Discussion on The Hollywood Reporter
TOM CRUISE'S ODD WALMART STUMP SPEECH
Herb Lair • 4 hours ago Growing up in the shadows of Walmart#2, second location is the model that proves success or failure, one aspect is always missed. Women took minimum wage jobs that most elitist men or women wouldn't consider and took stock options. Many became very wealthy and even multi-millionaires. Women in rural locations were and are given opportunities and security they could never have had with the mom and pops geared more to taking care of their immediate families. Same internationally where you have the social divides. Other obvious reasons the stars come to Walmart's meeting is the 40% of DVD market that Walmart is trying to monetize in streaming.
Discussion on FierceIPTV
Google Fiber has the makings of a national network, analysts say
Herb Lair • 5 days ago With the $6-8K per sub cost by Google Fiber and penetration percentages I don't see anything close to a viable financial solution. Reaching homes and actual subs generally are far apart unless they make some even costlier acquisitions. Build and they will come only happens in old movies and when there is proven value. Again don't plan on someone buying a Ferrari to drive to a Walmart
Discussion on FierceCable
The Comcast Show: Has Brian Roberts become cable's Steve Jobs?
Herb Lair • 9 days ago Roberts closer to Bil Gates & DOS/Windows -
Jobs unlike Gates or Roberts was unafraid to put consumers first with
ecosystem & revenue model
Discussion on Golfweek
Masters, Tiger Woods penalty: Agent says it wasn't 'willful' violation
Herb Lair • 2 months ago Letting the fan call the penalty is so brilliant , can't wait til football season. Right!!
Discussion on The Hollywood Reporter
'Celebrity Apprentice': Bret Michaels Reacts to His 'Horrible,' Shocking Firing (Video)
Herb Lair • 4 months ago Thought the Show was more scripted than WWE. Michaels gets a PR bump and does everything to script from selecting Omorosa, something he would have never done on his own, to letting someone else be project leader (another scripted move) to not raising any money (biggest scripted move of all). I'm sure with Trump's political misteps the show needed some special attention getting publicity and best strategy was to make Michael his planned fall guy, and I'm sure Michael was in on it so he could do interviews about how surprised he was, maybe with some type of get even involvement later on in a show to appease all the people who hates the villains.
Discussion on Go Bloomberg
Your Cable Bill’s Going Up Again, But Forget a la Carte Pricing
Herb Lair • 5 months ago Cable model, unlike original broadcast model of matching content cost increases with advertising, has gotten so skewed to content being paid by subscribers, not advertisers, it needs a shock. ESPN is $7 for suite soon going to $10. Cable subs are subsidizing that content with 30% sports addicts and the remaining 70% casual or non-sports sub paying a $1 billion a month.Having a company like Google 100% ad supported should bring a much needed new model perspective.Also the ap supported (aka PPV) model of Apple could bring some new models as well as it did to music. Same with Amazon and Vudu via Walmart who made their businesses grow rapidly through being low cost and customer friendly. Cable TV revenue model is admittedly broken and TW CEO Brit admits its ecosystem is anti-consumer which only further illustrates how out of touch they are with failure to upgrade model through use of targeted ads,etc and use of social media to provide better services and save costs, not increase them. A big change in ecosystem will be mobile devices replacing TV remotes and STB logic moved to the Cloud. On the smaller communities I see a new groundswell against cable, that I think they are severely underestimating. A community bank CEO said he saw something similar in banking when the big banks failed to take care of community needs. I can see getting the minimum cable/Internet or even broadcast/Internet with antenna and shopping the rest - I did it over 14 years ago when local cable didn't have HD or sports or movie packages that I was interested it - it wasn't difficult - no hastle- then and with Smart TV and IPTV even less today -- back then I used cable and Direct TV and satellite got most of my revenue. Satellite now has 30% of market. Lots of people are taking premium channels off, including myself, for Netflix. I have also replaced my cable telephone service - cable can still count me as a subcriber but revenue is rapidly decreasing!
Discussion on Multichannel
Netflix Prices $500 Million in Debt
Herb Lair • 5 months ago Historically pretty common among cable operators On June 24, 1998, AT&T, the nation's largest provider of telephone service, announced a plan to buy TCI, second to Time Warner among cable operators with 13 million customers, for $32 billion in stock and $16 billion in assumed debt. Might also look at Charter sham bankruptcy when their systems were valued at about $2K per sub,with major debt,, in a time when system values were in $4-5K that screwed stockholders and served to get Paul Allen off the hook
Discussion on FierceIPTV
KPMG: Pay TV must change now or die
Herb Lair • 5 months ago So far cable prefers death - TV legacy is ad supported content on broadcast TV now via cable it is subscription. Move was to shift it away from the big ad people to millions of unorganized subscribers. Cost increases with impunity, as one analysts opined. Most now see Netflix as a crack in the dam as far as content, Apple, Google, and Amazon have proven examples with music,search ads, and publishing model. Where there are major benefits to customer, while cable just twists the knife. Behavioal target marketing offsetting content costs should be cable's best friend.
Discussion on Multichannel
Time Warner Sees Double-Digit Fee Growth by 2016
Herb Lair • 5 months ago Let's see TW seeks “aggressive” affiliate fee increases in the next three
years and "jettison underperforming networks. Time Warner Cable has been
especially aggressive on this front ". When you fail to understand building
customer relationships 101, I have difficulty seeing how cable will survive.
