CONNECTIONS Summit at CES to address video strategies as U.S. online video viewers to reach 215 million by 2014

The final session of CONNECTIONS™ Summit at CES, "Video Everywhere: Key Strategies," will examine market implications of TV Everywhere, VOD, and connected TVs, along with the risks of cord cutting, featuring speakers from Rovi, Korea Telecom, DivX, ActiveVideo Networks, and Sigma Designs.

The penetration of connected TVs and Blu-ray players has tripled in the past year, and over one-third of U.S. broadband household report increased time spent watching long-form videos on a PC. Consumer expectations for the video experience are expanding, and service providers and CE manufacturers must meet these demands or risk losing customers to competitors and over-the-top sources.

"Video Everywhere" session speakers:

• Sean Besser, VP, Business Development, Rovi Corp.

• Woo Seung Lee, Team Manager, Media Business Planning Department, Korea Telecom

• Matt Milne, EVP and GM, DivX

• Edgar Villalpando, SVP, Marketing, ActiveVideo Networks

• Michael Weismann, VP Corporate Marketing, Sigma Designs

CONNECTIONS™ Summit at CES provides consumer data and analysis of business and marketing strategies for operators, CE manufacturers, utilities, and communications companies delivering connected devices and advanced services and applications to consumers.

For information about CONNECTIONS™ Conferences, visit www.connectionsconference.com.

thePlatform Selected by Outdoor Channel for Online Video Publishing

thePlatform, the leading white-label video management and publishing company, announced that its mpx Beta video management system has been chosen to manage and publish online video for Outdoor Channel's popular website, OutdoorChannel.com. In addition, the network is using thePlatform's video player technology, including features for sharing video across social networks.

Outdoor Channel, America's leader in outdoor TV, broadcasts prominent outdoor programs focused on hunting, fishing, shooting, off-roading, adventure, and conservation. The network is available through a multitude of cable, satellite and telco providers across the United States, reaching 36 million homes, according to Nielsen Media Research.

OutdoorChannel.com, Outdoor Channel's comprehensive online platform, is the premier digital destination for outdoor enthusiasts, offering in-depth show and host pages, useful information on state hunting and fishing licenses and destinations, and an interactive community section where fans can connect and share their passion. The centerpiece of OutdoorChannel.com is a state-of-the-art broadband video player that enables users to watch an extensive library of thousands of videos – the majority in an HD viewing experience.

In addition to using thePlatform's centralized video management system, mpx Beta, Outdoor Channel is also utilizing the social media capabilities of thePlatform's video player. The player includes 10 integrations with leading social media sites, such as Facebook, Twitter, Digg, Yahoo! Buzz, and provides Outdoor Channel with the flexibility to add more.

thePlatform publishes video and other media to PCs, mobile devices and TV. Media companies rely on thePlatform as their open, central hub for managing, monetizing and syndicating billions of professionally produced video views annually. thePlatform currently provides online video management services to numerous programmers, leading media companies, and five of the top cable TV service providers in North America, including the largest "TV Everywhere" deployments.

Service providers must adjust strategies as consumers turn to alternate sources for video & online media

Key industry executives will address recent shifts in consumer video and online viewing habits at CONNECTIONS™: The Digital Living Conference & Showcase. These changes in consumer behavior are forcing service providers to expand and enhance their business strategies for connected CE, online video, and other value-added services.

Nearly 20% of U.S. broadband households have a PC-to-TV connection, and the vast majority is using this DIY solution to stream online video.

Over one-half of U.S. households don’t know their broadband speed. Broadband has become a commodity, and service providers are in a position where they have to talk about additional services, including TV Everywhere and tech support. It can be a difficult transition, but they are in an excellent position to leverage their existing customer relationships and take the lead in the digital living ecosystem.

CONNECTIONS™ is the premier event for research and analysis of connected home technologies and digital living solutions, including multiple speakers and attendees representing service providers and their partners.

The conference features sessions on evolving carrier strategies and service and partnership opportunities in response to new consumer behaviors and connected CE:

Expanding Consumers’ Digital Media Choices

Monetizing Connected CE

TV and Online Video Advertising Metrics

Trends in User Interfaces

3DTV

Service Provider Innovation

The Future of the Set-top Box

TV Everywhere and Online Video

For more information about the CONNECTIONS Conference, visit www.connectionsus.com.

CONNECTIONS™ addresses service provider innovation and opportunities to build ARPU

TV Everywhere has generated headlines for service providers, but tech support and online storage services are also critical parts of any successful bundling strategy, according to international research firm Parks Associates.

Parks Associates reports almost 40% of U.S. broadband households are interested in receiving managed Internet security from their service provider, while premium tech support services and online backup each attract approximately one-third of households.

