Though we may be nearing what Rupert Murdoch calls "the golden age of media", there's a hurdle ahead. Between today's cacophony of web-video services and the promised land of seamless interactive programming is the maturing of a little thing called IPTV.

Well, that's what I think. My new column for CNET is now online with the full editorial...

IPTV for beginners

Opinion: We have a long way to go...

By Howard Greenfield

Published: Monday 4 June 2007

Though everyone's making big predictions for IPTV's uptake, the services are still a long way off. Howard Greenfield outlines the forces which will bring this upcoming tech to life.

Though we may be nearing what Rupert Murdoch calls "the golden age of media", there's a hurdle ahead. Between today's cacophony of web-video services and the promised land of seamless interactive programming is the maturing of a little thing called IPTV.

In an industry just beginning to understand how to slam video down broadband pipes to achieve new, improved television experiences, there's still advertising and revenue requirements to meet, still a few speed bumps before reaching the new media ecosystem.

In fact, the last time I checked, we're all still beginners here, only a short way along from the black-and-white I Love Lucy days inception of the medium.

We're all IPTV beginners here.

Huge growth is anticipated. IPTV households are expected to grow worldwide from around seven million to 48 million between now and 2019 - a 60 per cent annual growth rate over five years, according to market researcher Infonetics.

Yet between central office and broadband network to set-top and living room lurk quality issues. Scalability challenges still stand between what we have today and a smooth service reaching millions that can meet or beat the existing broadcast experience and deliver true web/TV 2.0 personalisation and interactivity.

(continued on CNET/Silicon.com)