Intel Investing in Web-Based TV

[btarunr]

With US cable-TV operators' fees to cable channels crossing the US $40 billion/year mark, Intel is eying a share of the market. According to a WSJ report, Intel is working on a "virtual cable operator" service that would distribute cable-TV channels nationwide over the internet. The paid service wouldn't cover costs of internet service and bandwidth utilized by it, leaving customers to pay them on their end. This could mean that Intel's service is more affordable than those of conventional cable-operators that supply their own wired/satellite infrastructure to customers. Intel has recently made some notable IP acquisitions, which could contribute to this effort. For one, we know that Intel recently bought video encoding/streaming technology patents from RealNetworks (the people behind RealPlayer). Intel's TV service could go live by the end of 2012.



View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[Mistral]

The paid service wouldn't cover costs of internet service and bandwidth utilized by it, leaving customers to pay them on their end.

In other words, no chance of it working in Canada.

 

[Octavean]

The more companies trying to make money via the Web like this (such as Netflix) the better. This way we have companies with a vested interest on the “right” side of net neutrality concerns AKA for the people.

 

[badtaylorx]

nice....now EVERYBODY needs an htpc.....this is gonna be sweet

 

[happita]

If Intel's strategy is effective, it will benefit the PC industry bigtime. Some of the people who build a PC solely for the purpose of it being hooked up to a home theater will eventually want to buy a game or 2 to go along with it to play on that shiny big screen HDTV.
Then the itch will need to get scratched when they realize that integrated graphics can't play COD or BF3 at 1080p over 10-15 fps

 

[ensabrenoir]

Intel...knew there was more to that acquisition... didnt see cable though...opens a lot of doors this dose

 

[DannibusX]

Having DRM controls built into Intel processors from SB forward makes a little more sense now.