2005 :: April 23 :: First YouTube Video

FCC NOI: State of Video Competition

"The Federal Communications Commission today issued a Notice of Inquiry (NOI) to begin a conversation on the state of independent and diverse programming. The NOI solicits comment on the principal challenges independent video programmers face in gaining carriage of their content on both traditional and emerging distribution platforms. This action will help the Commission assess the current state of video programming diversity and determine whether further action is needed to promote independent programming sources."

Independent video programmers repeatedly have expressed concern that some practices of cable operators and other multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs) limit their ability to reach viewers. To evaluate these concerns and assess the impact of these practices on the Commission’s goal of fostering a diverse, robust, and competitive programming marketplace, the NOI asks for comment on the general state of the marketplace for independent video programming and the challenges faced by all independent programmers – including new and emerging programmers – in attempting to launch or grow.

The NOI specifically invites comment on several issues that independent programmers and other interested parties have raised in other proceedings, including

• Contractual provisions often contained in program carriage agreements, such as most favored nation (MFN) and alternative distribution method (ADM) clauses;
• Distribution via over the top (OTT) platforms, and the costs and benefits of foregoing MVPD carriage to pursue OTT carriage;
• Program bundling (i.e., the practice by some content companies of requiring MVPDs or other distributors to carry large bundles in order to gain access to marquee programming); 
• Negotiation tactics alleged to be common among MVPDs that may impede the ability of independent programmers to obtain carriage; and
• Claims that MVPDs discriminate against public, educational or government access (PEG) programming by failing to make PEG programming, and information about this programming, adequately available to subscribers. 

Lastly, the NOI asks about the Commission’s legal authority in this area and what role, if any, it should play in addressing obstacles that hinder consumers from accessing sources of independent and diverse programming.


PROMOTING THE AVAILABILITY OF DIVERSE AND INDEPENDENT SOURCES OF VIDEO PROGRAMMING. Notice of Inquiry seeks comment on the current state of programming diversity and the principal obstacles that independent programmers face in obtaining carriage on video distribution platforms. (Dkt No. 16-41 ). Action by: the Commission. Adopted: 02/18/2016 by NOI. (FCC No. 16-19). MB   FCC-16-19A1.docx  FCC-16-19A2.docx  FCC-16-19A3.docx  FCC-16-19A4.docx  FCC-16-19A5.docx FCC-16-19A6.docx  FCC-16-19A1.pdf  FCC-16-19A2.pdf  FCC-16-19A3.pdf  FCC-16-19A4.pdf  FCC-16-19A5.pdf  FCC-16-19A6.pdf

FCC EXAMINES STATE OF VIDEO PROGRAMMING DIVERSITY. Notice of Inquiry Asks for Comment on the Challenges Independent Programmers Face. News Release. (Dkt No 16-41 ). Adopted: 02/18/2016. MB   DOC-337789A1.docx  DOC-337789A1.pdf

Released:  03/01/2016.  COMMENT AND REPLY DEADLINES SET FOR INDEPENDENT PROGRAMMING NOI. (DA No.  16-226). (Dkt No 16-41 ). Comments Due:  03/30/2016. Reply Comments Due:  04/19/2016.  MB  https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-16-226A1.doc
https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-16-226A1.pdf

 Released:  03/01/2016.  MEDIA BUREAU ANNOUNCES PUBLIC WORKSHOP ON THE STATE OF THE VIDEO MARKETPLACE. (DA No.  16-228).  MB . Contact:  Raelynn Remy or Carlisha Myers at(202) 418-2120 https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-16-228A1.doc
https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-16-228A1.pdf

:: 2015 Aspen Forum - Big Data, Privacy and the Internet of Things :: Video

VID :: Douglas Engelbart 2002 Interview by John Markoff (Computer History Museum)

An absolutely marvelous interview by technology reporter John Markoff of Douglas Engelbart about his life and his path to becoming a computer pioneer. Produced by the Computer History Museum and posted to Youtube July 10, 2013.

AT&T ~1970 Video - The Benefits of a Regulated Monopoly

A marvelous video prior to divestiture, and at the historical moment when MCI is being allowed into the long distance market, and customers were allowed to attach their own equipment to the network. You can hear the ghost of Theodore Vail saying that "competition is inefficient."

