Another MSNBC Emory Thomas article (w/o ACTV mention though) about the set-top box activities contents.
msnbc.com
What goes in the new television box?
Cable, computer companies race to determine which new activities, functions will sit atop the TV set
By Emory Thomas Jr. (MSNBC)
...
To date, cable giant Tele-Communications has taken the lead, presiding over a multi-million-unit industry order of next-generation boxes from
General Instrument. The companies expect the first product of their efforts to emerge late this year, for distribution next year. They also expect that several different levels of set-top eventually will be available - from "Cadillacs" perhaps loaded with high-speed cable modems down to "Chevrolets" containing little more than electronic program guides.
But even the participating parties admit they don't have a tight handle on what set-top features will appeal most to any particular level of subscriber. (Ultimately, cable operators would like consumers
to buy their set-tops at retail, but at least at first, most boxes are expected to be provided by cable companies along with premium subscription packages.)
...
"We're still really looking for someone to provide that next-generation killer application," says David Fritch, senior manager of marketing and strategy at General Instrument.
...
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BTW...
Since the NFL sells season-long "Sunday Tickets" that permit satellite
dish owners to view multiple (out-of-region) NFL games for $99 (or $139, I believe), might it also be possible for FOX Sports to sell "FOX NFC Tickets" to digital cable users and make use of ACTV's multi-channel technology to transmit separate games simultaneously for channel-flipping? :) (...Or am I overlooking some NFL regional broadcast restrictions and/or technological limitations of ACTV and/or FOX self-interest not to do so??) If so, how could CBS resist following suit? |
