Hulu CEO Jason Kilar said he expected the company's 2010 revenues to reach $260 million, up from a $240 million projection he made last month.
The eight-percent gain might be due to higher-than-expected demand for Hulu's new subscription service.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Hulu Subscription Program Working Better Than Expected?
Hulu might be getting more takers for its subscription service than originally expected just a month ago.
The eight-percent gain might be due to higher-than-expected demand for Hulu's new subscription service.
The eight-percent gain might be due to higher-than-expected demand for Hulu's new subscription service.
Gary Kim was cited as a global "Power Mobile Influencer" by Forbes, ranked second in the world for coverage of the mobile business, and as a "top 10" telecom analyst. He is a member of Mensa, the international organization for people with IQs in the top two percent.
Old Debates Over "A La Carte" Might Not be Relevant in Future
An economist might say the typical video bundle works because it allows distributors to apply scale and scope economics.
The corollary is that most networks, which are advertising supported, want to be part of a "no choice" basic tier for business reasons of their own, namely the ability to better sell the advertising that underpins their business models.
According to some studies, relatively few networks actually make a $100 million or more in annual ad revenue, though.
When multichannel video distributors say a bundled approach creates economics that favor smaller, niche networks to thrive, they are right.
Deprived of carriage on a broad "enhanced basic" tier, perhaps 60 percent of networks might find themselves immediately imperiled, as going concerns.
An end to bundling would likely decimate most smaller, more-lightly-viewed networks. To the extent that content and program diversity is a desired end user benefit, "choice" in all likelihood would decline in a full a la carte environment, because most people would not buy most channels.
The possible advent of over-the-top TV viewing worries most in the current ecosystem for one compelling reason: "households view less than one quarter of the networks they are forced to buy in the bundle," the Consumers Union noted in an past analysis assuming a 50-channel offering. Even today, with hundreds of available channels, end user behavior does not seem to have changed much.
Most people watch a dozen or so channels on a regular basis.
Cable operators have argued that end-user costs might actually climb in an a la carte environment, for a number of reasons. Higher customer care costs, operating and marketing are likely, cable operators have argued. Part of the argument has been based on the need to supply new decoders to customers who did not previously need them. That is likely not much of an issue these days, as cable operators convert to largely-digital or all-digital services where customers already must be provided set-top boxes.
So perhaps some of the historic objections from a distributor point of view have eroded.
Separate studies by the Federal Communications Commission seem to have concluded that unbundling could save money, or wouldn't save money. See this study. One of the studies suggested “consumers that purchase at least nine networks would likely face an increase in their monthly bills" when buying a la carte.
Likewise, one of the studies suggested bill increases ranging from 14 percent to 30 percent under a la carte, while the other suggests a consumer purchasing 11 cable channels would face a change of bill ranging from a 13 percent decrease to a four percent increase, with a decrease in three out of four cases.
The point is that it is very hard to tell, conslusively, what might happen if providers shifted to a la carte viewing. With online delivery coming to the fore, it might not ultimately matter. A la carte might happen, but on the Internet.
The corollary is that most networks, which are advertising supported, want to be part of a "no choice" basic tier for business reasons of their own, namely the ability to better sell the advertising that underpins their business models.
According to some studies, relatively few networks actually make a $100 million or more in annual ad revenue, though.
When multichannel video distributors say a bundled approach creates economics that favor smaller, niche networks to thrive, they are right.
Deprived of carriage on a broad "enhanced basic" tier, perhaps 60 percent of networks might find themselves immediately imperiled, as going concerns.
An end to bundling would likely decimate most smaller, more-lightly-viewed networks. To the extent that content and program diversity is a desired end user benefit, "choice" in all likelihood would decline in a full a la carte environment, because most people would not buy most channels.
The possible advent of over-the-top TV viewing worries most in the current ecosystem for one compelling reason: "households view less than one quarter of the networks they are forced to buy in the bundle," the Consumers Union noted in an past analysis assuming a 50-channel offering. Even today, with hundreds of available channels, end user behavior does not seem to have changed much.
Most people watch a dozen or so channels on a regular basis.
Cable operators have argued that end-user costs might actually climb in an a la carte environment, for a number of reasons. Higher customer care costs, operating and marketing are likely, cable operators have argued. Part of the argument has been based on the need to supply new decoders to customers who did not previously need them. That is likely not much of an issue these days, as cable operators convert to largely-digital or all-digital services where customers already must be provided set-top boxes.