Again with apologies to Pogo, we have met the enemy and he is us. Strategy
appears to get as much as you can as soon as you can. Not only choosing content
but gouging on price. Broadcast TV had the best controls in place when content
costs were covered by advertising. Something cable has ignored entirely for
their benefit, which is creating alternatives mentioned daily from Amazon to
Netflix to Apple to Google to Microsoft to Walmart to Sony to Intel,etc. My
article May 99 CED "The revenue gold mine could come from the ability to
substantially reduce the costs of direct marketing via mail and telemarketing by
providing, for a price, the one-to-one retailing data gathered by knowing the
buying habits and preferences of customers. This is another byproduct of
transitioning to the digital era." and more recently ". Cable must incorporate a
targeted ad strategy along with reducing subscription rates to absorb future
content increases. The hybrid model would be based on social media interests and
preferences, starting with direct ads on all time shifted programming. See
my website at sites.Google.com and CUO for complete articles
Discussion on PCMag
Report: Intel to Unveil Set-Top Box, TV Service at CES
Herb Lair • 6 months ago “Intel has tested set top boxes previously where they downloaded encoded content to the equivalent of an in home large PC and subscriber chose programs and movies. As you could imagine the approach by Intel was to sell chips. Cable TV has always been able to raise subscriber rates, including exclusive STB rental rates, with impunity. For that reason they have adopted a flawed revenue model that has reached the tipping point. Not only is the poverty level a problem at 40%, there are over 60% of the Gen Y's at risk.To quote Pogo, we have met the enemy and he is us. Netflix has more subscribers than Comcast; and satellite has 30% of the market, for a reason. Netflix deal with Disney is the big crack in the content dam.Subscribers are creating a de facto ala carte - Amazon, Google, Apple,etc.. There appears ways to circumvent the continued rate increases. Cable has to eliminate its “Field of Dreams” mentality. Cable can become a positive influencer by changing their revenue model. Internet has proven there are targeted ad models that work. Cable must incorporate a targeted ad strategy along with reducing subscription rates to absorb future content increases. The hybrid model would be based on social media interests and preferences, starting with direct ads on all time shifted programming. Groupon like infomercials, with word of mouth on steroids, group buying, and urgency to buy. Amazon like preferences and alerts. Cable is currently using data from demographics and set-top boxes, a flawed strategy, with privacy issues. They could be using analytics from behavioral marketing data. Maybe we are at a time when they are more interested in constructive suggestions with all that is at stake? Intel must allow mobile devices, smart phones and pads to replace TV remotes and replace inhouse STB with the Cloud to become an effective alternative. I'm not sure that's their primary interest, since it appears they would prefer selling more home STB computers with Intel chips.
Discussion on Talking Points Memo
Netflix ‘Social Features’ Coming In 2013, Once President Signs Bill
Herb Lair • 6 months ago Behavioral Based Social Media System for the Cable TV Market
Cable has long history of failing to develop 1-1 target marketing. Canoe Ventures (MSO venture) was touted as the Holy Grail of targeted advertising and was less than a success.
http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/20...
Excerpt from above link on January, 2011 Fortune.com –
“Advertisers will spend $56 billion putting ads on TV this year...The cable industry thought it would be a big opportunity too, but its efforts have fallen short. Canoe Ventures, a two-year-old project of the six biggest operators, launched just one notable product…”
http://www.businessinsider.com...
Excerpt from above link on February, 2011 Business Insider
Identifies advertising market being missed by Cable TV operators
“Advertisers have weighed in heavily on the future of TV, with both their thoughts and their considerable wallets. Advertisers are increasingly expecting to present their advertising messages to just their desired audience…and not to anyone else. For over 60 years, video advertising could only be bought via a TV show’s projected audience, which served as a blunt proxy for a certain target audience. The result has been many wasted impressions and an often irrelevant experience for consumers. In the near future, advertisers will demand the ability to target their messages to people rather than targeting their messages to TV shows as proxies for people.”
The obvious alternative, with the least cost to implement is an independent Cloud CRM solution designed to cross index cable subscriber households with their corresponding social network interests. The current regulatory and privacy issues experienced by cable TV operators gathering unauthorized data from set-top boxes could be minimized, by validating subscriber and even eliminated by essentially having an opt-in plan (provided conveniently by the social media). Access along with profile and interests of households would be controlled by the subscriber’s social media platform of choice. Facebook has high consumer acceptance and could be used for household profiles, product interests, social interests, and viewing entertainment interests. There would be incentives to the subscribers to opt-in including notification and reminder of viewing favorites, Groupon type ads, and specific ads matching interests with infomercial type group discounts and urgency to buy.
The current design of target marketing advertising ventures is fundamentally flawed. They focus on demographics, and fail to identify the individual behavioral current and future household interests.
Project would involve developing a bidirectional Cloud interface program using a CRM application between the social media and MSO subscriber records and communicating behavioral marketing - business advertising, discounts, specific videos/groups, family albums – providing subscriber awareness of TV programming -- movies, products, etc. similar to Amazon and Groupon. This would make subscriber stickier and substantially reduce turnover.
To paraphrase a comment I made in the CED 1999 publication about the Internet, cable TV operators need to become the new best friends with the over 1 Billion members of social media."Your knowledge in this area runs deep Herb. Let's have an extended conversation related some time!"
Robert Clark Vice President, Multi-Screen Distribution at ACROSS PLATFORMS, INC.
Location Dallas/Fort Worth Area
Paul Case CEO of Spectralliance http://www.linkedin.com/pub/pa...located in Denver - International consultant.
Hey Herb,
I always read your twitter and facebook comments and insights on social media with great interest. You are an original thinker! I am most interested right now in the new players in the video/media spaces as the traditional cable/satellite Pay TV remains resistant to adaptation in this quickly changing environment.
