State of Online Video -- Is Content or Context King?

The President's State of the Union address was this past week, so what better weekend read for you digital media enthusiasts than the State of Online Video? Here it is, courtesy of TechCrunch -- it is worthy of a read. Is it content -- or context -- that is king? This article presents an interesting perspective. Read and you decide.

Netflix -- Poster Child for Explosive Growth of Premium Online Video

Netflix yesterday announced its quarterly earnings -- and most interesting to me was the company's explosive growth in usage of its online premium video offerings and services.

A whopping 48% of all Netflix subscribers watched at least 15 minutes of streamed TV or movie content in Q4 2009 -- whereas that number was only 28% one year earlier.

Think about that. If ever there was a stat that underscored the explosive growth of -- and demand for -- premium online video content, this would be it!

And, think about the implications to content developers and owners ...

The Tablet is Coming! The Tablet is Coming! And We Will WILL It to Succeed

The battle cry rings out from tech patriots around the world -- "The Tablet is Coming, The Tablet is Coming!"

Apple's, that is.

When Steve Jobs talks, people listen.

Will Apple's Tablet revolutionize the world of print media in much the same way as the iPod did with music? In the inimitable words of my Magic 8-Ball, "All signs point to 'yes.'"

Why? Because sometimes things take on a life of their own. People simply BELIEVE -- and it is that belief that makes it happen. They essentially WILL it to happen (I wrote about the power of belief in leadership just a few days back).

In this case, people around the world simply believe in Apple ... in Steve Jobs ... in whatever vision he lays out. He is a great story-teller. So, we all listen. And, we believe. He was visionary and "right" before with the iPod, the iTouch, the Mac, so we believe in his vision and that he is "right" again. His "right-ness" is essentially pre-ordained.

In this case with the Tablet, it isn't just we consumers who believe. It is the content owners as well who will make or break (and, again, odds are "make") the Tablet's overall success (for a great perspective on the critical importance of the Tablet's content offerings, click on this link from TechCrunch). Print media is desperate for a business model in this brave new world of digital media, so they desperately are in need of a savior. And, they find one in Steve Jobs. And, they listen to his gospel. And, they have faith. And, so they believe.

The Tablet undoubtedly will be "pretty" and "sexy" as all Apple products are. But, that alone will not make it succeed. It is WE who make it succeed, because it is WE who believe. We will see others believe, and we will want to jump on the belief train. In the immortal words of Yul Brynner in the classic movie The Ten Commandments, "So Let It Be Written. So Let It Be Done."

THIS time, it is written on Apple's divine Tablet ...

Tech Downturn "Unofficially Over", According to the Forrester (& Not the Trees)

Forrester Research recently proclaimed the tech downturn to be "unofficially over," forecasting that the global IT spending will increase 8.1% in 2010 over 2009 (with software and computer hardware leading the charge). The industry stalwart further predicts that this significant and much-needed rebound will lead to an extended growth cycle, especially for technologies involving elements such as service-oriented architecture and cloud computing.

Hmmm, I like the way that sounds. We, after all, develop total video solutions that include services, cloud computing and award-winning software.

So, that's the way it is when the research firm looks at the Forrester and not the trees ...

Amazon Features Sorenson Media's Video Solutions

Amazon Web Services (AWS) -- Amazon's high-profile infrastructure and CDN arm -- is hot hot hot. Lots of press. Lots of eyes watching them. And, I am pleased to report that AWS now features Sorenson Media's video solutions in a case study that underscores the benefits flowing from our partnership. Read it here.

AWS customers now have direct access to our differentiated Sorenson 360 video delivery network -- which re-imagines what an online video publishing platform should be -- to encode, publish, manage, and measure the highest quality videos over the Internet. AWS customers have asked for it -- and, now they have it.

Innovation at its finest ...

On Leadership -- You Gotta Believe ... and Inspire by Belief

On the heels of the Vikings heartbreaking loss last night in over-time (due, in significant part, to a critical delay of game call ... are you kidding me?), my immensely talented VP Strategy and Marketing, Eric Quanstrom, sent me this article about leadership -- which uses football as the backdrop for some essential truths.