So perhaps some of the historic objections from a distributor point of view have eroded.
Separate studies by the Federal Communications Commission seem to have concluded that unbundling could save money, or wouldn't save money. See this study. One of the studies suggested “consumers that purchase at least nine networks would likely face an increase in their monthly bills" when buying a la carte.
Likewise, one of the studies suggested bill increases ranging from 14 percent to 30 percent under a la carte, while the other suggests a consumer purchasing 11 cable channels would face a change of bill ranging from a 13 percent decrease to a four percent increase, with a decrease in three out of four cases.
The point is that it is very hard to tell, conslusively, what might happen if providers shifted to a la carte viewing. With online delivery coming to the fore, it might not ultimately matter. A la carte might happen, but on the Internet.
Gary Kim was cited as a global "Power Mobile Influencer" by Forbes, ranked second in the world for coverage of the mobile business, and as a "top 10" telecom analyst. He is a member of Mensa, the international organization for people with IQs in the top two percent.
1-Day Number Porting Mandatory on Jan. 31, 2011
Neustar's one-day number porting service for small-to-medium-sized telecom operators now is available. The Neustar "PortXpress" is a cloud-based service that enables operators to reduce the interval for number porting requests to just one business day, enabling them to meet the Federal Communications Commission’s new one-day number porting requirements by the January 31, 2011, deadline without system modification or new capital investments.
Gary Kim was cited as a global "Power Mobile Influencer" by Forbes, ranked second in the world for coverage of the mobile business, and as a "top 10" telecom analyst. He is a member of Mensa, the international organization for people with IQs in the top two percent.
Comcast, Level 3 Dispute is Still About Money
Comcast says "Level 3 and Comcast engineering teams held several in-person discussions over the past 48 hours to discuss potential significant revisions to parts of our peering and direct connect architecture."
Comcast says the engineers "developed a potential new and different architectural approach" that Comcast wanted to test with Level 3 as soon as next month. The solution would require both to make a "relatively modest investment" that would allow both companies to better understand the traffic, routing, and economic considerations.
Comcast also offered to keep the economics of the existing newly executed agreement at 'no cost' until the companies learned the actual costs of the new approach during this trial.
"Level 3 chose to leave the meeting when we wouldn't agree to a 'zero cost' outcome," Comcast said.
"Level 3 chose to leave the meeting when we wouldn't agree to a 'zero cost' outcome," Comcast said.
Gary Kim was cited as a global "Power Mobile Influencer" by Forbes, ranked second in the world for coverage of the mobile business, and as a "top 10" telecom analyst. He is a member of Mensa, the international organization for people with IQs in the top two percent.
The Tron Trailers are Gorgeous
http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/disney/tronlegacy/
Gary Kim was cited as a global "Power Mobile Influencer" by Forbes, ranked second in the world for coverage of the mobile business, and as a "top 10" telecom analyst. He is a member of Mensa, the international organization for people with IQs in the top two percent.
Are Web Apps the Future of Websites?
Web apps, it is argued, will displace browser-based apps. What seems a fairer statement is that apps will displace some browser-based content and app access.
If you have used both browser and mobile apps on a smartphone with a good touch-based browser, for example, you might not be so convinced that apps are better than web pages in all cases. You might have discovered that self-executing applications such as navigation programs, work best as traditional apps.
In other cases, if you want content richness, an app can provide a leaner experience than the main news page of a content source you are interacting with.
Gary Kim was cited as a global "Power Mobile Influencer" by Forbes, ranked second in the world for coverage of the mobile business, and as a "top 10" telecom analyst. He is a member of Mensa, the international organization for people with IQs in the top two percent.
Test of T-Mobile HSPA and Sprint WiMAX Networks
But in a recent test of the T-Mobile myTouch 4G and Samsung Epic 4G in Philadelphia and Trenton, N.J., the T-Mobile USA and Sprint WiMAX networks performed virtually the same in Philadelphia, with the Sprint network performing much better in Trenton, N.J.
The tests also showed differing speeds at various test points in each city, as well. You probably can argue the merits of each network (HSPA+ and WiMAX) based on these tests. They do suggest that HSPA+ can offer comparable throughput to WiMAX, at some times and places.
