Future Gazing: IPTV High on Powell's Radar

If cable needed further proof of "barbarians at the gate" (a phrase borrowed from CableLabs COO Chris Lammers), FCC chmn Michael Powell provided it. "IPTV and video are going to start coming on very, very strong," Powell said Wed. The chmn said that in the last 6 months, IPTV is the #1 item being worked on in Silicon Valley labs and small companies he’s visited. "Almost every major phone company has an initiative underway to begin to try to plug the hole with satellite-delivered video, but what they’re really working on is broadband-delivered IP television." We’d trust him. Reports of TiVo and Netflix being close to a deal to allow subs to download Netflix movies via TiVo hit the media last week. Powell said he saw it in action months ago. In other IPTV news, Eagle Broadband said Wed it secured standard and HD IP video content distribution rights with broadcasters, movie studios and content providers for 1st-run movies and more than 200 cable and broadcast channels. — HD Education: Powell said the Commission will launch an HDTV consumer education campaign shortly. Comparing the campaign to the FCC’s ‘Do Not Call List’ push, Powell said it would call on trade associations for support.