Bill Gates--Last day at his Job (not that he will ever retire!)

This is a funny video. One worth seeing.

BBC_MySpace TV Link

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BBC TV content will be available through MySpace TV starting today. BBC announced that:
BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the BBC and MySpace, the world's largest social networking platform, today announced the launch of a ground-breaking partnership to bring new and archived short form BBC content to MySpaceTV.
The announcement marks the first global agreement of this type between MySpaceTV and a major broadcaster. Under the partnership, the best BBC video content will be made available online globally via MySpaceTV, the social networking site's popular new video platform. MySpace users will be able to visit and subscribe to the BBC Worldwide's MySpaceTV video channel in order to view, embed and virally share BBC content across the MySpace community. Under the deal, current and archived video content from BBC Worldwide programmes will be available on MySpaceTV including some classic moments in TV: Robbie Williams and Russell Crowe being interviewed by Parkinson, Jeremy Clarkson and his team on Top Gear and some breathtaking clips from Attenborough's natural history series. Also available will be some gripping moments from classic series such as Doctor Who, Robin Hood and Torchwood in addition to some hilarious sketches from The Catherine Tate show, Red Dwarf and The Mighty Boosh."
Moreover, this "represents a further move by BBC Worldwide, the BBC's commercial arm, to broaden the reach of its content to new channels and outlets, to engage with audiences around the world and to promote content which will be available on Kangaroo in the UK and BBC Worldwide's commercial media player internationally."
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Media network is becoming viral, modular and global.

Three Horses Orchestrating the Health Network

Now, we are beginning to see what the network era may mean for the healthcare sector.
First, there is WebMD, part of HLTH Corporation. It has evolved over the years to be a significant place on the network for people to access information as well as make connections. Its role is simple: "WebMD provides valuable health information, tools for managing your health, and support to those who seek information. You can trust that our content is timely and credible." It has two interdependent networks--one focused on consumers and the other focused on healthcare professionals.
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Then there is Microsoft Healthvault. As the website states: "Imagine controlling the flow of your health information. Whether you need to search the Web for the most up-to-date treatments, catalog existing health records, receive test results, or monitor current physical readings — HealthVault gives you the control you need." And in a typical Microsoft way, it leverages the power of complimentary partners to make the service attractive to users. Here is a list of websites that have already signed on to experiment with Microsoft. There is also a growing list of devices that are compatible with MS Healthvault.
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Now it looks like Google Health is about to be launched.

Details may be forthcoming in due course.

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I see these three as complimentary and not competitive. All three have important roles. I will be watching this space to get a better understanding of the evolution of networks in healthcare--an important part of the economy.

IBM Commercials--Importance of Implementation and Actions

IBM's commercials are on the mark..
Here's one that I could find online.


ideate from ax09001h on Vimeo.
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I am looking to find others.
If you find it, please provide links here. Thanks.

Blogger as an OpenID provider

One of the frustrating things is to have to create multiple ids for commenting on different blogs. It is bad enough that we have different email ids, bank ids, magazine subscription ids etc. I am happy to see that Blogger (Google) has finally introduced this feature. Now, I can enable my blogger id as an OpenID and use it on blogs that accept it. Just as any other feature in networks, this will only be as successful as the number of sites (and members) that embrace it. It will be interesting to see the success of this initiative against inevitable alternatives that will emerge.

Innovations Shaping the Future--IBM's View

Here are some videos that summarize what IBM sees as innovations for the future.



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Netflix: Adapting to the Network Era

It is always refreshing when we see a company adapting its business model to new requirements. NetFlix is one of those companies whose business model of DVD distribution through mail-order is under attack. It has taken proactive steps to adapt its business model top the network era.



The following moves are noteworthy signals of the shift underway.

1. On November 29, 2007, Netflix and NBC Universal entered into an agreement about the hit series Heroes.

The deal follows NBC Universal's announcement with G4 and Mojo as the off-network cable homes for "Heroes" and makes Netflix the exclusive SVOD outlet for the series and the third arm of the studio's syndication deal. In addition, Netflix also offers prior season episodes of other popular NBC series including "30 Rock," "Friday Night Lights" and "The Office." For these shows, Netflix subscribers will have the option of enjoying them on DVD or watching them instantly on their PCs at Netflix.com. "We are pleased to expand our relationship with NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution and be part of their innovative distribution strategy," said Robert Kyncl, Vice President of Content Acquisition for Netflix. "We have a shared interest in granting fans expanded access to and strengthening the network's key franchises." "We are excited to establish Netflix as a part of our off-network syndication strategy for 'Heroes,'" said Frances Manfredi, Executive Vice President & General Sales Manager, NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution. "This deal reflects the changing landscape of the entertainment marketplace and our objective of finding new buyers that complement our traditional customers."

2. On January 3, 2008, it entered into an agreement with LG Electronics to "develop a set-top box for consumers to stream movies and other programming from the Internet to HDTVs -- bypassing the need to use a personal computer." According to Netflix, this "technology collaboration supports the Netflix core strategy of offering a multi-dimensional, or "hybrid," service that gives its more than 7 million members a variety of ways to receive movies and TV series for one, low monthly fee."

According to an article in the New York Times, "the deal with LG is something of a strategy shift for Netflix. The company had been experimenting with building its own Netflix-brand set-top box. Last spring, to help create the device, the company hired Anthony Wood, the founder of ReplayTV and a pioneer of the digital video recorder." I for one agree that it does not make sense to create a specifically branded set top box and compete against Motorola and Cisco. It is far better to figure out a hook to the television sets directly. In that sense, this experiment with LG Electronics is a good way to experiment and learn.

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Netflix is experimenting with on-line streaming as well as rethinking how it delivers content to consumers. Strategic shift to a network era is challenging and complex. Wal-Mart experimented with online downloading but scrapped its initiative, partly because its technology partner Hewlett Packard decided to discontinue essential infrastructure for the service. Whatever be the real reason, Wal-Mart has decided to focus on maintaining its leadership in selling physical DVDs and not expand its strategy to online downloads (that call for entirely different set of capabilities and relationships).



The only way to succeed is to explore multiple avenues and experiment plausible avenues of new business models. While, we cannot be certain that Netflix will succeed, the good news is that they have recognized the potential obsolescence of their traditional business models and are responding to the shift.

The transformation in the media network is underway and the moves by current players and new entrants are worth watching.