Streaming Toward the “Long Trail”

As streaming technology gets faster and resolution gets better (although that’s debatable), I will seek out internet video and web TV content I'm specifically interested in. So will you. Exploiting this demand, online programming will evolve into offering everything, like the Jewish Television Network, independent films by R&B artists, comedy from Penn and Teller, Grandma's Cooking Show and who knows what else....

The phenomenon of catering to very small audiences, called “long trail” distribution, was first observed at, then exploited by Amazon so successfully, it is now one of the mega-stores on the net and a major online retailer worldwide. Amazon Video anyone?



As a result, we may be in the midst of a content explosion as viewers transition from analog cable television to Web-based video technologies. 



Streaming technology seems to be the preferred method of video delivery today, because the content doesn’t reside on your computer. As such, it often cannot be replayed after its viewed once. That's a major reason why content owners like streaming video -- it's perfect for embedding ads because users can't fast forward as easily.



The rise of the broadband Internet connection -- some 47% of American households have it now -- coincides with the rise of streaming technology. Even DVD rental services like Netflix are starting to offer streaming on-demand content. Netflix users can now push a "Watch Now" tab and within 30 seconds start streaming up to 3,000 TV shows and movies.

ReelTime, for example, operates in a P2P environment, pulling previously streamed data from other users' computers in addition to delivering content straight from its servers.

I will expand more about Unbox TiVo and CreateSpace on Amazon in an upcoming post. Stay tuned.