Gary Kim was cited as a global "Power Mobile Influencer" by Forbes, ranked second in the world for coverage of the mobile business, and as a "top 10" telecom analyst. He is a member of Mensa, the international organization for people with IQs in the top two percent.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Social Contact Centers
Social software is starting to be deployed both in the contact center and the enterprise, says Blair Pleasant, COMMfusion owner.
Enterprises basically are starting to treat Twitter and Facebook posts just like another media channel for the contact center.
Gary Kim was cited as a global "Power Mobile Influencer" by Forbes, ranked second in the world for coverage of the mobile business, and as a "top 10" telecom analyst. He is a member of Mensa, the international organization for people with IQs in the top two percent.
MetroPCS Eyes TerreStar Assets - WSJ.com
MetroPCS Communications is exploring a purchase of assets of mobile-communications business TerreStar Networks Inc. out of bankruptcy court, the Wall Street Journal reports.
TerreStar's most attractive assets are government licenses to use spectrum for mobile satellite applications. MetroPCS, the fifth-largest U.S. wireless carrier by subscribers, has been on the hunt for spectrum that will help it become a national operator.
AT&T's "Satellite Augmented Mobile Service" uses the TerreStar network and dual-mode handsets that use both cellular and satellite networks.
The TerreStar "Genus" smartphone operates with terrestrial mobile as the primary default mode and satellite access capability as a secondary option for voice, data and messaging.
The access to the TerreStar satellite network enables wireless communications coverage in remote areas for government, energy, utility, transportation and maritime users, as well as backup satellite communications capabilities for public safety agencies, first responders and disaster recovery groups.
TerreStar's most attractive assets are government licenses to use spectrum for mobile satellite applications. MetroPCS, the fifth-largest U.S. wireless carrier by subscribers, has been on the hunt for spectrum that will help it become a national operator.
It isn't clear whether the spectrum could be "re-purposed" for terrestrial fourth-generation networks, but LightSquared has been able to get such authority, as Terrestar has customers already making use of the satellite communications network.
MetroPCS also could use wholesale capacity from the proposed LightSquared network, as well. MetroPCS might also bid on spectrum Clearwire wants to sell.
MetroPCS also could use wholesale capacity from the proposed LightSquared network, as well. MetroPCS might also bid on spectrum Clearwire wants to sell.
AT&T's "Satellite Augmented Mobile Service" uses the TerreStar network and dual-mode handsets that use both cellular and satellite networks.
The TerreStar "Genus" smartphone operates with terrestrial mobile as the primary default mode and satellite access capability as a secondary option for voice, data and messaging.
The access to the TerreStar satellite network enables wireless communications coverage in remote areas for government, energy, utility, transportation and maritime users, as well as backup satellite communications capabilities for public safety agencies, first responders and disaster recovery groups.
MetroPCS Eyes TerreStar Assets - WSJ.com (subscription required)
Gary Kim was cited as a global "Power Mobile Influencer" by Forbes, ranked second in the world for coverage of the mobile business, and as a "top 10" telecom analyst. He is a member of Mensa, the international organization for people with IQs in the top two percent.
Netflix Encounters Complexity of Content Rights
Netflix said some of its deals with studios and other content providers prevent it from offering its streaming video service on TiVo DVRs distributed by Suddenlink Communications and other multichannel video programming distributors.
"Only those TiVo units sold in the retail channel are licensed to offer the instant streaming functionality from Netflix," Netflix spokesman Steve Swasey said.
"Only those TiVo units sold in the retail channel are licensed to offer the instant streaming functionality from Netflix," Netflix spokesman Steve Swasey said.
TiVo apparently does not have the rights to offer Netflix on the boxes provided to Suddenlink because Netflix agreements with numerous content providers don't extend to devices distributed by cable companies and perhaps others.
It is likely similar issues will develop as more providers enter the streaming video business, and discover the complexity of rights agreements.
Gary Kim was cited as a global "Power Mobile Influencer" by Forbes, ranked second in the world for coverage of the mobile business, and as a "top 10" telecom analyst. He is a member of Mensa, the international organization for people with IQs in the top two percent.
Twitter Illustrates Pareto Distribution
Twitter followers in December 2010 show a clear Pareto distribution, as do people that Twitter users "follow."
The clear implication for things such as market share in any sphere of business will also have a Pareto distribution.
The implications for businesses and organizations that use Twitter as a social tool is that, in all likelihood, modest expectations should be watchword. It is highly unlikely most companies and organizations will ever appear at the head of the tail. Those spots normally are held by celebrities of one sort or another.