Ingredient #1 above all else? You simply gotta believe ... and you gotta get your team to believe. Through real sincere belief in the mission -- and visible passion in the quest -- you inspire. And, that is, in my humble opinion, at the very heart of leadership.

Back to football. Yes, the Vikings lost. But, they got to the NFC's "big show" -- the Championship. How? A primary reason is Brett Favre. He led the team. That guy is the most passionate and inspirational leader in football that I have ever seen. Yes, he can't decide what he wants to do (retire? play?). But, that's because he loves the game. He is a little kid in a 40 year old man's body. He leads by example -- by belief, by passion, by tenacity.

He is a poster child for leadership. I blogged about this before with Brett, because the guy is remarkable.

Now, who will fill that leadership vacuum for the Vikes next year if Favre finally does retire (which I am not so sure he will do)?

Freakanomics Can Put a Price Tag on Anything -- Even My Emotional Connection to the Vikings

Well, I guess an economist can put a monetary price tage on anything ... or at least they think they can.

This weekend, my Minnesota Vikings are, at long last, again in the NFC Championship playing for the Super Bowl. Is this our year? I think it is (we have Favre, the Ageless Wonder, after all, who gives hope to all of us digital media veterans). Does this have anything to do with digital media? Of course not. But, this is a huge weekend for me so indulge me.

Back to economists and the monetary value of my emotional connection to the Vikings. Freakonomics recently concluded that the Vikes are "worth" about $531 annually to each Minnesotan (that means me).

$531? Are you kidding me? I have watched every single game this year -- and have usually forced my family to watch them too. I have purchased jerseys and flags. I even went to paint-your-own pottery place "Color Me Mine" with my kids and painted myself a Vikings helmet!

Is that $531?

Or, is that priceless?

Well, it all depends on whether they win this weekend and go to "the Show."

YouTube Opens Up Pandora's Box -- New Online Music Service, PLUS Videos

YouTube just quietly launched a major shot across the bow to Pandora and other online radio services -- it is called YouTube Music Discovery and, for now, it is buried on YouTube's "TestTube" section of its site (which is YouTube's equivalent to Google Labs). Just like Pandora, YouTube Music Discovery (YMD) enables you to pick an artist -- press the "Disco!" button -- and automatically generate a play-list featuring your selected artist and other "similar" artists via its music discovery engine.

But, here's the cool thing -- YMD does not just generate a playlist of songs -- it generates a playlist of music videos (so that you can both watch and listen if you so choose). So, YMD really features a media discovery engine. And, YouTube's partnership with new online music video service Vevo makes this possible (at least for some of the served up videos, since the Vevo logo is prominently displayed in the lower right-hand side of the video).

YMD is free, of course. But, just like Pandora's free service, YMD serves up advertising. When I selected Coldplay and pressed the "Disco!" button, my generated playlist included 3 Coldplay videos in the first 5 videos on the playlist, and I saw my first 15 second ad after those 5 videos.

Should Pandora and other similar online music services be worried?

Absolutely. YouTube's new YMD service is now buried. But, you can bet this won't be for long. And, when YouTube talks, people listen ...

Blue Chip Brands, Agencies Depend Upon Sorenson Squeeze 6 & Sorenson 360

Earlier today, my company, Sorenson Media, issued a customer case study about how blue chip brands like Sprint and ad/marketing agencies like Big Sky Editorial depend upon new Squeeze 6 and its seamless integration with our Sorenson 360 video delivery network (VDN). (Big Sky Editorial worked closely with the T.A.G. unit of McCann Worldgroup for a major Microsoft Xbox 360 campagin.) Click on this link to read it. One significant new feature enabled by our Sorenson 360 CDN is drop-dead easy, secure "review and approval" of videos.

After all, its about utility to our customers. Best quality. Best user experience. The video solutions they need.

Good stuff.

A Tale of Two Websites -- Great Creative Minds Think Alike

We at Sorenson Media launched, to much critical acclaim, our completely revised corporate identity and website last May 2009.

Here is the link to our Sorenson Media website's home page.

Brightcove, a company I greatly respect that offers a service akin to one piece of our total video solution, recently revamped their website.

Here is the link to Brightcove's recently renovated home page.

Someone recently pointed out to me how similar they are -- great creative minds think alike!

