Brightcove just announced a deal with TiVo to deliver video from the internet to TiVo boxes and TV sets. From the press release:
Under terms of the agreement, Brightcove and TiVo will phase in a number of content partners and new downloading capabilities for a number of possible content partners of TiVo’s going forward. The partnership will provide an automated method for almost any publisher of broadband video using Brightcove’s Internet TV services to distribute content to TiVo subscribers and monetize the distribution through advertising, subscription plans, or pay-per-view.
This kills the power of the closed network bit by bit. It means that anything on the internet in video is now TV; it doesn’t have to go through the funnel of a network or a cable system. (Full disclosure: I’m on the Brightcove board of advisors.)
I hope something actually comes of this; TiVo has a history of partnerships that go nowhere (Netflix, anyone?)
That said, I’ve been thouroughly enjoying having Rocketboom delivered to my TiVo through broadband, and I’d be happy to get more content that way. Something like a weekly top 10 of videos from YouTube, or even an interface where I select online what I want sent.
http://www.tacticalpr.com
I note with some degree of interest that BrightCove seeks to integrate advertising revenue into its video publishing and distribution network. Has it gained much traction there? Is it looking for ways to connect better to the existing tools that large agency conglomerates use to presently purchase television?