Discussion on Multichannel
Cable Operators | Cable Television News | Broadcast Syndication | Programming | Multichannel.com
Herb Lair • 7 months ago Since satellite is beating Charter in subscribers throughout their franchises, not a good trend that the younger generation who make up the higher percentage of social media is tuning out as well. Part of it is branding and bankruptcy, but the bigger concern is cable losing younger generation
Discussion on Wired: Threat Level
Email Location Data Led FBI to Uncover Top Spy’s Affair
Herb Lair • 7 months ago Petraeus-gate soon to be known as cybergate where top spy and top General fail security 101. Neither can keep a secret. Ironically triangle has become a pentagon of 5 – Petraeus, Allen, Broadwall, FBI agent, and Kelley.
With more revelations today, it illustrates the reasons why President should have been notified immediately - there is so much collateral damage that can be done to operatives in foreign countries through compromise or blackmail at cyber speeds through hackers. Obviously the military and CIA has no understanding of security in this day and time. Maybe the biggest concern?
Immoral or illegal sex, drugs, and money are absolutely not tolerated or allowed by the agency and random polygraphs were used to enforce it. It’s not a “James Bond” world; vices are used for blackmail by friends and foes. The vices were and are obviously used to compromise or blackmail internationals as well as leaders in US. I think the lack of urgency by the FBI to tell the President should be cause for removal of the Director. Next investigation should include whether it was controlled by the White House for political reasons. Then it could become another Watergate, with the cover up becoming worse than the crime. The risks to the public are far more than identified when things happen at cyber speed.
CIA becomes more CYA than intelligence and questions come up, where was Petraeus’ attention when Libyan Ambassador was assassinated? Or, even worse, was his comments supportive of the administration’s explanation only because he knew he was being investigated.
Discussion on kansascity.com
Can Google Fiber crack cable’s stronghold in KC?
Herb Lair • a year ago Thanks, wish it were, none of my income comes from this - most see my thoughts as going against norm, the norm is where the easy money is - my primary interest is as an overcharged subscriber and what I would like to see brought on by competition - for exampleStrategy and cost reduction for using mobile devices such as iPad,iPhone,etc for TV remotes and the Cloud for content storage(movies,etc.) to replace set top box requirements Strategy for using behavioral marketing from social media to target ads and reduce cost of content. With time shifted programming from DVR/Cloud this should be a priority.ESPN suite currently costs $7/mo of cable bill and will soon go to $10/mo which generates $1 billion a month from subscriptions. All cable TV basic service has been required to carry ESPN which means that the casual or non-sports subscribers which make up 70% of the subscribers are subsidizing the sports addicts who make up only 30% of the subscribers. Some cable now have a new level TV Economy at $34.95, without ESPN, that has been given minimum public awareness. Cable has been slow to act on this and may still wilt to ESPN pressure.Herb Lair • a year ago Something that's coming to fruition - written last year - also alluded to it 13 years ago https://sites.google.com/site/...Behavioral Based Social Media System for the Cable TV Market
Cable has long history of failing to develop 1-1 target marketing. Canoe Ventures (latest MSO venture) was touted as the Holy Grail of targeted advertising and is reportedly less than a success at this stage.
http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/20...
Excerpt from above link on January, 2011 Fortune.com –
“Advertisers will spend $56 billion putting ads on TV this year,...The cable industry thought it would be a big opportunity too, but its efforts have fallen short. Canoe Ventures, a two-year-old project of the six biggest operators, has launched just one notable product…”
http://www.businessinsider.com...
Excerpt from above link on February, 2011 Business Insider
Identifies advertising market being missed by Cable TV operators
“Advertisers have weighed in heavily on the future of TV, with both their thoughts and their considerable wallets. Advertisers are increasingly expecting to present their advertising messages to just their desired audience…and not to anyone else. For over 60 years, video advertising could only be bought via a TV show’s projected audience, which served as a blunt proxy for a certain target audience. The result has been many wasted impressions and an often irrelevant experience for consumers. In the near future, advertisers will demand the ability to target their messages to people rather than targeting their messages to TV shows as proxies for people.”The obvious alternative, with the least cost to implement is an independent Cloud CRM solution designed to cross index cable subscriber households with their corresponding social network interests. The current regulatory and privacy issues experienced by cable TV operators gathering unauthorized data from set-top boxes could be minimized, by validating subscriber and even eliminated by essentially having an opt-in plan (provided conveniently by the social media). Access along with profile and interests of households would be controlled by the subscriber’s social media platform of choice. Facebook has high consumer acceptance and could be used for household profiles, product interests, social interests, and viewing entertainment interests. There would be incentives to the subscribers to opt-in including notification and reminder of viewing favorites, Groupon type ads, and specific ads matching interests with infomercial type group discounts and urgency to buy.
The current design of target marketing advertising ventures is fundamentally flawed. They focus on demographics, and fail to identify the individual behavioral current and future household interests.
I would propose using a data cross indexing similar to a data warehouse project I was involved with at iN Demand.http://www.indemand.com/ .
Project would involve developing a bidirectional Cloud interface program using a CRM application between the social media and MSO subscriber records and communicating behavioral marketing - business advertising, discounts, specific videos/groups, family albums – providing subscriber awareness of TV programming -- movies, products, etc. similar to Amazon and Groupon. This would make subscriber stickier and substantially reduce turnover.
To paraphrase a comment I made in the CED 1999 publication about the Internet, cable TV operators need to become the new best friends with the 600 million members of social media.Herb Lair • a year ago Historically advertisers paid for the content on broadcast TV, Cable developed a model where subscribers primarily paid directly for content and increases, Internet has found ways to bring advertising back to pay for content - Google nearly 100% ad based- Cable content dominance is being challenged by younger generation on same level that the newspaper and music were via Google and Apple. Gen Y interests are not in the content that cable TV protects. When Netflix, with limited resources can make such an immediate impact to pay TV, how much more can a Apple, Intel, Google , etc. make? The subscribers are very unhappy with the cable TV model - realistically satelllite should never of reached the percentage penetration they have - only came as a result of cable arrogance.Anytime cable dismisses a threat, it means they are in for trouble.