Skype Users Now Ring Up 12% of All International Calling -- Profitable Yet?

Prior to running Sorenson Media, I spent several years running IP communications company SightSpeed (until we were acquired by Logitech in November 2008). So, IP communications continues to be near and dear to me.

SightSpeed, of course, was the David versus the Skype Goliath. We succeeded because we didn't try to do it all -- instead, we had a laser-sharp focus on one aspect of the IP communications business -- that is, video chat (that's why we were a perfect match for Logitech, which owns the lion's share of the global web cam market).

Skype, of course, has done "alright" (I say that with a grin). And now, hear this -- Skype now accounts for 12% of all global calling volume! When you think about it, that's an astounding number. Perhaps even more significant is Skype's growth rate compared to the traditional telecoms -- well over 50% annual growth rates for Skype as compared to an anemic 8% growth rate for the others. Skype now also claims that 22 million Skypers are online concurrently at any given time.

Impressive. Now, does that mean that Skype is profitable? (I am pleased to say that SightSpeed was profitable around the time of the Logitech acquisition). No, not necessarily. We will know more about its financial position when eBay holds its earnings call later today.

Separately, video chat company Tokbox -- which was a direct SightSpeed follower and competitor -- just announced that it has rolled out pay features in an attempt to establish a business model that works. Despite a fair amount of hype, the company to date has not really caught on in a very crowded space.

The Napster Cat Coughs Up Chris Allen as New GM

You may recall that Napster -- the once-wild cat in the music industry -- was acquired and tamed by the "blue shirts" of Best Buy in October 2008. My old compadre from my Universal Studios days, Chris Gorog, ran the company (and its precursor, Roxio) for years up to now. Gorog has moved on to explore new opportunities and build new ventures in entertainment, media and tech.

And now, Chris Gorog's right-hand man Chris Allen, another old compadre from my Musicmatch days, has grabbed the cat by its whiskers. Rest assured Best Buy, your pet is in great hands. Allen is everything you want in an exec -- talented, creative, and dedicated. He also has been helping to shape the online music industry from its very inception. He will give the cat the care and feeding it needs to claw the competition.

(okay, enough feline imagery ... it was getting tedious even to me as I was writing it!)

Congratulations to both compadres!

CES is Over, Holidays are Over -- Back to Business

The holidays are now a distant memory. The whirlwind of CES is now over. People across tech are now ready and focused.

It's time to get back to business.

We're ready -- we're excited about the opportunities that await us in 2010 -- and we're excited to tell you all about them here at Sorenson Media.

Our first big story was not an official story at all -- I wrote about it last week in my blog (about our major "quiet" upgrade to our Sorenson 360 service).

And, we literally have 10 more important stories to tell you already lined up in our queue. So, stay tuned to my blog and Tweets -- and our company's official blog and Tweets.

Here's to a successful 2010 to all.

Luise Rainer - The Last Great Hollywood Diva - Turns 100 Today!

Legendary Oscar winner Luise Rainer turns 100 today! And, her classic movies -- including "The Great Ziegfield" and "The Good Earth" -- for which she won back-to-back "Best Actress" Academy Awards -- run all day today on Turner Classic Movies (TCM). Here is the link to TCM's website that gives some bio info and lists her movies.

I can tell you this -- she is a classic. She truly is the last great Hollywood Diva (Vanity Fair magazine called her as much in a feature story several years back).

She made her films. She wanted to do it her way. Legendary film boss Louis B. Mayer wanted to do it his way. So she told him to, um, take a hike. And she left Hollywood behind forever.

But, believe me, she continues to do it her way ...

A Football Break for My Blog -- It's Playoff Time After All!

This post isn't as much about digital media (although I could find a connection), as much as it is about my love for NFL football -- especially NFL Play-off football -- and especially this year, when my beloved Vikings actually have a chance to do something they have never done before (win the Super Bowl).

Okay, so I was 1 for 4 in my Wild Card picks this weekend -- I only got the Cowboys dismantling of the Eagles right (and was very surprised to see what I considered to be the most dangerous team in the NFL right now -- the Packers -- lose to the Cards (although they almost didn't)).

So, my picks for the upcoming Divisional Playoffs?

