What You Need To Know Now…
The Future Of Cloud: It’s All About Two-Way Functionality
Cloud computing has started making its way into the traditional TV business, and industry experts say it’s leading to lower costs, higher functionality and happier customers. According to Michael Willner, Penthera’s vice chairman/CEO, the cloud isn’t just about hosting content remotely; it’s also about two-way functionality that could generate such new revenue streams as “mobile pay-per-view” that potentially could compete with the likes of Apple’s iTunes. However, he adds, distributors and programmers will have to work together to make that and other cloud-based benefits a widespread reality, noting, “We are all dependent on each other to make the whole ecosystem work.” (To learn more from Willner and other insiders, listen to sister publication CableFAX’s Webcast on demand at https://video.webcasts.com/events/pmny001/viewer/index.jsp?eventid=45072.)
The Hopper Wins Vindication, Best In Show
Doing the right thing, the International CES named DISH Networks’ Hopper with Sling Whole-Home HD DVR co-winner with the Razer Edge gaming tablet for “Best of Show” under the 2013 “Best of CES” awards program. As CTDaily reported Jan. 11, C/NET editors originally selected the Hopper as the winner before C/NET’s corporate parent, CBS Corp., forced editors to negate that decision due to ongoing litigation between CBS Corp. and DISH. “The C/NET editorial team identified the Hopper Sling as the most innovative product of the show, and we couldn’t agree more,” said Karen Chupka, senior vice president/Events and Conferences at CEA, adding both products were the best of the best. CEA will release a RFP to find a new partner to run the “Best of CES” awards program, believing C/NET’s new review policy could hurt the CES brand moving forward.
