Cable Forum - View Single Post - High-definition Video On Demand -- a Sky (Plus) killer?

Tristan · 27-05-2005, 01:11

Something I genuinely hadn't thought of till I saw a brief mention of it on a site discussing the new Telewest PVR.

There is an incredible amount of bickering taking place at the moment amongst European broadcasters regarding high-definition TV. With sales of plasma and LCD screens on the increase, HDTV is clearly the future, but nobody can quite agree on how to broadcast it (720p? 1080i? MPEG2? MPEG4? which MPEG4, etc...)

Both Sky and the BBC have said they want to launch HD services in 2006, but have been very vague on the details of how they will do this. And even if they do launch, it will mean Sky's premium userbase will have to throw away their expensive Sky Plus boxes in favour of a new "Sky Plus HD" variety -- how many will be willing to do this just to be able to get the BBC channels and Sky Movies in HD?

Step forward Telewest (and, in a merged company, NTL too). With the VOD infrastructure, they have a unique opportunity to be first to market broadcasting HDTV -- and do it well. They don't need to wait for european standards to be agreed, as HD programming will be coming from their own servers. When the standards are agreed, they can update their software to accept it, or just do their own thing -- these are the advantages of having a private network, and not having to support any future FTA HD channels, as Sky will.

If NTL/Telewest can get the combination of VOD and an HD PVR right, then for the first time since the launch of Sky Digital, cable will be in the lead in the pay-TV race. The high-end will go for it because they will want to watch FilmFlex movies in HD (because HD-DVDs aren't available yet), and because the BBC (who are already making programmes in HD for the US and Australia) will be happy to put their HD content on the servers as well as the standard stuff. If the cablecos can negotiate rights deals with more channels and distributers, then HD-VOD will become the new TV killer app -- it's all very well being able to pause and rewind Desperate Housewives on your Sky Plus box, but why put up with a crappy E4 picture when you can pause it in HDTV quality? And where the high end go, the masses inevitably follow -- two years ago only geeks knew what an iPod was or what Sky Plus did, whereas now even my mum wants to listen to MP3s on the move.

The really promising part is that all the technology is already tried and tested in the USA, where it has lead to a resurgence in popularity of cable, even where there are HD broadcasts via satellite. If cable can establish a foot-hold in the market, things could look very different two years from now.

Many people have criticised NTL for not revealing any PVR plans. In my opinion, they are somewhat vindicated. It has been clear for donkey's years that NTL and Telewest will merge, and it's now looking increasinly likely it will happen this year. I doubt there was ever a meeting between Duffy and his counterpart at Telewest to decide who would do R&D on what, but NTL holding back on the PVR front means that (given that TW have opted for the same VOD system) a merged company would be able to press ahead without having to worry about the Langley/Bromley incompatibilities that have plagued NTL for years.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that for the first time in a long long time, the future is bright for cable TV. Years of promise might be on the verge of actually paying off.

Let's just hope it happens.

27-05-2005, 01:11	#1
Tristan Inactive Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Glastonbury! Services: Telewest DTV & 4Meg BB (Bath), NTL DTV and 2Meg BB (Poole) Posts: 1,350	High-definition Video On Demand -- a Sky (Plus) killer? Something I genuinely hadn't thought of till I saw a brief mention of it on a site discussing the new Telewest PVR. There is an incredible amount of bickering taking place at the moment amongst European broadcasters regarding high-definition TV. With sales of plasma and LCD screens on the increase, HDTV is clearly the future, but nobody can quite agree on how to broadcast it (720p? 1080i? MPEG2? MPEG4? which MPEG4, etc...) Both Sky and the BBC have said they want to launch HD services in 2006, but have been very vague on the details of how they will do this. And even if they do launch, it will mean Sky's premium userbase will have to throw away their expensive Sky Plus boxes in favour of a new "Sky Plus HD" variety -- how many will be willing to do this just to be able to get the BBC channels and Sky Movies in HD? Step forward Telewest (and, in a merged company, NTL too). With the VOD infrastructure, they have a unique opportunity to be first to market broadcasting HDTV -- and do it well. They don't need to wait for european standards to be agreed, as HD programming will be coming from their own servers. When the standards are agreed, they can update their software to accept it, or just do their own thing -- these are the advantages of having a private network, and not having to support any future FTA HD channels, as Sky will. If NTL/Telewest can get the combination of VOD and an HD PVR right, then for the first time since the launch of Sky Digital, cable will be in the lead in the pay-TV race. The high-end will go for it because they will want to watch FilmFlex movies in HD (because HD-DVDs aren't available yet), and because the BBC (who are already making programmes in HD for the US and Australia) will be happy to put their HD content on the servers as well as the standard stuff. If the cablecos can negotiate rights deals with more channels and distributers, then HD-VOD will become the new TV killer app -- it's all very well being able to pause and rewind Desperate Housewives on your Sky Plus box, but why put up with a crappy E4 picture when you can pause it in HDTV quality? And where the high end go, the masses inevitably follow -- two years ago only geeks knew what an iPod was or what Sky Plus did, whereas now even my mum wants to listen to MP3s on the move. The really promising part is that all the technology is already tried and tested in the USA, where it has lead to a resurgence in popularity of cable, even where there are HD broadcasts via satellite. If cable can establish a foot-hold in the market, things could look very different two years from now. Many people have criticised NTL for not revealing any PVR plans. In my opinion, they are somewhat vindicated. It has been clear for donkey's years that NTL and Telewest will merge, and it's now looking increasinly likely it will happen this year. I doubt there was ever a meeting between Duffy and his counterpart at Telewest to decide who would do R&D on what, but NTL holding back on the PVR front means that (given that TW have opted for the same VOD system) a merged company would be able to press ahead without having to worry about the Langley/Bromley incompatibilities that have plagued NTL for years. I guess what I'm trying to say is that for the first time in a long long time, the future is bright for cable TV. Years of promise might be on the verge of actually paying off. Let's just hope it happens.