Is VIDGO Still In Beta?

It has been almost a year -nine months to be exact- since we first heard about the VIDGO app, which, supposedly, was going to revolutionize the way we watch TV. At the 2016 CES in Vegas, the company announced the app, unofficially, and the press had a field day with it. From Mashable to the Wall Street Journal, many journalists announced the potential of this TV app, considering that in that particular space -linear TV- there is room for improvement.

Only a few people got to see the first version -myself included- during the conference, so the excitement was high. Even though there were no specifics about the channels that would be included, the price points, or even the availability on some of the streaming devices, the mere fact of having another streaming player in the market was enough to raise expectations among journalists, investors, and consumers.

FAST FORWARD

Right after the conference, everyone got back to work. The first few months went a bit slowly until midyear when the company finally made some additional announcements:

1. VIDGO would include local channels, initially in selected markets.
2. Consumers would be able to build their own packages.
3. NFL package would be included.
4. The app could be watched in simultaneous devices.
5. There would be a cloud DVR.
6. Video on demand would be available.

Now, let's admit it: All those options sound good. Even the cordcutters who were already enjoying Sling TV or Vue were excited about the possibility to enjoy a new and improved TV app, even if the price point was still known. Local channels, DVR, NFL package, simultaneous devices? It sounds good.

However, months have passed since the beginning of the beta testing, and many people seem anxious about the delays of its launch. Even though no hard dates have been announced, cord-cutters, cord-nevers, and techies in general, would love to hear the company set up a date for launch, so they know when to expect it in the market.

On the other hand, we understand that a small player, such as VIDGO, coming into such a competitive market -with the likes of , Hulu, or Sling- wants to take as much time as needed to polish the final product close to perfection. I remember, amidst the impatience of many users, when Google News stayed in beta for almost two years. Other companies, however, manage to launch a product after only six or eight weeks. It obviously depends on a array of variables, from the specs to the business objectives, to the potential pitfalls uncovered during the testing period.

Rushing into the market and making an early mistake would signify the quick disappearance of the app from the market. Considering the amounts of time and money that must be invested in order to release a TV app on a national scale, I am sure the engineers and others members of the team are taking all necessary precautions.

In any case, we really hope to see this app come to life before the end of the year. Who knows? Maybe it will be one of the available streaming options to watch the next Super Bowl?