BusinessWeek’s Olga Kharif has written a short article on Jeff Pulver’s latest effort: Network2.tv. She leads off with the provocative question of whether this will be the “Vonage” of TV, and then makes this statement:
Pulver believes that, in 2007, we’ll see the rise of a new TV network that will eventually compete with the likes of NBC, ABC and CNN. He believes that this new TV network will be Web-based. And he hopes it will be Network2.tv.
Is the Vonage of TV the right analogy? Maybe and maybe not. Like Vonage, Network2.tv is a broadband parasite — it rides on someone else’s network. But unlike Vonage, Network2.tv isn’t actually a substitute for your television. It’s not about saving money, as Vonage was. Rather, it’s about getting the content you want. Network2.tv is a long tail play for micro-shows, rather than just a new distribution mechanism. In that respect, it’s more like Tivo, than Vonage, except web based.
What’s also fascinating is that because Network2.tv guide isn’t time based, but rather content based, it may be able to neatly sidestep all of the ugly program guide patents owned by Gemstar International.
Go go Jeff!
Alec Saunders is the Vice President of Developer Relations for BlackBerry maker Research in Motion. This is his personal blog, with his personal viewpoints. Prior to this Alec was the CEO and co-founder of Calliflower — the easiest way to hold a meeting, online, on a conference call, or on the go. A double-decade veteran of product management and marketing, he spent nine years at Microsoft where he helped launch Windows 95, the first two versions of Internet Explorer, the Universal Plug and Play initiative, the push into home markets, opt-in email marketing and what might well go down in history as the very first direct email list ever.
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I fail to see how network2.tv is in any way revolutionary. This is already being done by Al Gore's company current (www.current.tv) and even "old media" companies like CNN are inviting more user generated content.
I'm all for more players in this space, but it's far from "Vonage of Television" and it's far from revolutionary or even being disruptive at this point.
I don't know that there IS anything revolutionary, Aaron. Network2.tv is simply a portal, with some interesting characteristics. But, perhaps, it may turn into something more.
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