A lot of news in this sector recently. While Ing Barings recently initiated some buy and strong buy ratings on some of the interactive TV stocks;
biz.yahoo.com
it really looks like some of the big boys are moving into the playground;
1.)Microsoft said Friday it would incorporate its enhanced TV software into its Windows operating system to help personal computers and devices such as DVD players benefit from the technology that adds personalization, communication and interactive capabilities to the basic TV experience.
dailynews.yahoo.com
2.)Nokia's Swedish archrival Ericsson (LMEb.ST) is also developing Internet-friendly home appliances in collaboration with Electrolux (ELUXb.ST).
``The Media Terminal enables full Internet access and push-type services over TV broadcast networks,'' Nokia
said in a statement.
``(Its) features...include full, fast Internet access in the living room which provides for interactive digital services
including home shopping and banking, as well as the possibility to pause and replay live broadcasts or split the
screen between TV and Internet,'' it said.
Consumers can also watch digital TV and record programs on an integrated hard disc, play network games, order video on demand, send and receive email, listen and store MP3 files, and connect printers, digital cameras or other devices, it said.
dailynews.yahoo.com
3.)Philips Electronics (PHG.AS)(NYSE:PHG - news) said on Friday it would license Microsoft Corp.'s (NasdaqNM:MSFT
- news) Enhanced TV software for use in its set-top boxes and collaborate with the software giant on developing new products with Microsoft software.
The combined Philips and Microsoft products are expected to enable features that combine properties of the Internet with traditional television as well as digital recording similar to TiVo Inc. (NasdaqNM:TIVO - news) and privately-held Replay.
dailynews.yahoo.com
At least Liberate is being considered: Europe's largest cable TV operator UPC said on Saturday it would use digital TV software from Liberate Technologies, after software from its eight percent shareholder Microsoft was delayed.
dailynews.yahoo.com
But this may just be temporary until Microsoft gets their software ready.
While interactive TV may be big I don't want to buy Microsoft to participate in it. Comments. What about the chip and board makers (Sigm, Haup, and Zran) or should we be looking more at content providers (Nbci certainly is cheap,AOL, or Mdlk).
The popularitiy of 'real world' shows like Survivor and MTV's 'The Real World', which are custom made for a web/interactive TV format, indicates that there is large demand for this.
Let's keep the discussion going on what is sure to be a huge growth area over the next several years.
Derrick |