In the NFC, my Vikes will humiliate the Cowboys in the Thunder Dome (Tony Romo will be picked at least twice), and the Cards will send the Saints marching home. So, it will be the Vikes/Cards in the NFC Championship -- which will be in the Metrodome -- and my Vikes will head to Miami for the Super Bowl.

In the AFC, my AFC team -- the Chargers -- will easily knock off the Jets, and the Colts will squeak past the Ravens in a nail-biter. So, it will be the Chargers/Colts in the AFC Championship, and the Chargers -- on a continuing roll -- will beat back the Colts and head to Miami.

Vikings/Chargers in the Super Bowl ... in Miami. The Vikes are my team, and I live in San Diego.

Hmmm, do I need to go to the Super Bowl this year? Do I need to be in Miami to witness, first-hand, what we Minnesotans have never seen? Do I need to be there to finally shake that monkey off our city's backs?

Signs point to yes ...

Lady Gaga -- The Instant New Face of Polaroid?

Lady Gaga -- you love her, you hate her (I actually like much of her music and find her to be hilarious). She surely isn't shy.

And, that again was evident yesterday when she took the stage at the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Vegas (CES). But, wait a second, she didn't take the stage to sing -- rather, she was on stage not only represent a tech company, but to take on an official role within a tech company! Did I read that right? Yes, I did -- Lady Gaga now is officially a "Creative Director" for a yet-unnamed line of tech products built around her "design aesthetic."

What a brilliant move! Isn't it? Well, uh ...

So, who is this visionary company that is filling its ranks with Lady Gaga?

Polaroid.

Hmmm, Polaroid, I seem to recall that name ... oh yes, WHEN I WAS 7 YEARS OLD!

Let's face it, Polaroid -- an early (very early) tech pioneer -- was essentially steam-rolled and forgotten in the past decade (two decades?). I didn't even know they were still around. So, they gotta do something to shake things up. And, nothings screams tech cred like Lady Gaga. Forget the fact that Lady Gaga is the "flavor of the month" now, but the longevity of her brand in this day and age is, shall we say, suspect?

Polaroid's next announcement? Paris Hilton to come aboard to take the lead on long-term strategy.

Google Now Will Pay $133M for On2 -- $27M Than Before

I guess it pays to be a squeaky wheel ... literally.

As a direct result of On2 shareholder lawsuits to block the deal, Google now has agreed to pay $133 million -- rather than the previous $106 million -- to acquire codec technology company On2. That's a hefty $27 million premium (roughly 25%) from its earlier offer -- and it now includes a significant cash component. Here is the joint press release.

Of course, the deal still must obtain shareholder approval which is by no means a slam dunk, given the shareholder passion that was aroused by the earlier terms. Stay tuned -- the revised deal will come to a vote in mid-February.

CES 2009 From a Distance -- Strange ...

Each business year in the tech world generally ends with at least some semblance of pause and reflection. But, that abruptly ends when the New Year comes -- thanks to the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Ahh yes, nothing like ringing in the first business week of the year with long taxi lines, continuous meetings that require hop-scotching around Vegas hotels with any mode of transportation you can find, and perhaps a couple hours on the actual show floor to see thousands of booths.

I have been doing this annual tech rite of passage now for about 10 continuous years.

Not this year. This year, my esteemed team is taking the lead on CES with their feet on the ground.

Sounds great, eh? (I am originally from Minnesota, where "eh" comes standard equipment.)

Kind of "yes", kind of "no" actually. The best way to describe it is "strange." It is strange to be viewing CES from a distance. Not a "bad" kind of strange ... just, well, strange in a "something is different" kind of way.

To me, one of the most interesting observations from afar is simply how high CES's visibility and coverage are in the press -- it is a top story in the biggest names in the elite press corps. Sure, I always knew CES was a big story -- all the big tech names are there to unveil their own big stories -- but, I didn't realize how well-covered it is by the press.

And, this year, the elite press corps from the major media outlets seem to be concluding the same thing -- that the "big story" this year at CES is 3-D TV. From a distance, I agree that that is worthy of contention. But, a small footnote in those stories also deserves recognition, because it likely will be big, big, big too. What is that? Living room live communications a la live video chat. Think about it. Sitting back with your family on the couch (rather than huddled around a PC) calling your far away loved ones. Mark my words -- that will become a big deal.

