As for Boxee vs. cable providers — and again I’m making assumptions here — I believe the providers are looking forward. If viewers shift away from TV and towards a third-party online service like Boxee, then the cable providers won’t be able to charge networks as great a fee for distribution. In other words, I speculate they’re using their current leverage to avoid having less of it later on.

Check this out: http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200903/television

Also, re: your Boxee comment: The thing I still don’t understand is why. If they’re showing ads on those shows anyway (as they are through Hulu) what’s the use in not pushing it? Is it just that the CPMs are lower on web video than television?

For starters, I have to agree with the intelligent folks who speculate that Boxee is getting forced out by the cable providers whose profits they’re cutting into.

This reminds of the ensuing cellphone/carrier struggle for content rights (and profits). But I digress…

Anyway, I have to think that TV networks are enlightened enough to know that Boxee is a great thing for them, and are frustrated that the cable providers:
a) are blocking this opportunity, and
b) haven’t created the service themselves

The optimist in me thinks that Comcast would build a lot of goodwill (and ultimately profit) by purchasing Boxee and providing the service to their consumers. The fatalist in me expects that Boxee will be an unfortunate casualty, and will inspire providers to offer an expensive, watered down version of the service in the not-too-distant future.

BTW, nice posts on the Retrospective. I’m enjoying the tip to Theophilus London…

I’d love to hear your take on what’s happening with software platform Boxee and their struggle with finding a working model for convenient online television.

http://bit.ly/19MscB