Discussion on FierceCable
Cable operators dismiss threat of virtual MSOs
Herb Lair • a year ago Over the yrs cable also dismissed Internet - failed to develop a targeted ad model to offset content increases - Google 100% ad supported, Apple Ap supported ,etc - cable just raises rates - poor model, must change to survive
- with all the social media/Internet there are ways Google in KC and Apple via music model will change and soon
https://sites.google.com/site/...
and
https://docs.google.com/viewer...
Discussion on kansascity.com
Google giving stronger signal of TV service for Kansas City
Herb Lair • a year ago Cable model, unlike original broadcast model of matching content cost increases with advertising, has gotten so skewed to content being paid by subscribers, not advertisers, it needs a shock. ESPN is $7 for suite soon going to $10. Cable subs are subsidizing that content with 30% sports addicts and the remaining 70% casual or non-sports sub paying a $1 billion a month.Having a company like Google 100% ad supported should bring a much needed new model perspective.Also the ap supported model of Apple could bring some new models as well as it did to music. Cable TV revenue model is broken and recent attempt by Canoe Ventures only further illustrates how out of touch they are with targeted ads,etc and use of Internet to save costs, not increase them. On the smaller communities I see a new groundswell against cable, that I think they are severely underestimating. A community bank CEO said he saw something similar in banking when the big banks failed to take care of community needs. https://sites.google.com/site/...
Discussion on FierceCable
Canoe cuts 120 employees, shuts down interactive advertising business
Herb Lair • a year ago Behavioral Based Social Media System for the Cable TV Market
posted May 19, 2011 8:09 AM by Herb Lair
Cable has long history of failing to develop 1-1 target marketing. Canoe Ventures (latest MSO venture) was touted as the Holy Grail of targeted advertising and is reportedly less than a success at this stage.Excerpt from above link on January, 2011 Fortune.com –“Advertisers will spend $56 billion putting ads on TV this year,...The cable industry thought it would be a big opportunity too, but its efforts have fallen short. Canoe Ventures, a two-year-old project of the six biggest operators, has launched just one notable product…”Excerpt from above link on February, 2011 Business InsiderIdentifies advertising market being missed by Cable TV operators“Advertisers have weighed in heavily on the future of TV, with both their thoughts and their considerable wallets. Advertisers are increasingly expecting to present their advertising messages to just their desired audience…and not to anyone else. For over 60 years, video advertising could only be bought via a TV show’s projected audience, which served as a blunt proxy for a certain target audience. The result has been many wasted impressions and an often irrelevant experience for consumers. In the near future, advertisers will demand the ability to target their messages to people rather than targeting their messages to TV shows as proxies for people.”The obvious alternative, with the least cost to implement is an independent Cloud CRM solution designed to cross index cable subscriber households with their corresponding social network interests. The current regulatory and privacy issues experienced by cable TV operators gathering unauthorized data from set-top boxes could be minimized, by validating subscriber and even eliminated by essentially having an opt-in plan (provided conveniently by the social media). Access along with profile and interests of households would be controlled by the subscriber’s social media platform of choice. Facebook has high consumer acceptance and could be used for household profiles, product interests, social interests, and viewing entertainment interests. There would be incentives to the subscribers to opt-in including notification and reminder of viewing favorites, Groupon type ads, and specific ads matching interests with infomercial type group discounts and urgency to buy.The current design of target marketing advertising ventures is fundamentally flawed. They focus on demographics, and fail to identify the individual behavioral current and future household interests.I would propose using a data cross indexing similar to a data warehouse project I was involved with at iN Demand.http://www.indemand.com/ .Project would involve developing a bidirectional Cloud interface program using a CRM application between the social media and MSO subscriber records and communicating behavioral marketing - business advertising, discounts, specific videos/groups, family albums – providing subscriber awareness of TV programming -- movies, products, etc. similar to Amazon and Groupon. This would make subscriber stickier and substantially reduce turnover.To paraphrase a comment I made in the CED 1999 publication about the Internet, cable TV operators need to become the new best friends with the 600 million members of social media.
Discussion on FierceCable
Cable customer service is more important than a new brand
Herb Lair • a year ago Totally agree, DNA missing customer service, as well as doing something to save money for subscriber - history of poor customer service and how they lost out to Internet(Google) and targeted ads https://docs.google.com/viewer...
Discussion on Computerworld
How Google and Apple Will Control TV
Herb Lair • a year ago Maybe you missed the fact that facebook, Twitter, Linkedin,and Google have already collected the analytics and already target market based on behavioral preferences. Might note that the facebook IPO value is in the $100 billion range or $100 per friend and Google is totally ad revenue supported - advertisers can offset content increases that are now subsidized by subscribers, if they targert ad their products or services - this has been done for years via broadcast TV - note Super Bowl - note the ESPN suite of services cost nearly $7 per sub with increses to $10-12 range coming soon - with an estimated $1 billion+ revenue per month - note 70-75% of basic subs are casual or less sports fans - so they are being taxed to pay for the sports addicts with impunity on cable or satellite or telcos. Apple, Google, and Amazon will change that.
Set top boxes are being phased out with Excalibur / Comcast, XBox / Microsoft, and with more STB logic being transferred to the Cloud and TV remotes aka iPhone and other mobile devices with Siri or motion control.
Arrogance is created when you own content and distribution channels and fail to control or offset content costs.
de facto ala carte on a major level will happen in 2012.
