TV Everywhere, or Cable PC?

Don’t you love a good, catchy, phrase to describe a business initiative? The one being used by several major cable MSOs to describe a service being tested for future consideration is more hyperbole than fact. The initiative they propose is to place cable programming inside a “walled garden” (heard that phrase in the early 90’s) on the internet on sites owned and operated by the cable MSOs for viewing by only those persons who are already cable subscribers. This does not include the content of the broadcast networks (ABC, NBC, FOX, CBS, etc) as much of this is already accessible on free sites on the internet (HuLu, TV.com, etc). The word “everywhere” implies a omnipresence, like the oxygen we breath. Its something that should be available to anyone, anywhere, anytime, for free. This is just not the case in what is being proposed by the Cable MSOs, especially Time Warner and Comcast. Simply put, any service that requires a conditional access system is not free, ubiquitous or “everywhere”. Its behind a wall, in a protected environment, where one is required to pay for the service. Its an extension of programming owned by the cable companies for viewing over their broadband systems. Its no different than the current cable service in one’s home, you’d just watch the shows on your computer rather than your TV. So let’s call TV Everywhere what it really is, Cable PC.

The cable companies have the right to do this as, if you follow the money, the major media and cable companies own, in hole or in conjunction with one another, many of the cable channels that are on your cable system. Universal, Disney, Viacom, Time Warner and Comcast own stakes in virtually every cable channel. The business model for these channels generates a considerable amount of money in advertising and affiliate fees, so its in the best interest of the owners/operators to protect their revenue stream and to learn from the mistakes the music industry made that has eroded their business. I guess I am just galled that they use the word “everywhere” to describe this new service. Everywhere would be if I had a device in my hands that, no matter where I am - home, train, plane, car, beach, Pete’s Bowl - I could watch a program. With TV Everywhere I can not. The broadcast networks, using their digital TV spectrum, or Qualcomm’s FloTV, might be able to provide this service. The Cable companies can not.

And, let’s face it, did you really know, or care, that Love Monkey, the Tom Cavanaugh series that was dropped by NBC after 5 or 6 episodes (that may be generous) is now on Universal HD and may be placed behind this wall? Just goes to show that 700 channels is too much. Is someone missing the forest for the trees?