Research Workshop features Broadband Services, 3D TV, Video Services, Connected CE

Parks Associates is hosting the special one-day research workshop Monetizing the Digital Lifestyle on September 20 to address operator strategies, value-added services, and new technologies such as 3D TV, connected CE, and multiscreen solutions. This interactive workshop takes place at the Connected Home World Summit in London.

Kurt Scherf, Vice President & Principal Analyst and Pietro Macchiarella, Research Analyst will present insight, analysis, and forecasts of the digital living markets in the following sessions:

-- Enhancing Broadband Services: Connected Home and Customer Support
-- Providing Depth on 3D TV Opportunities
-- Operator-provided Video Services: Coming into Focus
-- Connected Consumer Electronics: Platforms, Online Content, and the Consumer

Kurt Scherf will also chair and present on "Examining recent and forecast deployments of connected home services by operators and service providers" on September 21 at 9:30 a.m. In addition to hosting the research workshop and speaking at the event, Parks Associates is a supporting partner of the 2010 Connected Home World Summit. The Connected Home World Summit, part of the IPTV World Series, brings together key players in the connected home value chain to evaluate the commercial potential of connected home services and to clearly understand the technical and financial challenges of supporting them.

Service Providers Being Repositioned As Media Companies

The popularity of online video consumption is forcing service providers to reposition as media companies with new offerings such as TV Everywhere, according to this report, Online Video and Broadband Provider Strategies.

The number of U.S. broadband households watching premium online content doubled in the last year. Over 25 million U.S. broadband households regularly watch full-length TV shows online, and over 20 million watch movies online.

Connected CE devices are affecting the competitive ecosystem of the television industry, and while the current number of cord cutters isn’t substantial, service providers are concerned about these developments. Pay-TV providers are working to head off a possible shift that might devalue their services by offering TV Everywhere. These services supplement their traditional offerings, which might not dissuade anyone determined to cut the cord, but providers could use them as models for future business strategies.

Online Video and Service Provider Strategies also reports that consumers have yet to establish strong preferences on whether they get video and other value-added services from broadband service providers or over-the-top providers such as Hulu. Service providers can leverage this consumer neutrality and reposition themselves as media companies.