Herb Lair • a year ago Cable TV has a flawed "Field of Dreams" business model built on arrogance. Cable MSOs have had no incentive to control content costs, since many receive dual direct revenue benefits from selling and collecting content costs. De facto ala carte will happen due to the subscribers' extreme dislike of cable. Apple advocates understand the strategy of paying more for their devices and getting specific aps (e.g. music). Google advocates understand the benefits of targeted ads covering the cost of content. Amazon advocates understand the value of tracking interests and economically facilitating products of interest. Siri-powered voice activation via the Cloud will circumvent the obsolete cable set top box. The use of behavioral marketing and targeted ads will help offset the content costs which will no longer be passed on with impunity. The alternatives have a great chance of succeeding; since they are supported by extremely well financed,creative zealots. Cable TV has always been able to raise subscriber rates with impunity (Craig Moffett term). For that reason they have adopted a flawed revenue model that has reached the tipping point. Not only is the poverty level a problem, there are over 60% of the Gen Y's at risk.To quote Pogo, we have met the enemy and he is us. Netflix has more subscribers than Comcast; and satellite has 30% of the market, for a reason. Subscribers are creating a de facto ala carte. Unfortunately as long as cable owns the content and sells it, as well, there appears no way to circumvent the continued rate increases to their suicidal final demise. But there are some ways for cable to survive .Cable has to eliminate its “Field of Dreams” mentality. Cable can become a positive influencer by changing their revenue model. Internet has proven there are targeted ad models that work. Cable must incorporate a targeted ad strategy along with reducing subscription rates to absorb future content increases. The hybrid model would be based on social media interests and preferences, starting with direct ads on all time shifted programming. Groupon like infomercials, with word of mouth on steroids, group buying, and urgency to buy. Amazon like preferences and alerts. Cable is currently using data from demographics and set-top boxes, a flawed strategy, with privacy issues. They could be using analytics from behavioral marketing data. Not sure they are interested in constructive suggestions?
Discussion on miamiherald.com
Monday’s sequel even less exciting - Linda Robertson - MiamiHerald.com
Herb Lair • a year ago If K State is second best in Big 12 then rematch makes sense - LSU won against more major Bowl winners (Oregon,West Va,Arkansas, Miss St, Florida,Auburn) than any other team that I can remember and only had problems with Bama. Major domination against all comers.
Discussion on All Things Digital
Where Did Nine Million Cable Subscribers Go?
Herb Lair • a year ago Cable TV has a flawed "Field of Dreams" business model built on arrogance. Cable MSOs have had no incentive to control content costs, since many receive dual direct revenue benefits from selling and collecting content costs. De facto ala carte will happen due to the subscribers' extreme dislike of cable. Apple advocates understand the strategy of paying more for their devices and getting specific aps (e.g. music). Google advocates understand the benefits of targeted ads covering the cost of content. Amazon advocates understand the value of tracking interests and economically facilitating products of interest. Siri-powered voice activation via the Cloud will circumvent the obsolete cable set top box. The use of behavioral marketing and targeted ads will help offset the content costs which will no longer be passed on with impunity. The alternatives have a great chance of succeeding; since they are supported by extremely well financed,creative zealots.Herb Lair • a year ago Cable TV has always been able to raise subscriber rates with impunity (Craig Moffett term). For that reason they have adopted a flawed revenue model that has reached the tipping point. Not only is the poverty level a problem, there are over 60% of the Gen Y's at risk.To quote Pogo, we have met the enemy and he is us. Netflix has more subscribers than Comcast; and satellite has 30% of the market, for a reason. Subscribers are creating a de facto ala carte. Unfortunately as long as cable owns the content and sells it, as well, there appears no way to circumvent the continued rate increases to their suicidal final demise. But there are some ways for cable to survive .Cable has to eliminate its “Field of Dreams” mentality. Cable can become a positive influencer by changing their revenue model. Internet has proven there are targeted ad models that work. Cable must incorporate a targeted ad strategy along with reducing subscription rates to absorb future content increases. The hybrid model would be based on social media interests and preferences, starting with direct ads on all time shifted programming. Groupon like infomercials, with word of mouth on steroids, group buying, and urgency to buy. Amazon like preferences and alerts. Cable is currently using data from demographics and set-top boxes, a flawed strategy, with privacy issues. They could be using analytics from behavioral marketing data. Not sure they are interested in constructive suggestions?
Discussion on PCMag
No, Xbox Still Can't Replace Your Cable Box
Herb Lair • 2 years ago Have to disagree, I think Xbox can replace the set top box. Microsoft has a great strategy but it will be a matter of execution. The voice (similar to Siri) and motion interaction , behavioral marketing, and targeted ads. Microsoft has a poor history over the years in the set top box business, maybe those experiences will be beneficial. Can't see the proprietary TV's aka Google and Apple being more than niche players. The Holy Grail could be the targeted ads and connecting it with social media. Will need some simplified low cost USB cablecard type device to access cable content. Cable operators are ingrained with a physical device for encryption. No need for expensive STB and TV remote. Strategy the cable operators can endorse & partner. Key item -- Ownership of subscriber ad dollar and retail opportunities still to be negotiated. Again the Holy Grail for Amazon, Google, and Apple - something that Cable subsidized Canoe Ventures has been late to the party.With Cloud based CRM access to subscriber management data and the cross indexing with social media there will be a way to offset content costs with targeted ads - something cable has failed, and primary reasons for push to ala carte. @herb5247
Discussion on PCMag
Apple TV Rumors Persist
Herb Lair • 2 years ago I can program my DVR remotely via an iPhone ap on Cox Cable already, key differentiator for Apple TV will be the TV remote control operating like (optional dumbed down model that's interchangeable) a smart phone / mic, speaker, keyboard, siri type IVR for voice interation, zero client via Cloud & USB tuner/flash drive & no set top box in home - design could be independent of TV mfg.