CONNECTIONS™: The Digital Living Conference and Showcase will feature multiple panels on Entertainment Platforms & Value-Added Services:

Digital Home Technical Support Services

Digital Lifestyles

Service Provider Innovation

The Service Provider and the Connected Home

Innovations & Investments: Venture Capitalist Insights

CONNECTIONS™ will feature several executive sessions examining strategies for providers to expand their value-added service offerings, including a look at unique service trials conducted by the most innovative second-tier service providers in the U.S. market.

Other CONNECTIONS™ Session Topics include: New Media and Digital Content, Consumer Electronics, and Home Systems & Controls.

Less than six million U.S. households would consider canceling pay-TV service in favor of online video

Despite the growing amount of video available online, less than 8% of U.S. broadband households are considering canceling their pay-TV services in favor of online video, according to Parks Associates’ All Eyes on Video.

All Eyes on Video found approximately 5.5 million homes would be open to canceling pay TV due in part to the availability of online video. At the same time, one-half of these households are also considering a switch to a new pay-TV provider, indicating the primary threats to companies such as Verizon, Comcast, DirecTV, and Cablevision are still their traditional competitors.

The households likely to switch or cancel their services watch a whopping 10 hours of online video each week, much higher than typical video consumers. They express strong interest in having online access to pay-TV channels (e.g., TV Everywhere), which highlights an opportunity for traditional pay-TV providers to solidify their base through the deployment of such features. Offline video consumption is also higher. Their median number of DVD rentals from the last six months is 18, compared to two rentals among other households.

CONNECTIONS™ addresses business strategies and new technologies that leverage consumer interest in TV Everywhere services

Parks Associates reports TV Everywhere services are gaining popularity, with over 40% of U.S. broadband households very positive on these services, which will be a prominent topic at the upcoming CONNECTIONS™: The Digital Living Conference and Showcase.

CONNECTIONS™ includes multiple sessions on New Media and Digital Content:

• TV Everywhere and Online Video
• Mobile Internet and Cloud Services
• Trends in User Interfaces
• TV and Online Video Advertising Metrics
• DRM, Conditional Access, and Payment Models

Other Event Sessions:

Entertainment Platforms & Value-Added Services

• Digital Home Technical Support Services
• Digital Lifestyles
• Service Provider Innovation
• The Service Provider and the Connected Home
• Innovations & Investments: Venture Capitalist Insights

Consumer Electronics

• Design Elements for Connected CE
• Monetizing Connected CE
• The Future of the Set-top Box
• 3DTV
• TV Technology in the New Age of Consumer Buying

Home Systems & Controls

• Residential Energy Management
• Getting Consumers to Care about Home Controls
• Business Models for Energy Management
• Architectures and Implications for the Home Area Network
• Energy Management as a Key Application for Home Controls

For more information, visit www.connectionsus.com or contact sales@parksassociates.com, 972-490-1113.

HBO and Verizon FiOS TV Introduce HBO GO

Verizon and HBO announced that Verizon's FiOS TV customers will be the first to gain access to HBOGO.com, HBO's online video destination featuring over 600 hours of HBO programming.

HBO Go is part of the cable industry's TV Everywhere strategy to make TV content available online to paying subscribers.

Starting tomorrow, FiOS customers who subscribe to HBO will automatically receive free, unlimited online access to HBO programming at any time, from any U.S. location with a broadband connection. Customers must subscribe to both FiOS TV and FiOS Internet.

With HBO GO, FiOS TV customers who subscribe to HBO can instantly watch their favorite programs from a PC or MAC computer via a browser-based application. HBO GO will support Verizon subaccounts and allow up to three simultaneous users from the same household. Users have the ability to customize their experience through multiple browsing and viewing options, as well as the ability to restrict content with easy to use parental controls.

For more information, click here.

Time Warner tests "TV Everywhere" plan

Cable network giant, Time Warner has a plan to distribute pay TV programming via web sites like Hulu, Yahoo TV, and YouTube. Whether through a mobile device or a computer, viewers will just have to prove they already subscribe to pay TV (cable, satellite or telco's TV offerings).

The "TV Everywhere" plan enables a cable subscriber (or person from that household) to have online access to the programming included in their current cable TV bundle. Full details are still being worked out although the goal is to prevent households from cancelling their cable TV subscriptions. The number of people per account is undetermined. There might also be a web-only option for non-cable TV subscribers.

Regardless of service provider (DirectTV, Time Warner Cable, Verizon, etc.), one would be able to watch content from networks like HBO or TNT. We will also have to wait to see if other cable networks adopt this plan too. However, Viacom and NBCU are moving forward with free cable distribution online because it helps boost awareness and ratings for their shows. Although, Time Warner argues that the trend of consumers ditching pay TV for free online content is an important and increasing issue.

To read more about this topic, please read the Advertising Age's article "TV Everywhere -- As Long As You Pay for It."