Will I back to CES next year to kick-start New Year 2011? Perhaps. But, I also get to focus on all of the booths this way -- from afar -- because the thousands of press corps are doing the legwork for me. (And, I have a great team over here at Sorenson Media to do the rest ...)

Sorenson 360 -- Major New Upgrade -- SEO, HD Video, Enhanced Customization!

On Monday we, at Sorenson Media, quietly rang in the New Year by giving significant new features to users of our "Sorenson 360" video delivery solution. These include: (1) SEO; (2) HD Video; and (3) further enhanced customization. You won't see these yet highlighted on our website, so you readers are the first to know about them.

And, Sorenson 360 users woke up Monday morning having to do nothing to benefit from this significant service upgrade -- they didn't need to download anything; they didn't need to pay any additional fees. These new features simply were there ... both to existing users and new users (including free trial-ers of the service). How cool is that?

Here's a partial list of new user benefits that now come as standard equipment in our highly reviewed and differentiated Sorenson 360 video delivery solution:

(1) Search Engine Optimization (SEO) -- now you have the tools you need to enhance Web performance of your videos (and, don't worry, you have full control to maximize Web performance of only those videos you want -- i.e., that means that your private locked down videos, and secure "review and approval" videos will not be automatically made public on the Web); we all know online video drives business success -- revenues -- by more effectively showcasing products and services than anything else; so, you want your videos to be as widely seen on the Internet as possible -- now you have the tools to make that happen;

(2) HD Video Player -- our "highest quality video" heritage and innovation continues with more important HD enhancements, including:

(i) new HD player sizes and embed codes (including two new HD options -- 1280 x 720 and 960 x 720) -- bigger is more impactful and, well, simply better;

(ii) custom player sizes and embed codes -- don't want your player sizes to be limited? No problem -- you can now easily generate customized embed codes that use player dimensions that YOU design (and, listen to this -- we have a new "instant preview" feature that shows you how your resized player looks before you publish it on your website).

(3) Unbranded "Review & Approval" & Permalink Pages -- we understand that you may not want your customers and clients to see Sorenson Media branding when they view your videos. So, what did we do about it? We've removed our branding from "Review & Approval" and Permalink pages.

(4) Downloadable Videos -- you asked for it, you got it. (Quite frankly, you should have had this long ago.) Now you can easily download all of your Sorenson 360 videos.

(5) Overall Design Enhancements -- all across the board, Sorenson 360 is now slicker and easier to use than ever. We already had the highest usability ratings in the industry, and our world-class creative/usability team knocked it out of the park again (well, at least we think so -- but you be the judge -- try newly enhanced Sorenson 360 for free and let us know what you like ... or don't like ... or further enhancements that you want -- believe me, we listen -- that's why we made these enhancements in the first place!).

All in all -- this is very big news, even though we have been kinda' quiet about it to date. But, that won't last long. Stay tuned. And, stay tuned for other significant announcements coming very soon.

Lots of good stuff happening here. Can't wait to be the first to tell you about them.

CES 2010 -- It's That Time of Year Again -- Happy New Year!

What better way to start off the New Year than with the madness of CES amidst the crazy-ness of Las Vegas? It's the sure-fire storm after the relative calm(?) of the holiday season -- and a sure-fire way to knock down your immune system (I was sick for days following 3 of the past 4 CES's).

And, the steady drumbeat (nay, barrage) of new product releases is well under way -- new 3-D flat screen TVs, ever-smarter smart phones, leaner and meaner netbooks.

But, perhaps the grand-daddy of them all in the most-anticipated category is Tech 2010's worst kept secret -- the launch, later this morning, of the new Google Phone dubbed the "Nexus One."

Can Google do no wrong? Can Google make a dent -- even a small one -- in Apple's iPhone "cool" factor?

Right now, I don't know anyone who plans to immediately ditch their iPhone for the Nexus One ... but many unattached tech wonks certainly will.

(The rumor mill is rife with other "guesses" of less-obvious announcements by Google later this morning -- including the possibility of a new Tablet device which would trump Apple's anticipated Tablet announcement later this month.)