Cable TV has a flawed "Field of Dreams" business model built on arrogance. Cable MSOs have had no incentive to control content costs, since many receive dual direct revenue benefits from selling and collecting content costs. De facto ala carte will happen due to the subscribers' extreme dislike of cable. Apple advocates understand the strategy of paying more for their devices and getting specific aps (e.g. music). Google advocates understand the benefits of targeted ads covering the cost of content. Amazon advocates understand the value of tracking interests and economically facilitating products of interest. Siri-powered voice activation via the Cloud will circumvent the obsolete cable set top box. The use of behavioral marketing and targeted ads will help offset the content costs which will no longer be passed on with impunity. The alternatives have a great chance of succeeding; since they are supported by extremely well financed,creative zealots. "
Discussion on BGR
Apple will ‘absolutely’ launch a TV, Siri to replace remote according to report
Herb Lair • 2 years ago My speculation on how it could work #TV remote control will be smart phone like with mic, speaker, keyboard, siri, zero client connecting via Cloud & no set top box in home. @herb5247
Discussion on SlashGear
LG Google TV launch tipped for 2012
Herb Lair • 2 years ago Logitech lost $100 million on the first Google TV. My test of it at a demo center at Best Buy was a disaster, since it appeared kludged and nearly unworkable. Not as intuitive as one would expect.The CES in Vegas is an ideal venue to roll out the latest plans - whether actual or protype.
Google TV will have to move set-top-box logic to the Cloud and use voice activation like Siri from Apple or Xbox from Microsoft to be a player. Other expectations are a business model to cover content with targeted ads based on analytical search and social media behavioral marketing.Google is nearly 100% ad based .
The obvious connection to cable via the Motorola STB acquisition should be leveraged as well.In actuality cable and Google could learn a lot from each other. However, putting the interests of subscribers first appears to be a novel idea to cable TV. Reasons for high interest in Google TV, Apple TV, and Amazon.
Discussion on FierceCable
Logitech CEO: Google TV was a 'gigantic' mistake
Herb Lair • 2 years ago Logitech lost $100 million on the first Google TV. My test of it at a demo center at Best Buy was a disaster, since it appeared kludged and nearly unworkable. Not as intuitive as one would expect.The CES in Vegas is an ideal venue to roll out the latest plans - whether actual or protype.
Google TV will have to move set-top-box logic to the Cloud and use voice activation like Siri from Apple or Xbox from Microsoft to be a player. Other expectations are a business model to cover content with targeted ads based on analytical search and social media behavioral marketing.Google is nearly 100% ad based .
The obvious connection to cable via the Motorola STB acquisition should be leveraged as well.In actuality cable and Google could learn a lot from each other. However, putting the interests of subscribers first appears to be a novel idea to cable TV. Reasons for high interest in Google TV, Apple TV, and Amazon.
Discussion on businessweek
LG Is Said to Plan to Debut Google TV at Trade Show in January - Businessweek
Herb Lair • 2 years ago Logitech lost $100 million on the first Google TV. My test of it at a demo center at Best Buy was a disaster, since it appeared kludged and nearly unworkable. Not as intuitive as one would expect.The CES in Vegas is an ideal venue to roll out the latest plans - whether actual or protype.
Google TV will have to move set-top-box logic to the Cloud and use voice activation like Siri from Apple or Xbox from Microsoft to be a player. Other expectations are a business model to cover content with targeted ads based on analytical search and social media behavioral marketing.Google is nearly 100% ad based .
The obvious connection to cable via the Motorola STB acquisition should be leveraged as well.In actuality cable and Google could learn a lot from each other. However, putting the interests of subscribers first appears to be a novel idea to cable TV. Reasons for high interest in Google TV, Apple TV, and Amazon.
Discussion on businessweek
LG Said to Plan to Debut Google TV at Trade Show in January - Businessweek
Herb Lair • 2 years ago The prior Google TV version was a kludged, hard to use, system: based on my trials at a Best Buy demo station. The key will be a voice interface like siri of Apple, and leveraging the Mororola acquistion to provide the missing piece to cable opeartors. Most consider Internet search and social media the Holy Grail to targeted advertising. Google, who is nearly 100% ad supported will need a model that offsets content costs with targeted ads based on social media and search analytics collected from behavioral marketing data. Something that cable is missing.
CES is the key venue to unveil their new platform. Expectations are far higher for something with cloud based set-top box logic and voice activated simpler operations for starters.Obviously with Logitech losing $100 million on the earlier version, there will be major expectations for improvements, if they are serious about television.
Discussion on businessweek
Interactive Ads: Cable’s Future May Already Have Passed - Businessweek
Herb Lair • 2 years ago http://gigaom.com/video/analys...
David Verklin, Canoe’s CEO, recently said that by using new solutions such as Canoe
and Tru2way, cable will be able to “…give the Internet a run for our money.” While a
decent sound bite, this is entirely the wrong way to view the Internet. The Internet is not
an enemy to be defeated; it is a technology to be leveraged. By setting Canoe
against the Internet, Verklin is putting the cable industry at a huge disadvantage.
Dixon says rather than retrofit cable systems to act like the web, they should just use the web. Canoe’s products — voting, e-commerce, interactive ads — would be simpler and better if delivered via a web browser, he writes. Then he pulls off his mask and reveals himself as Boxee CEO Avner Ronen. OK, not really, but here are his core arguments:Existing set-top boxes don’t have the computing power to truly support Canoe-like applications.
The Tru2way platform, which Canoe will use, is new, untested and not yet widely deployed.
