IPUrbia

The Chicago Tribune is running an article about the efforts of VDC, an online video startup that analogizes itself as the Vonage of online TV, to obtain access to traditional television programming for Internet distribution. After being repeatedly rebuffed by the industry (who caters to the whims of the cable companies), VDC taken the (desperate) route and appealed to the mercies of the FCC for assistance.

As I’ve repeatedly mentioned, the greatest obstacle to Internet television at this point is not really technology–a reasonable viewing experience is already available, although not if your expecting HDTV to power that 60″ plasma. The real obstacle is and always has been content, and the traditional networks jealously guard their content and their distribution systems for fear of funding a new force in the industry that will disrupt their very lucrative revenue models.

I’m interested in which way the FCC will run with this. The knee-jerk reaction is to expect more of the usual catering to big business interests on this; nevertheless, the FCC has taken stances allowing at least some breathing room for development of voice over IP, another very disruptive business. Still, I’m not sure that I expect them to bend over backwards to help, in this instance.

Pulver’s commentary on this argued against even appealing for regulatory help on this matter, although it is important to note that Pulver’s Network2 is invested in Internet-grown content, so he definitely has a heavy business interest in the matter. I tend to agree with him, though–Internet distribution of traditional content is not all that revolutionary: just look at the music industry. The ideal long term solution for a free and open market would be for the fledgling online video industry to mature and produce sustainable, quality content of its own; something I don’t see happening if the low budget Internet productions available today had to compete head to head with CSI and Law and Order.