[CAnet - news] Grids and P2P to deliver video over Internet

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[Two interesting articles from ConvergeDigest and MIT technology on the
future of video over the Internet.  There are several other companies like
Inuk that are developing innovative business solution in this marketplace --
BSA]


www.convergedigest.com

GridNetworks Unveils P2P "GridCast" Digital Content Delivery
GridNetworks, a start-up based in Seattle, unveiled its "GridCast" Platform
for instant-on, full-screen, DVD-quality video to broadband-connected
viewers.

 GridNetworks said its solution overcomes the challenges faced by both
content delivery networks (CDNs) and Peer-to-Peer (P2P) software solutions.
While CDNs can provide secure distribution of content, their hardware-based
delivery systems are expensive and fail to offer the delivery speed or
scalability required to provide a reasonable alternative to conventional
broadcast distribution. P2P solutions offer an inexpensive way to move
complete video files, but fail to provide on-demand streaming, speedy file
delivery, or a content security model video asset owners desire.

GridCasting is hybrid solution that combines CDN technologies with GridCast
software. The approach is a new video delivery paradigm in which each
participating computer becomes part of a vast, managed content distribution
grid, optimized to deliver segmented, encrypted video data directly to the
viewer's screen. This "Software CDN" approach effectively creates a vast,
global network of mini-servers to redistribute encrypted video segments,
providing overall network capacity and capabilities far greater than
traditional CDNs. In addition to dramatically increasing the effective
distribution network size, the GridCast Platform maintains centralized
command-and-control of valuable video assets and has the industry's toughest
content security proposition.
http://www.gridnetworks.com
01-Nov-06


http://www.technologyreview.com/read_article.aspx?id=17675&ch=infotech

YouTube garners big bucks, but other ventures have broader aims for TV on
the Web

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) -- Eyebrows went up when Google Inc. recently agreed
to spend $1.65 billion for YouTube, the most popular Web site for free video
clips. But that figure could be blown away one day if some emerging
companies achieve their much broader visions for the future of online TV.

These companies are building flexible online networks that can host content,
serve up ads and dish out interactive features. 

One of the best positioned is Brightcove Inc., which on Monday is taking the
wraps off an Internet video network that handles virtually everything for
content creators.

Aiming to serve everyone from garage auteurs to major media companies,
Brightcove offers free publishing tools and runs video wherever publishers
want it.

That could be on the central Brightcove site, which is accessible through
the video search functions at Google, Yahoo and AOL. Or content publishers
can use Brightcove to run video on their own separate, branded sites. Or
they can syndicate it to third-party Web sites, such as blogs or MySpace
pages, where the content might run alongside user-generated material.

All those videos can be sold as paid downloads or streamed for free, with
ads. Brightcove will sell ads and pool them among its customers, or it will
plug in commercials that content creators sell themselves.


National Geographic, the Travel Channel, Warner Music, The New York Times
and The Washington Post are all Brightcove customers.

So is Barrio 305, a Miami-based Internet-only channel devoted to the
tropical hip-hop music flavor known as reggaeton. Brightcove pumps Barrio
305's videos to free sites in addition to Barrio 305's own pages. That gives
the upstart network such wide dispersal that it hasn't mattered that Barrio
305 has yet to persuade any cable TV programming buyers to offer its
package.

''We can bypass these traditional media agencies, and we can get out
directly to our audience,'' said Antonio Otalvaro, one of the three brothers
who founded Barrio 305. ''Our primary audience is online. They're not
watching TV.''

NBC Universal recently launched an Internet video distribution system called
NBBC (short for National Broadband Co.) that is working with NBC affiliates
and even traditional NBC rivals such as CBS Corp. and News Corp. NBBC is a
marketplace where content owners and third-party sites can agree to share
content and ad revenue.

Like Brightcove, Maven is hosting video for customers and giving them quick,
mouse-click methods of positioning content and setting up ad campaigns.
Unlike Brightcove, Maven doesn't want to double as a video portal or dip
into the ad business. Maven gets paid when viewers check out one of its
customers' videos.

Maven's customers include CBS-owned College Sports Television and The
Weather Channel. Maven also powers aspects of NBBC's system, while 20th
Century Fox uses Maven to show movie trailers.

So deeply is it being changed, in fact, that Web video companies will have
to smartly evolve as content coming over the Internet is routinely funneled
not only to computers but directly to living room TVs. This will require
navigating around or working with cable companies, for example, that make a
good deal of their money controlling what you see on TV.

------

On the Net:

Brightcove: http://www.brightcove.com

NBBC: http://www.nbbc.com

Maven Networks: http://www.maven.net


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