What's on TV?

There have been a number of news articles and blog posts lately suggesting that this is the TV season that broadcasters finally get the Net - that broadcasters are making their content available online. [US networks to stream online free, FT; Do Broadcasters Finally 'Get' the Internet?, Internet News; NBC Cuts Out Video Middleman - NBCDirect will launch in November, DSLReports] So I decided to do a back of the envelop survey of what is out there. Okay, I admit it, I wanted to see if I could find any live hockey feeds. Well, minor league hockey is available on the B2 Network, but not the NHL. While there is a lot of content out there now, probably the big exception is live sports. [Update: NHL Center Ice provides a season subscription to live Windows Media webcasts of all out-of-market games for ~$169. Of course MLS provides a similar season subscription for $10.]

Survey was conducted September 29 - October 3, 2007. Based on what was readily apparent at websites based on a brief visit. Sampled programs where plugin was already embedded, but did not install new plugins. Please feel free to provide additional information. Listed programs represent a quick sampling of what was found.

I am sure there is lots more out there. Drop me a note and tell me what to add to the list - or any corrections that need to be made. This information will be maintained somewhere on the Cybertelecom website.

In 1961, then FCC Chair Newton Minow made his famous speech:

"But when television is bad, nothing is worse. I invite you to sit down in front of your television set when your station goes on the air and stay there without a book, magazine, newspaper, profit and-loss sheet or rating book to distract you--and keep your eyes glued to that set until the station signs off. I can assure you that you will observe a vast wasteland."

Wonder what he would say about the Internet?

