Sponsor's Message

I'm talking about *really* using the internet as an alternative to RF/cable/satellite for the purpose of broadcasting television content.

Back in the late 1990s, FoxNews streamed its TV news channel to the web 24/7 and I have to admit that it was a resource I found incredibly useful while acting as the 7am.com news-editor.

Few other TV broadcasters however, have been able to do the same, mainly because of all the licensing hassles associated with streaming content over the Net.

But now, MTV has announced that as of April 25, it will be running a new Net-based virtual TV channel that will carry some of its most popular content, including The Osbornes.

Now have your say Got something to say about today's column, or want to see what others think?  Visit The Forums While you're here, why not visit the Aardvark Hall of Shame and perhaps make your own nomination.

I'm sure that broadcasters around the world will be watching this attempt with much interest since, if MTV can do it successfully, many others will follow their lead.

Not a conventional streamed channel, the MTV offering appears as if it will be more like video-on-demand but I suspect it will undergo significant changes as it matures.

Of course those of us down here in NZ and Australia should not expect too much from MTV's offering. Our expensive/capped DSL plans mean that we're not going to be able to watch this cyber-channel 24/7, and let's not forget that even with a moderately fast DSL connection -- streaming video is not really broadcast quality.

I've long been a proponent of communities and special interest groups using streaming video or video-on-demand as a vehicle for delivering programme content, let's hope this heralds the start of a new trend.

Maybe if Telecom is truly interested in fostering locally produced and targeted online content, they'll remove the data cap for local traffic - that could have a huge effect on the availability of such material and, if you remember, that's the way it used to be with the original JetStream Starter plan.

Lighten Up
Come on guys (and guyesses), my lighten-up bin is almost empty! Get those suggestions to me in time for next week's edition.

Here's someone whose singing voice can only be described as "unique".

Wing, whose career has been boosted by a grant from the Manukau City Council, says of herself "I immigrated to New Zealand with my family about ten years ago from Hong Kong. I have been learning singing in New Zealand and I do performances in Rest Homes and Hospitals and occasionally promotional concerts."

Is this any way to treat our aged and infirmed I ask?

But you've got to give Wing 11 out of 10 for tenacity and sheer determination.

Check out Wing's website and take a listen to her soothing and haunting rendition of that ABBA hit, Dancing Queen.

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The forums are back up at: www.aardvarkforums.co.nz/forums, have your say on today's column

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