That isn't a reason not to use Twitter, just a reminder to be realistic about expectations.
Gary Kim was cited as a global "Power Mobile Influencer" by Forbes, ranked second in the world for coverage of the mobile business, and as a "top 10" telecom analyst. He is a member of Mensa, the international organization for people with IQs in the top two percent.
Stuxnet an Instance of Cyber War?
Damage from the Stuxnet virus has apparently set back the Iranian nuclear program by as much as two years, according to a German security expert interviewed by the Jerusalem Post, and may be an instance of cyber warfare.
http://www.jpost.com/IranianThreat/News/Article.aspx?id=199475
It is said to have been specifically written to attack Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition systems used to control and monitor industrial processes.
Stuxnet is a Windows-specific computer worm first discovered in July 2010 by a security firm based in Belarus, according to Wikipedia. While it is not the first time that hackers have targeted industrial systems, it is the first discovered worm that spies on and reprograms industrial systems.
It is said to have been specifically written to attack Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition systems used to control and monitor industrial processes.
Stuxnet includes the capability to reprogram Programmable Logic Controllers and hide its changes.The worm's probable target is said to have been high value infrastructures in Iran using Siemens control systems.
Gary Kim was cited as a global "Power Mobile Influencer" by Forbes, ranked second in the world for coverage of the mobile business, and as a "top 10" telecom analyst. He is a member of Mensa, the international organization for people with IQs in the top two percent.
Will 2011 Be Decisive for Clearwire?
Among the wireless issues to watch in 2011 is what happens with Clearwire. Though in principle the company could go bankrupt if it does not raise some billions of additional funding later in 2011, a more-reasonable bet might be some "change of control" event.
Clearwire could, in principle, be bought, merge with another firm or perhaps even become a firm without a full national footprint. The last option would be complicated, but might involve Clearwire selling off assets in markets it has not built, or finished building, to another firm that would finish the construction. That would seem the least likely of all outcomes, though.
Gary Kim was cited as a global "Power Mobile Influencer" by Forbes, ranked second in the world for coverage of the mobile business, and as a "top 10" telecom analyst. He is a member of Mensa, the international organization for people with IQs in the top two percent.
Mobile Charges Based on Time and Apps?
In principle, there is no reason broadband access plans cannot be created for a few favored applications, perhaps Facebook, for example. Jonathon Gordon, Allot Networks marketing director, sees no reason why mobile operators could not create such plans, much as they offer specific plans for text messaging, rather than full access to the mobile web.
Application-focused packages might allow users to buy more-modest mobile broadband plans specifically oriented to a few, or just one, lead application.
Gary Kim was cited as a global "Power Mobile Influencer" by Forbes, ranked second in the world for coverage of the mobile business, and as a "top 10" telecom analyst. He is a member of Mensa, the international organization for people with IQs in the top two percent.
Mobile Commerce Cuts Both Ways
Retailers and others in the mobile ecosystem think mobile commerce has lots of potential, in lots of different ways. But mobile commerce cuts two ways. It might prove advantageous for retailers in some ways, and a bit of a threat in other ways.
Until recently, retailers could reasonably assume that if they just lured shoppers to stores with enticing specials, the customers could be coaxed into buying more profitable products as well. The "loss leader" technique perhaps does not work so well when a shopper can do price comparisons using a mobile device, while still inside a store.
Now, marketers must contend with shoppers who can use their smartphones inside stores to check whether the specials are really so special, and if the rest of the merchandise is reasonably priced.
'The retailer's advantage has been eroded,' says Greg Girard of consultancy IDC Retail Insights, which recently found that roughly 45 percent of customers with smartphones had used them to perform due diligence on a store's prices.
Now, marketers must contend with shoppers who can use their smartphones inside stores to check whether the specials are really so special, and if the rest of the merchandise is reasonably priced.
'The retailer's advantage has been eroded,' says Greg Girard of consultancy IDC Retail Insights, which recently found that roughly 45 percent of customers with smartphones had used them to perform due diligence on a store's prices.
Phone-Wielding Shoppers Strike Fear Into Retailers - WSJ.com (subscription required)
Gary Kim was cited as a global "Power Mobile Influencer" by Forbes, ranked second in the world for coverage of the mobile business, and as a "top 10" telecom analyst. He is a member of Mensa, the international organization for people with IQs in the top two percent.
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