Because Tru2way and the older EBIF format are proprietary, Canoe won’t be as nimble as applications released on the web.
Being proprietary will also make it hard to port anything from the Canoe experience onto the web and onto other devices.
And it will also complicate integrating social web stuff like Flickr, Twitter and Facebook, which Dixon thinks users will soon come to expect from their TVs.
The web already has voting, polling, request for information, e-commerce, and interactive advertising.My conclusions - I have stated in media over 12 years ago the need for cable to effectively use the Internet
Cable TV has a flawed “Field of Dreams” business model built on arrogance. Cable MSOs have had no incentive to control content costs, since many receive dual direct revenue benefits from the selling to operators and the collecting of increased content costs from subs. De facto ala carte will happen due to the subscribers’ extreme dislike of cable.Apple advocates understand the strategy of paying more for their devices and getting specific aps (e.g. music) cheaper.Google advocates understand the benefits of targeted ads covering the cost of content.Amazon advocates understand the value of tracking interests and economically facilitating products of interest.Siri-powered voice activation via the Cloud will circumvent the obsolete cable set top box.
The use of behavioral marketing and targeted ads will help offset the content costs which will no longer be passed on with impunity.
The alternatives have a great chance of succeeding; since they are supported by extremely well financed,creative zealots.Herb Lair • 2 years ago http://gigaom.com/video/analys...
Articles points out the Canoe Ventures CEO being entirely wrong about the Internet - something I've contended, via media, about cable TV for more than 12 years.
Cable TV has a flawed “Field of Dreams” business model built on arrogance. Cable MSOs have had no incentive to control content costs, since many receive dual direct revenue benefits from the selling to operators and the collecting of increased content costs from subs. De facto ala carte will happen due to the subscribers’ extreme dislike of cable.Apple advocates understand the strategy of paying more for their devices and getting specific aps (e.g. music) cheaper.Google advocates understand the benefits of targeted ads covering the cost of content.Amazon advocates understand the value of tracking interests and economically facilitating products of interest.Siri-powered voice activation via the Cloud will circumvent the obsolete cable set top box.
The use of behavioral marketing and targeted ads will help offset the content costs which will no longer be passed on with impunity.
The alternatives have a great chance of succeeding; since they are supported by extremely well financed,creative zealots.Herb Lair • 2 years ago
Behavioral Based Social Media System for the Cable TV MarketCable has long history of failing to develop 1-1 target marketing. Canoe Ventures (latest MSO venture) was touted as the Holy Grail of targeted advertising and is reportedly less than a success at this stage.Excerpt from above link on January, 2011 Fortune.com –
“Advertisers will spend $56 billion putting ads on TV this year,...The cable industry thought it would be a big opportunity too, but its efforts have fallen short. Canoe Ventures, a two-year-old project of the six biggest operators, has launched just one notable product…”Excerpt from above link on February, 2011 Business Insider
Identifies advertising market being missed by Cable TV operators
“Advertisers have weighed in heavily on the future of TV, with both their thoughts and their considerable wallets. Advertisers are increasingly expecting to present their advertising messages to just their desired audience…and not to anyone else. For over 60 years, video advertising could only be bought via a TV show’s projected audience, which served as a blunt proxy for a certain target audience. The result has been many wasted impressions and an often irrelevant experience for consumers. In the near future, advertisers will demand the ability to target their messages to people rather than targeting their messages to TV shows as proxies for people.”The obvious alternative, with the least cost to implement is an independent Cloud CRM solution designed to cross index cable subscriber households with their corresponding social network interests. The current regulatory and privacy issues experienced by cable TV operators gathering unauthorized data from set-top boxes could be minimized, by validating subscriber and even eliminated by essentially having an opt-in plan (provided conveniently by the social media). Access along with profile and interests of households would be controlled by the subscriber’s social media platform of choice. Facebook has high consumer acceptance and could be used for household profiles, product interests, social interests, and viewing entertainment interests. There would be incentives to the subscribers to opt-in including notification and reminder of viewing favorites, Groupon type ads, and specific ads matching interests with infomercial type group discounts and urgency to buy.The current design of target marketing advertising ventures is fundamentally flawed. They focus on demographics, and fail to identify the individual behavioral current and future household interests.I would propose using a data cross indexing similar to a data warehouse project I was involved with at iN Demand.http://www.indemand.com/ .Project would involve developing a bidirectional Cloud interface program using a CRM application between the social media and MSO subscriber records and communicating behavioral marketing - business advertising, discounts, specific videos/groups, family albums – providing subscriber awareness of TV programming -- movies, products, etc. similar to Amazon and Groupon. This would make subscriber stickier and substantially reduce turnover.To paraphrase a comment I made in the CED 1999 publication about the Internet, cable TV operators need to become the new best friends with the 600 million members of social media
Discussion on FierceCable
Cable 'a la carte' chatter returns as smaller MSOs call for programming option
Herb Lair • 2 years ago Cable TV has always been able to raise subscriber rates with impunity (Craig Moffet term). For that reason they have adopted a flawed revenue model that has reached the tipping point. Not only is the poverty level a problem, there are over 60% of the Gen Y's at risk.To quote Pogo, we have met the enemy and he is us. Netflix has more subscribers than Comcast; and satellite has 30% of the market, for a reason. Subscribers are creating a de facto ala carte. Unfortunately as long as cable owns the content and sells it, as well, there appears no way to circumvent the continued rate increases to their suicidal final demise. But there are some ways for cable to survive.Cable has to eliminate its “Field of Dreams” mentality. Cable can become a positive influencer by changing their revenue model. Internet has proven there are targeted ad models that work. Cable must incorporate a targeted ad strategy along with reducing subscription rates to absorb future content increases. The hybrid model would be based on social media interests and preferences, starting with direct ads on all time shifted programming. Groupon like infomercials, with word of mouth on steroids, group buying, and urgency to buy. Amazon like preferences and alerts. Cable is currently using data from demographics and set-top boxes, a flawed strategy, with privacy issues. They could be using analytics from behavioral marketing data.
