What the hell is TitanTV, really.

Positioning itself as "King World for the web" TitanTV has announced plans for syndicating web programming. They are ofterring web programs for sale to local TV stations to play in a special player on your local website.

We get the problem they think they're solving, right? You watch your favorite ABC shows on your local ABC affiliate, and then you go to the web to read bout htem and you go to ABC.com, not wtnh.com to learn about them. What good is that to our affiliates in the future.

But, since I can watch content on the website of an affiliate in Cheyenne just as easily as I can on one here in brooklyn, what exactly is the business model here?  Ya dig?

Well, yes, now that you ask, I did try to ask Titan CEO Mark Ephron.  But for some reason, they refused to grant and interview with him to some completely unkown blogger.  Ha!  When I'm writing my Future of Entertainment column for the Times, I'll remember this.  O.K., no, I won't.

Hollywood Reporter | Web Content. Syndie Style

HBO is jumping in!

Well... HBO is using its little toe to test the temperature of the water online. The are making a new broadband service available online to Time Warner subscribers in Green Bay and Milwaukee who also have Time Warner Broadband service.

The strategy being employed here is very limited in order to limit the panic of traditional broadcasters. If HBO throws it's content online all at once, I'll run out and cancel my cable because what the heck do I need it for anyhow?

Another time that traditional media outlets are slowing down the progress of the TV/Web merger because of fears bout their revenue streams. I hold that we'll keep on spending that money somewhere. But not necessarily giving it to Time Warner.

The greatest ray of hope is in the last paragraph of the Financial Times (Yes, I read everything) article -

"In their absence, HBO executives are betting on a portfolio of niche programs, films, documentaries and sports - each with its own devoted fans."

That's what I'm saying, people - Cheaper/Leaner/Faster turn-around niche entertainment!

Full Article at the Financial Times