WSJ.com - Big TV's Broadband Blitz: ""
Not long ago, video on the Web consisted of pirated TV shows and movies, amateur videos posted on blogs and a scattered array of news and sports programs mostly available by subscription. But suddenly, Web video is exploding -- fueled by high-speed connections, easier downloads and a flood of new entertainment offerings. Advertisers are moving in swiftly with TV-like commercials, feeding more growth.
First in a series
• MSN Starts Strong in Web-Video Ad Race
• Plugging the Web Into the TV
Movie studios are negotiating with big digital platforms such as Apple Computer Inc. and Microsoft Corp. to allow sale of movie downloads. Search companies like MSN and Yahoo Inc. are buying programming and emerging as online video destinations in their own right. TV networks are jockeying for position, determined not to get caught flat-footed like the music industry did by file-sharing piracy. But producers also are wary of releasing too much content and seeing its value collapse.
This series explores the implications of the Web video boom for all the major players -- TV networks, film studios, Internet portals and consumer electronics.