Released on February 2007
Buy it at a special price € 1,100+ VAT (50% discount)
instead of € 2,200 + VAT
During the last years, IPTV has known significant growth rates, and several services have been launched since 2001, when Fastweb appeared on the Italian market with the first IP based broadband triple play offer. This evolution is based on the belief that broadband is to be the medium which will convey entertainment content in the near future.
Mainstream broadcasters are approaching this new distribution channel. In the UK Channel 4 has made available part of its programming online, with a service of previews and catch up TV. The BBC is promoting the iPlayer project, which should provide a seven-day catchup service featuring a large proportion of programming available for download over broadband, as well as simulcasting services over the internet. The service should also make selected radio programmes available as downloads without digital rights management restrictions. A corresponding catch-up service would also be available to cable and broadband video services, elements of which are already provided through video-on-demand.
Broadband seems to be the next TV vehicle, as it is also shown by growing interest of advertisers towards the internet. The increased growth in online usage has lead to greater support from both lower & higher spenders to include online in their marketing strategies.
Personalization of offers leads to the development of on demand supply, based on libraries. Users generated content and file sharing are spreading. More and more users are leaving behind physical supports in favour of digital –whether legal or not- download from the net. In all the major markets, consumption of traditional TV is decreasing to the advantage of internet browsing. Among the youngsters internet is getting the heart of their social relations and spare time.
Finally, the audiovisual industry is to face this new dynamic environment, and so is TV under its most innovative version, such as IPTV and triple play offers.
