hand to voice that rich nations need to be doing more for the poor. The Live 8 event is being called the world's biggest concert.

All of this can be contributed to the Irish rocker Bob Geldof who told music fans to cry "no more excuses" to the Group of Eight leaders of the world's leading industrialized nations who meet in Scotland next week.

October 25 and 26, 2005
Olympia, London, UK

The Connected Home 2005 will provide a unique opportunity to build upon the messages of 2004 and bring together the content and entertainment industry with the technologists and service providers, recognising consumer demand for multi-room entertainment as the key to market growth.

September 27-29 2005
London, UK

Junction is proud to present the second annual Enhanced TV Show & Mobile TV Forum, 2005.

Enhanced TV has slowly been revolutionising TV programming and changing the way viewers consume TV. From the first enhanced TV event in September 04, broadcasters stressed the importance of finding out what makes interactivity of real benefit to the viewer, finding how to create viewer loyalty, how to provide increased choice, finding the right mix of interactivity to complement programs and the importance of involving the TV production community.

Unlike last week where the end of the world was nearing for Microsoft after the Telstra pullout, this week has been nothing but bright sunshine as British Telecom announces they will use Microsoft’s technology for their IPTV implementation. This news has been broadcasted everywhere but nonetheless; we have included two articles on it.

We hope you enjoy the rest. As usual, headlines we do cover will not show up in this listing.

As the IPTV market heats up, and as solutions vendors position themselves to leverage market expansion, service operators must evaluate the long-term implications of initial vendor selection. According to TDG's latest report, "Evaluating IPTV Vendor Strategies," early vendor decisions will have substantial impact on the scalability and openness of systems well beyond initial deployment. Whether selecting an end-to-end solution that promises to cover all the bases, or using components from multiple vendors, service operators looking to IPTV to complete triple-play offering should think long-term when selecting vendor partners for initial IPTV service deployments.