Manhattan Interactive: City to broadcast public access over the internet

This New York Times article states that NYC TV clips - over 500 of them - can now be found on the internet through the city's website, www.nyc.gov. Dozens of clips will be added weekly, said Bloomberg, which can be searched by neighborhood or category, such as shopping, parks or food.

Users can also email video clips in, making this medium a sort of Interactive TV.

Al Gore, who recently won an Emmy for his work, has created Current TV, an independent media company that first went on air in August of 2005. The network features short programs, called "pods", of which about 30% are created by viewers.

This sort of interactive television again highlights the power of Web 2.0. As I've said in previous posts, user driven content is no fad, but the direction media is headed. Furthermore, as a 'mobilephile', I'm inclined to believe that the convergence of the standard web experience and the mobile web experience is happening faster than most realize. With applications like Current TV, or any IPTV for that matter, users will have even more reasons to go mobile.

Twenty years ago, very few thought it would be necessary to have a telephone with you at all times. Very few thought you'd need a personal computer. The internet was exclusively used for data exchange between researchers and scientists. A lot has changed since then - all three of those have converged, and are still doing so. It's quite exciting to witness these developments.

Mobile TV - The Next Killer App?

After setting up my SlingBox, and reading more about it on their website, I realized that the mobile application for use with Windows Mobile could be the next Killer Application for 4G wireless networks. Using SlingPlayer with high speed mobile broadband network, such as Sprint's new Mobile WiMax Network, could deliver good enough video quality to meet most people's standards. With the current EDGE network or other 'less than 3G' networks, the idea of streaming video is unfathomable. However, with Mobile WiMax, bandwith issues will be a thing of the past. Hopefully this WiMax network's unlimited data plan will truly be Unlimited, or else that will vastly limit the picture quality of the streaming video. While broadcasting over the internet, my SlingBox typically transfers 1500 kbps. Furthermore, the current state of mobile video includes short video clips and sports highlights. SlingBox may monopolize a cable box in your home, but it delivers full length television - just like at home.

Apple's deal with YouTube has certainly sparked more interested in streaming mobile video, especially with the iPhone's penetration of non-tech-centered consumers. Maybe SlingMedia can grab a hold of that.