Not sure they are interested in constructive suggestions?
Discussion on Fashion Bazaar
Google TV vs Motorola TV would you use only one? Or Both?
Herb Lair • 2 years ago
It could be a win-win situation. Cable MSO's have a failed investment in Canoe Ventures and Google a failed venture in TV. If both are content to do what they do best, they both come out better. With a seamless system, content costs and subscriber rates could be controlled and even reduced using social media to target market - TV ad business is $70 billion business.Cable TV has always been able to raise subscriber rates with impunity (analyst Craig Moffett term). For that reason they have adopted a flawed revenue model that has reached the tipping point. Not only is the poverty level a problem at 40%, there are over 60% of the Gen Y's at risk.To quote Pogo, we have met the enemy and he is us. Netflix has more subscribers than Comcast; and satellite has 30% of the market, for a reason. Subscribers are creating a de facto ala carte - Amazon, Google, Apple,etc.. Unfortunately as long as cable owns the content and sells it, as well, there appears no way to circumvent the continued rate increases to their suicidal final demise. But there are some ways for cable to survive. Cable has to eliminate its “Field of Dreams” mentality. Cable can become a positive influencer by changing their revenue model. Internet has proven there are targeted ad models that work. Cable must incorporate a targeted ad strategy along with reducing subscription rates to absorb future content increases. The hybrid model would be based on social media interests and preferences, starting with direct ads on all time shifted programming. Groupon like infomercials, with word of mouth on steroids, group buying, and urgency to buy. Amazon like preferences and alerts. Cable is currently using data from demographics and set-top boxes, a flawed strategy, with privacy issues. They could be using analytics from behavioral marketing data. Maybe we are at a time when they are more interested in constructive suggestions with all that is at stake?
Discussion on businessweek
Big Cable Resists a Slingbox Solution - BusinessWeek
Herb Lair • 2 years ago Cable is developing and testing cloud based set-top box logic - zero client in home
Discussion on The Atlantic
Why Can't We Unbundle Cable? - Atlantic Mobile
Herb Lair • 2 years ago Using social media to reduce programming costs, increase efficiency, and establish ala carte benefits via target ads - also the direction of the younger viewersI could see time shifted programming with inserted target market advertising (time shifting is happening more and more with viewers), Groupon type Infotainment (from New Rules book) segments (similar to infomercials), program awareness on movies, programs, and events of interest (similar to Amazon's product of similar interest), Product placement, facebook and/or Twitter links that allow subscriber to pause programming and view short segments on subject via using remote to click on a social media icon linking to their commercial location http://www.facebook.com/Amazon... get product or service data and any special group deals along with word of mouth reviews. Obvious the many current ways that cable is missing ad opportunities is nearly endless. The reality is that they have much less time than they think to get it right. Reason cable has become so costly and inclusive - can't get ad model right! My solution -
Behavioral Based Social Media System for the Cable TV MarketCable has long history of failing to develop 1-1 target marketing. Canoe Ventures (latest MSO venture) was touted as the Holy Grail of targeted advertising and is reportedly less than a success at this stage.
http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/20...
Excerpt from above link on January, 2011 Fortune.com –
“Advertisers will spend $56 billion putting ads on TV this year,...The cable industry thought it would be a big opportunity too, but its efforts have fallen short. Canoe Ventures, a two-year-old project of the six biggest operators, has launched just one notable product…”
http://www.businessinsider.com...
Excerpt from above link on February, 2011 Business Insider
Identifies advertising market being missed by Cable TV operators
“Advertisers have weighed in heavily on the future of TV, with both their thoughts and their considerable wallets. Advertisers are increasingly expecting to present their advertising messages to just their desired audience…and not to anyone else. For over 60 years, video advertising could only be bought via a TV show’s projected audience, which served as a blunt proxy for a certain target audience. The result has been many wasted impressions and an often irrelevant experience for consumers. In the near future, advertisers will demand the ability to target their messages to people rather than targeting their messages to TV shows as proxies for people.”The obvious alternative, with the least cost to implement is an independent Cloud CRM solution designed to cross index cable subscriber households with their corresponding social network interests. The current regulatory and privacy issues experienced by cable TV operators gathering unauthorized data from set-top boxes could be minimized, by validating subscriber and even eliminated by essentially having an opt-in plan (provided conveniently by the social media). Access along with profile and interests of households would be controlled by the subscriber’s social media platform of choice. Facebook has high consumer acceptance and could be used for household profiles, product interests, social interests, and viewing entertainment interests. There would be incentives to the subscribers to opt-in including notification and reminder of viewing favorites, Groupon type ads, and specific ads matching interests with infomercial type group discounts and urgency to buy.
The current design of target marketing advertising ventures is fundamentally flawed. They focus on demographics, and fail to identify the individual behavioral current and future household interests.
I would propose using a data cross indexing similar to a data warehouse project I was involved with at iN Demand.http://www.indemand.com/ .
Project would involve developing a bidirectional Cloud interface program using a CRM application between the social media and MSO subscriber records and communicating behavioral marketing - business advertising, discounts, specific videos/groups, family albums – providing subscriber awareness of TV programming -- movies, products, etc. similar to Amazon and Groupon. This would make subscriber stickier and substantially reduce turnover.
To paraphrase a comment I made in the CED 1999 publication about the Internet, cable TV operators need to become the new best friends with the 600 million members of social media.
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