Over the past two years, I've spoken with Mirco Pasqualini, lead designer for CrossCast, an On-line UI and tools platform for production professionals. With the planned release of their version 2.0 slated sometime during the summer of '08, Mirco sent some new screen shots and content about the platform, enclosed are his comments.

Two screen from CrossCast which looks very Joost like which Mirco concedes is the look in the current beta version but will change significantly over 2008.

By, Mirco Pasqualini
The evolution of CrossCast, the version 2, become a on line framework for Network TV. The system planned to be ready for summer 2008 will offer service and technology on demand for building personal and professional network TV over the Internet, this via computer, mobile phone, iPhone/iPod/AppleTV, setboxes, and other video platform.

The scope of CrossCast is not only build TV like as video website but build TV Internet platform.

The new framework, accessible from the web offer with a registration different plan of membership with different service like as:
- On line trascoding
- Desktop/web Content management application
- Rich Media Interaction management over video
- WebTV Publishing components (For build full video / Flash website)
- Dot.TV Publishing components (For build video archive / website )
- Channel TV can be 4 different content type: Video, Radio, Imaging, and Applications
- Delivery management
- Advertising management
- API and Web services
and more...

The platform can be sell like as too completely dedicated system for build TV Network.

With the upper service, we develop WiTV 2.0 a completely new tool. Is not a Player but a independent system for stream content. It's build for Computer (OSX, WIN, LINUX) and in second phase for iPhone/iPod, mobile phone, and for dedicated Set top.
This application based on different technology especially in C++ and JAVA for professional application, can be embedded into hardware device like as TV and Set top.
The WiTV application offer a large range of capabilities for Video on demand and Live Scheduling, Advertising, Community Tool and customization.

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I have been test driving their new OS and will have some video in the coming weeks. Also, see the CrossCast site for more information

With news that Verizon has reached 1 million subscribers with their fiber-optic FiOS service, the future looks bright as consumers are opting for faster bandwidth where available. According to the company which offers the service in parts of 13 states, hopefully I will be able to add it soon, hint..

226,000 net new FiOS TV customers, 943,000 total FiOS TV customers at year-end; Verizon now has more than 1 million FiOS TV customers.

264,000 net new broadband connections, including 245,000 net new FiOS Internet customers; 8.2 million total broadband connections, up 17.9 percent from year-end 2006.

On the flip side, customers for digital subscriber lines, or (DSL), continued to fall. Verizon added just 19,000 DSL customers in the quarter, down from 56,000 in the previous quarter. Considering FiOS has rolled out to only 13 markets, I'd be interested to know the downward trend in DSL Subs is due to.

In addition, Verizon is testing a gigabit passive optical network (G-PON), the new electronics can increase the line-rate bandwidth on the Verizon fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) network by four times downstream to the customer and eight times upstream back to the network.

See: GPON: A migration path to an all IP / Ethernet Network for in-depth technical analysis

Verizon Extends Industry Lead in Broadband and Video With G-PON

No word from sources inside the company as to the numbers and areas that will be cut however, I fear once again the company will back away from their announced plans to revive their Vision platform in the form of TechTicker

As Henry Blodget reported a few days ago, his sources said the numbers could be as high as 2,500 jobs however, it is unclear how CEO Jerry Yang will deal with the stock slide and numerous high-level departures from the company especially since he is not known for making the hard calls.

Also see Business Week, Yahoo's Search for a Vision

Ensequence, the interactive television company, today announced the results of a survey* that shows consumers are ready to change the way they interact with their televisions in 2008. According to the survey, 72 percent of viewers indicated they are currently using their remote controls for simple tasks such as finding favorite programs using the on-screen TV guide, scheduling or selecting DVR recordings and for viewing content on-demand. Now consumers are ready to take their television viewing experience a leap further and they want more from their cable and satellite providers in 2008.

72 percent of those who watch reality TV shows want to interact with those shows

65 percent of those who watch sporting events on TV want to interact with those events

66 percent of viewers want to interact with commercial advertising

70 percent of TV viewers would consider signing up for another cable or satellite provider if they offered advanced interactivity at no extra charge

50 percent of those who watch drama TV shows indicated that they would be interested in interacting with those shows

Companies like Ensequence have a built in advantage over on-line companies as set-top boxes are already in place in people's homes. The challenge for companies like Netflix, Apple, Sandisk and other's is how to make the connection between content (lean forward) and viewing (lean back) as simple and enjoyable as possible.

I think Netflix is in the best position verses Apple with plans to integrate their platform into TV's, DVR's and the like from companies such as LG and others, system on chip so to speak is the answer. Apple's plans are underwhelming and a me too approach. That Steve Jobs wants to get into the movie business I doubt studio execs will feel it is their responsibility to give him a new business model.

*Methodology of Harris Study.

This survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Interactive® on behalf of Ensequence between November 29 to December 3, 2007 among 2,949 adults (aged 18 and over), of whom 2,877 watch TV. Figures for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, region, and household income were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents’ propensity to be online

Brightcove, the on line publisher has signed a deal with Gruner+Jahr, a division of the media powerhouse Bertelsmann. The deal gives Brightcove its first major media customer in Germany.

CEO, Jeremy Allaire told Reuters said the use of on line video would allow publishers to compete for TV adverts.

"Germany has a very robust advertising market and broadband penetration is growing very rapidly so it is a good opportunity,"

While the on-line publisher has found traction with large media brands it has not fared as well with smaller professional content producers who saw the promise of aggregation as a vehicle to monetize their content.

Recently I spoke with Dalen Harrison, CEO of Ensequence about the company. Ensequence could be called a hybrid between a tools and a service integration company in the IPTV arena. Their most notable project to date was the platform behind the Spike TV 2007 Video Game Awards with over 20 million viewers.

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We were at our friend’s new house last week and I spend some time talking with him about his plans to install a multi-zone video and audio system, something like eight zones I recall. Their old TV set is pictured here, the new 60" plasma will hang over the fireplace thought he has not decided which brand. I was telling my friend about Netflix streaming to pc and suggested having his AV company install a rack mounted server to stream content to the TV and even other sets in the house. Too complex he told me, I want something I can operate with one remote. I have too many already.

With the announcement of the partnership with LG to integrate Netflix streaming services directly into the form factor, I emailed the New York Times article to him with a positive reply. Will he wait until the second quarter of this year, not sure, if he does, will the service work seamlessly for someone who is not tech savvy?

The Netflix solution is a bold and correct step for the company and will give them a new lease on life. The question, can they integrate into "enough" brands to penetrate the living rooms of America in a meaningful enough way?

Even in a case where money is not the main issue and he could install a Crestron or other system, the more important factor is what is easy enough for the individual which I am reminded is unique to each of us, and therefore there can not be one solution or killer app.