DRM and other embedded controls on digital content will never stop peer-to-peer copying and sharing on the Internet. The answer is an "old school" approach -- pioneered by radio, TV and the Grateful Dead -- live performances. And once again, the porn industry leads the way, proving that it remains the barometer for high-tech innovation and entrepreneurship.
But with the Internet, live shows are not limited by the reach of a radio signal or a loudspeaker, or the lousy picture quality that defines most online video today. The world is the audience. Broadband streaming of high-definition, live video is a winning business model online, and the porn industry is proving it with record revenues.
Forget the grainy, lousy 70,000 pixel videos that populate the Web today. Real high-def -- with resolutions of 1 million pixels and more -- is the killer app for online content. For now, that requires cutting edge hardware and fiber to deliver fast enough to feel live. But that will change.
Hopefully, it is a lesson that Viacom, CNN and other mainstream content creators will learn.
Categories: media, Internet
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3 comments:
When I think it over which I do again and again I tend to conclude that CNN, Viacom, Sony etc.etc. do not have the right to invade the Internet. I want them to leave. If the porn goes the same way, I will understand.
The thing which makes my statement a bit problematic is, of course, that the internet has been used by people to pirate copyrighted material, which evidently is a criminal act. That is the only reason I see for establishing commercial content distribution via the Internet.
I should add: There may be no other viable solution than commercial presence on the Internet at the moment, but we should look for better protection of works of art in ways that do not interfere with the right to digital equipment of the best quality without technical brakes.
Reality is that the Web will be home to all kinds of people and companies. Commercial content is certainly a big part of that.
BUT, that does not mean that commercial business models should remain unchanged. The Internet is a different medium offering a very different distribution channel. It enables sharing of content in a way that never existed before. Content companies need to account for that.
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