Channel	Price	Plug-In	Screen	What's Available (sample)	Comment
A&E	Free	Flash	Embedded, Scalable	Full Episodes: SWAT, Private Sessions, A Man Called Dog, Dog Views Choice. Clips: Sopranos, Faith of my Family, King of South Beach, Two Coreys, Wedding Wife
ABC - Disney	Free - Advertisements	Move Media Player		Clips: News. Full Episodes: The Bachelor Brothers and Sisters Dancing with the Stars Desperate Housewives Dirty Sexy Money Fashionista Diaries Grey's Anatomy Lost Men In Trees GH Night Shift October Road Private Practice Ugly Betty Voicemail	Only available in US - Also available on AOL Video
- - Disney Channel DXD	Free - Advertisements	Flash	Scalable but not full screen	Select Full Episodes: Hannah Montana, American Dragon, Suite Life of Zack and Cody, Emperor's New School, That's So Raven, Kim Possible, The Replacements, Cory in the House
- - ESPN - ESPN Video beta	Free - Advertisements	Flash	Scalable but not full screen	ESPN Clips	Also available on AOL Video
Animal Planet					See Discovery Channel
BET	Free	Flash	Embedded player	Black Carpet, Hell Date, Quickie, Comic View, Rap City, Sunday Best, Coming to BET, 106 & Park, Hip Hop Awards, Socially Offensive Behavior	Download difficulties
Bravo	Free	Flash	Embedded and Full Screen	Clips
Cartoon Network	Free - Advertisements	Flash	Embedded and Full Screen	Select Full Cartoons: Ben 10, Bernard, Camp Lazlo, Class 3000, Code Lyoko, KND, Courage, Cow and Chicken, Dexters Labratory, Ed Edd and Eddy, Fosters Home, Grim Adventures, IMP, Johnny Bravo, My Gym Partners a Monkey, Powerpuff Girls, Storm Hawks, Time Squad, Totally Spies, Robot Jones
CBC		Flash	Embedded and Full Screen	Full Saturday Night Hockey - Clips : News - Features
CBS - Innertube	Free - Advertisements	Flash	Embedded and Full Screen	Full Select Episodes: Armed & Famous, As the World Turns, Big Bang Theory, Big Brother, CSIs, Guiding Light, How I Met Your Mother, Jerico, Kid Nation, NCIS, Numb3rs, NCIS, Papdits, Pirate Maker, Power of 10, Rules of Engagement, Shark, Survivor, The Unit, Young and Restless. Clips: Late Late Show, Late Show,	Each show appears to have only one or two episodes available - Also available on AOL Video
CNN	Free - Advertisements	Flash	Embedded	Clips	Popup ads
Comedy Central		Flash	Embedded	Clips: Jon Stewart, Colbert Report, South Park, Sarah Silverman, Drawn Together	Also available on AOL Video
CSPAN	Free	RTSP - Real and Windows		Full programs	We had difficulty downloading programs
CW		Move Media Player		Full Episodes: Wild Bunch, Opposites Attract, Girls Go Cruisin,
Discovery	Free & $1.99 downloads	Move Media Player		Full Episodes: Dirty Jobs, Meerket Manor, LastOneStanding. Clips. Downloads
Fox - Video Central	Free	Flash		Clips	Full Episodes available on AOL Video
History Channel	Free - Advertisements	Flash	Embedded	Clips	Full Episodes available on AOL Video
Lifetime TV		Flash	Embedded and almost full screen	Full Episodes: Blood Ties, Lisa Williams, Gay Straight or Taken, Lovespring Intl, Spotlight 25 - Clips
MSNBC	Free - Advertisements	Flash		Clips
MTV	Free - Advertisements	Flash	Embedded and scales	Clips. Full Episodes.
NBC	Free - Advertisements		Embedded and Full Screen	Full Episodes: 30 Rock, Age of Love, Andy Barker‚ PI, The Black Donnellys, Friday Night Lights, Heroes, Last Comic Standing, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Miss Teen USA 2007, NBC Primetime Preview, Raines, Victoria Beckham: Coming to America Clips: News, Sports
Nickelodeon	$1.99 Downloads	Flash	Embedded and Full Screen	Full Episodes: Avatar, Blues Clues, Danny Phantom, Dora, Fairly OddParents, Invader Zim, Jimmy Neutron, Zoe 101	Also available on AOL Video
PBS	Free (sponsors logos visible)	Real Player or Windows Media Player	Embedded	Ad Hoc Clips that are not organized in any coherent manner	Some PBS shows are available DOD iTunes
Sci-Fi			Embedded and Full Screen	Classic Movies. Clips.
TNT		Flash	Embedded (Full Screen failed)	Full Episodes: Charmed, Closer, Saving Grace - only a few episodes available	We experienced download problems which crashed our browser
TV Land	Free - Advertisements	Flash	Embedded	Clips. Full Episodes: Andy Griffith Show, Gunsmoke (a few episodes)
Univision	Free	Flash	Embedded	Clips
VH1	Free - Advertisements	Flash	Embedded and Scales	Clips, Shows
Weather Channel	Free - Advertisements	Flash	Embedded and Scales	Clips
NBA	Free - Advertisements	Flash	Embedded	Clips	Dowloaded with difficulty
NFL	Free - Advertisements	Flash	Embedded and Full Screen	Clips
MLB	Subscription Based			Every out-of-market game.
NHL - Versus	Free - Advertisements -	Flash	Embedded	NHL Clips - Versus Clips -	See CBC
Hockey Minor League AHL	$6 per game	Windows Media Player		Minor League B2 Networks - Full Games
AOL Video	Free and $1.99 and other downloads		Embedded and Full Screen	20th Century Fox, A&E, ABC, AOL, AXN, Biography Channel, CBS, CMT, Comedy Central, FOX, FX, History Channel, In2TV, MTV, Nickelodeon, QVC, Sony, Speed, Spike, TBS, TNT, VH1, WB ,
iTunes		iTunes
YouTube	Free	Flash	Embedde and Full Screen	Amateur Video
Google Video	Free	Flash	Embedded and Full Screen	Clips and Full Episodes	Difficult to find what is there
Yahoo Video	Free	Flash	Embedded and Full Screen	Videos and Clips
TV.com				Clips
Veoh				Amateur Video
Joost	Paid downloads	Proprietary Download		Wide variety of content	Unable to sample video
Amazon Unbox	Free and paid downloads	Flash	Embedded and scalable	A&E, ABC, Adult Swim, Animal Planet, BBC, Biography Channel, Bravo, Cartoon Network, CBS, Comedy Central, CMT, CW, Discovery Channel, E!, FOX, FOX Sports, FX, History Channel, MTV, National Geographic, NBC, NHL, Nickelodian, PBS, Scifi Channel, Sony, Speed, Spike, TNT, TV Land, USA Network, VH1	Note that a downloaded video was not tested

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