The “TV Everywhere” concept seems to be just that these days: everywhere. It seems everyone wants a piece of the TV Everywhere 
pie, and each player is scrambling to be the first/best/only provider.
Of course there are myriad challenges to becoming top dog in the TV Everywhere game, but one thing is certain, we’re likely to see some major moves made in the next few months. With a major presentation on TV Everywhere coming up this week at industry conference NewTeeVee Live, we’ve put together a round-up of latest news and developments in the TV Everywhere initiative.
Dish Network files to Trademark TV Everywhere
With Comcast, NBC, Apple and others already on the TV Everywhere kick, it might be too little too late to try to trademark the term. It doesn’t really matter anyway. Even if Dish corners the market on the term, major competitors will still be launching solutions and services. Focus on implementation, not what you’re going to name it when it happens!
Apple is Getting in on the TV Everywhere Action (of course)
Did anyone think this wasn’t going to happen? Online media maven Apple sitting out the race for TV Everywhere? So this week, along comes Apple with a report (rumor?) that they are looking to offer a $30 a month service that would give users access to traditional cable and TV programming — without ads. I think a Hulu exec just fainted. Check out the article for the full scoop.
Comcast + NBC = TV Everywhere?
Comcast and NBC’s engagement party is pending, but talks continue and sources say the two companies are close to an agreement on how to value NBC. Core to this relationship is the online TV component, and the options that a joint Hulu/Fancast online service would offer. While most of this is still pure speculation, many agree that this move by Comcast is as focused on securing a top place in the TV Everywhere effort as it is focused on traditional media services.
CableLabs wants providers to help define TV Everywhere
While providers scramble to offer TV Everywhere services, industry groups and gurus are struggling to determine the true definition of TV Everywhere and what technology is necessary for different solutions to work together. For example, this week CableLabs announced an effort to shore up the technical needs for a robust TV Everywhere implementation. The industry group wants vendors to provide its cable provider members “a way to define the technical requirements and architecture for a TV Everywhere rollout that incorporates online video with subscription cable TV while including multiple content owners and multichannel video programming distributors.”
GigaOm Releases Full Report on TV Everywhere
In the theme of trying to define and provide parameters for TV Everywhere, Paul Sweeting has written and released a report through GigaOm Pro offering what he calls a “full lowdown” on TV Everywhere. In it he discusses technical and economic challenges to TV Everywhere efforts and takes a long look at how the country’s many cable, internet and online content providers fit into the TV Everywhere puzzle. Check out the article for more info, or if you’re a GigaOm Pro member, you can read the full report.
