Will 2008 Be The Year of HD?
January 2008
Comcast announced that it was adding more Hi-Def VOD content. Under an initiative called "Project Infinity" Comcast will offer over 1,000 high-definition (HD) on-demand movies and TV programs every month by the end of 2008, up from about 250 HD programs.
Currently, Comcast’s Web site shows that there are 24 HD channels available. Five of them (NFL Network, HBO, Starz, Showtime and Cinemax) are only available to those paying extra per month for those channels.
Verizon’s Web site says that FiOS TV only offers 20 HD channels which doesn’t seem to include premium channels. However, Verizon also plans to step up its HD offerings to 150 HDTV channels (including HD VOD titles) later this year.
Dish Network said it was expanding its HD channels from 76 to 100 this year. Some of these are not year-round, which brings the total to under 90. DirecTV now has 90 national HD channels. It will also offer local HD networks in 11 additional markets by mid-2008 — bringing the total number of markets where DirecTV offers local HD programming to 76.
For more information, consult our: MRG, Inc., January 2008 IPTV Bulletin
Verizon Hits 1 Million Subs – Looking to the Big Apple
January 2008
Verizon Hits 1 Million Subs – Looking to the Big Apple: Verizon is reportedly looking to offer FiOS TV in New York City, by making a 15-year video franchise deal with regulators. New York City’s existing franchise deals with Time Warner and Cablevision expire later this year. Its IPTV subscriber base has now reached 1 million.*
Verizon has primarily focused on suburban areas, so entering New York City could be a huge win for the company. It would go a long way to gaining subscribers and credibility as an alternative TV provider to the cable companies. It can also make it easier for Verizon to enter other urban markets, such as Boston, Washington DC or Philadelphia later this year. Entering the urban/big city market also means that Verizon must go after multiple dwelling units (MDUs), and the less wealthy. Most of Verizon’s current operational areas are in suburbs, so a push into dense urban environment will represent a new challenge and opportunity to the FiOS team.
* Note: We count FiOS as IPTV because its (100%) VOD service is carried over a managed IP network.
{Note: analyst comments are italicized}
For more information, consult our: MRG, Inc., January 2008 IPTV Bulletin
Current Media's IPO for US$100 Million
January 2008
Current Media, the youth-oriented channel founded by former Vice President Al Gore, has filed for a US$100 million IPO. The announcement comes at an important time for the programmer. According to news accounts of the future stock offering, the channel had an accumulated deficit of US$31.9 million at the end of 2007. Revenues for 2007 were US$63.7 million.
Since the channel boasted profitability after its first year of operation, we wonder where the US$31.9M deficit came from. Yet to reach 51 million U.S. households as it has, the channel has done quite well if compared with other start-ups like Oxygen, which ran up a deficit of about US$250M in 5 years and reaching not many more households.
{Note: analyst comments are italicized}
For more information, consult our: MRG, Inc., January 2008 IPTV Bulletin
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