During a recent visit to CNN London, I asked a senior news editor if their Internet based video content would remain free. He gave an elusive answer which I interpreted as no, this article confirms that they will be charging. This move isn’t surprising to anyone who’s been involved with streaming media – streaming content over the public Internet, especially BB video IS expensive, so expect this to be the rule rather than the exception.
Digital-Lifestyles pre-empted and reported thousands of articles on the then-coming impact that technology was to have on all forms of Media. Launched in 2001 as a research blog to aid its founder, Simon Perry, present at IBC 2002, it grew into a wide ranging, multi-author publication that was quoted in many publications globally including the BBC, was described by the Guardian as 'Informative' and also cited in a myriad of tech publications before closing in 2009
BT ADSL users double?
Reports that the number of BT ADSL users in the UK has doubled – slightly confusing given the price hasn’t officially dropped yet.
Telewest about 107k broadband users
Trying to keep some of the spotlight, Telewest announce that they have 107k users – putting them currently about equal with BT. In a move to try and avoid being forgotten, they say they’ll be bringing out a 1Mb service at the newly reduced self-install ADSL price.
Sweden’s B2 deal with BBC Prime
Sweden’s B2 Bredband has signed a deal with BBC Prime to enable their 70k subscribers to watch it through their PC. This is the first deal that BBC Prime has signed and it’s good to see BBC Worldwide becoming adventurous with the way they deliver their content.
BT ADSL wholesale price drops to £14.75
Ben Verwaayen, CEO of BT announced the reduction in the wholesale price of ADSL from 1 April to 14.75ukp this morning. They’ve set a target of one million ADSL user by summer 2003 and pledged to improve network performance and quality of service, which is needed.
Details of BT ADSL price cuts
Reports in the UK Sunday Times that BT will cut its wholesale price to 20ukp, which should lead to retail prices of around 30ukp from the current 40ukp. I’ve heard from someone who is close to top BT management that they might half the price. We’ll should get to know the facts on Tuesday.
Film deal for the first Canadian VOD trial
Alliance Atlantis Motion Picture Distribution are to provide films for the first Canadian VOD trial. 1,000 customer of Toronto-based Rogers Cable will take part in the trial.
Italian broadcaster RAI to stream TV
Alcatel and Italian broadcaster RAI have announced they will be streaming their 24hr news channel, RAI News 24 over 3G at 384 kbit/s during the 3GSM World Congress in Cannes. I’m looking forward to reports on its results.
Broadband connected TV from Panasonic
Another broadband connected device, this time a TV from Panasonic. It will also have a dial-up modem and is reported as being able to download content at off-peak hours ready for viewing later, so I assume PVR functions.
Ultra Wideband murmurs
Ultra Wideband (UWB) – its civilian use has been talked about for a while (the military been using it for about twenty years) and now the US FCC has revised some of its rules to enable be used commercially.
Its major advantages are low-cost implementations and low-power consumption – leading to one example of it use being to tagging goods to track them on a dock-side or in a ship. Civilian uses are currently less clear but with single devices peaking at over 50Mbps over 10m, distribution of high-quality video over short distance would be possible.