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The Clicker: Living on the Grid
Stephen Speicher contributes The Clicker, an opinion column on entertainment and technology:Riddle me this -- what do you get when you cross the cost savings of a peer-to-peer network with the stability, reliability, and security of a traditional CDN (Content Delivery Network)? The answer, if one Seattle startup has its way, might just be on-demand DVD-quality video at a fraction of the current cost.Sitting atop Seattle's famed FX McRory's building in the picturesque Pioneer Square, a group of 15 dedicated employees at GridNetworks is attempting to go where many have ventured but few have succeeded; they're attempting to morph the concept of peer-to-peer into a business.Last week I sat down with GridNetworks CEO, Jeff Payne, and VP of Sales and Marketing, Bo Wandell, to get the lowdown on their new service. Click on to find out what I gleaned from their vision for Grid.
Download Survivor, but not via iTunes
File this under "What are they thinking?" CBS has announced that it will offer downloads of its mega-popular reality show Survivor: Panama* at $1.99 a pop. But here's the catch: The episodes will "expire" 24 hours after purchase, will not be iPod compatible and will not be sold via iTunes (CBS.com will distribute them). CBS's president of digital media Larry Kramer told Ruters, "We want to go gradually. We've never done this before." I honestly do understand Mr. Kramer's hesitation. It's a new marketing venture and they don't want to get burned. But we know that the networks get the majority of the cut from iTunes sales. Plus, why would I pay for something that's going to "break" in a day? That's like saying, "After you listen to this CD once, I'm coming to your house and taking it away from you."*Does anyone else think the theme should be changed to Panama by Van Halen for this season?[Via MacDailyNews]
