On the front page of the site no where does it say it will have the network channels. It says:
US Network TV:
All of your favorites
from the major US Network Broadcasters like ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX
US Specialty Channels:
Enjoy programming
from some of Americas' highest rated specialty channels like Discovery, History, TLC, OLN, and Speed TV
I dont think it will have the actual channels but like many pay sites do one of the following:
-Stream certain popular programmes from ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX etc.
-Host torrents or normal downloads of popular programmes
-Link to other sources streaming channels ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX etc.
-Link to foriegn channels showing programmes and sports from ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox
-Link to torrents or downloads of shows ie. act as a database
If it just streamed any channels from the US the chances are it wouldnt take long before it got closed down and I doubt it would have the capacity to stream all those channels live 24/7
Just linking to other channels from countries with different laws is total fine and I would suspect they will do this and charge to provide these links to people who might have otherwise have to mess about finding them.
Many of these channels like HBO middle east, CNN, BBC World are actually availible for free and legally to the watcher (although possibly not for the streamer, depending on where they originate) using P2P TV streaming software anyway.
Received this email from the guy behind it this evening.
Stuart, we are testing hardware vendors at the moment along with signing content deals (this is a big task I can assure you) We are also visiting with broadband distribution partners around the world as well. Our satellite backbone is up and running and we are currently doing quality checks on the platform as we speak. We are also finalizing the venture money as well. All in all we suspect first true beta customers on the network by 2nd quarter 06. The nice part is that for you in the UK, the service will be substantially less expensive than running with SKY etc as 100 channels will only cost you around 58pounds.
Mike
-----Original Message-----
From: Stuart Fanning [mailto:Stuart.Fanning@ntlworld.com]
Sent: Monday, December 05, 2005 12:10 PM
To: mearle@v1labs.com Subject: TVAnywhere
Hi Mike
Thanks for the website info on TVAnywhere, which you sent to me via the American Expats site. The TVAnywhere site is only partially working, at this time, but the service proposed is interesting and potentially exciting. Although the site suggests otherwise, I suspect you are currently at the stage of testing the waters. Is this correct? Anyway I would be interested to hear more if the project goes ahead.
All, thanks for the interest. Just a few things to keep in mind. The web site is not really for public consumption right now as we have been spending much of our time working on the content deals. The service will be presented just like digital cable and satellite in the uS with a time shift component to get the prime time content on in prime time depending on your geographic location. We will stream the content from the broadcasters in the same manner they push it to us and it is not an on demand model. The time sensative content will not be time shifted (CNN, FOX News, Bloomberg,etc).
You will need to have a pretty solid broadband connection with at least 2Mbps downstream. The stream will eat 1.2 Mbps while you are watching the programming on a single set top box. This is all AVC MPEG4 compression and looks amazing at 1.2 Mbps. The goal is to have the netowrks as well as the traditional cable content available. There will be certain blackout restrictions for some content based on previously signed 'exclusive' contnet arrangements but for the most part we are unrestricted. The web site will have a full listing of blackouts so that anyone signing up for service will knwo exactly what they are getting, and not getting. Hope that helps make sense of the service.
All, thanks for the interest. Just a few things to keep in mind. The web site is not really for public consumption right now as we have been spending much of our time working on the content deals. The service will be presented just like digital cable and satellite in the uS with a time shift component to get the prime time content on in prime time depending on your geographic location. We will stream the content from the broadcasters in the same manner they push it to us and it is not an on demand model. The time sensative content will not be time shifted (CNN, FOX News, Bloomberg,etc).
You will need to have a pretty solid broadband connection with at least 2Mbps downstream. The stream will eat 1.2 Mbps while you are watching the programming on a single set top box. This is all AVC MPEG4 compression and looks amazing at 1.2 Mbps. The goal is to have the netowrks as well as the traditional cable content available. There will be certain blackout restrictions for some content based on previously signed 'exclusive' contnet arrangements but for the most part we are unrestricted. The web site will have a full listing of blackouts so that anyone signing up for service will knwo exactly what they are getting, and not getting. Hope that helps make sense of the service.
What bit rate wil you be broadcasting at? Are you affilated to the broadcasters?
we aggregate all the content in the US, push the encoded content on data channels via satellite to re-distribution head end locations in various cities around the world. The re-distribution head locations are actually located within broadband providers noc's, thus putting us on the local network (either xDSL or cable) and getting the content closer to you the subscriber. Streaming servers are located in these re-distro locations so that each set top can receive a quality stream at 1.2Mpbs and we do not have to serve it all from one location (which is nearly impossible with a huge subscriber base (hard to get that much bandwidth and keep it solid. hope that makes sense