bostongekko's Comments

Is TV Everywhere the Future of Television or Another Over-Hyped Promise?

Sun, 13 Dec 2009 19:06:21 -0500

Well said. I get your points...and the cable companies have certainly been late in their projections for EBIF adoption. That will surely be a factor to watch in the first half of 2010.

On Dec 13 02:56 PM Dan Rayburn wrote:

> @ bostongekko: To answer your question, I have focused on the vendor
> side of TV Everywhere. See:
>
> Some Industry Vendors Betting Big On TV Everywhere, Most Will Lose
>
> blog.streamingmedia.co...
>
>
> It does not matter what solution vendors provide for TV Everywhere
> services unless the cable operators figure out the business model
> of TV Everywhere. Just because the platforms and technology exists
> in the market, does not mean it can be a successful business.

>
> That's the point I think you are missing. You say that vendors have
> products that the cable companies "need to succeed" with TV Everywhere,
> but the technology is not the problem. It's a business problem. Comcast
> is about to roll this out to 25M consumers and still is saying they
> don't yet know how to make money from it. That should scare the hell
> out of people.
>
> As to your notion that the "next-generation interactive advertising
> technology" could pay for this, that's not reality. We've been hearing
> about this new interactive advertising technology for five years
> now and there has been zero adoption. It does sound good, but without
> it being adopted, no real business opportunity.

Is TV Everywhere the Future of Television or Another Over-Hyped Promise?

Sun, 13 Dec 2009 12:12:39 -0500

I've always enjoyed Rayburn's work, but I have yet to hear his analysis of the three-screen vendors (i.e. SeaChange and Concurrent Computer) that promise to provide the infrastructure for TV Everywhere.

These companies provide the cable companies' VOD infrastructure, so it only makes sense that they can provide what the cable comapnies need to succeed with TV Everywhere.

Part of these vendors' offerings include EBIF-enabled advertising. This is next-generation interactive advertising technology that will enable consumers to do things like clicking on a car on a TV show (not just commercials) to learn more about it and where they can buy one. That's a whole new level of advertising that COULD generate enough revenue to justify free TV Everywhere.

I'd love to hear Rayburn's analysis on that before he discounts the cable vendors' odds of success!

GeoEye Could Benefit from Government Imaging Needs

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 11:45:10 -0400

Is GEOY competitive or complementary with Intermap (ITMSF or IMP.TO)? Intermap is nearly finished with a $140M 3D map of the U.S. and Western Europe...yet it trades at a $72M market cap. It did 9.6M in revs with positive EBITDA in Q4.

Sounds complementary to GEOY, while trading at a deep discount to invested capital. Buyout candidate for GEOY? Perhaps they're both worth owning, but you're the mapping expert! What do you think?

I Wish I Were as Optimistic as Doug Kass

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 02:11:53 -0500

Gtarras, have you published your outlook for the U.S. economy anywhere? I find your commentary on other people's work to be insightful and would enjoy reading your take on things.

On Dec 31 08:41 PM Gtarras wrote:

> "Give me 4.5% and I would refinance. Unfortunately, that would do
> nothing for the housing market. It would put some more money into
> the hands of people who won't spend it anyway."
>
> as a former finance PhD drop-out, and believer in research, I could
> not disagree more... there is plenty of evidence, the statement is
> wrong, you can start here:
>
> www4.gsb.colum...

Is GeoEye Poised to Take Off?

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 09:52:55 -0500

Nice sales pitch. Your writing used to seem more grounded. Now, it could be used to help the auto industry sell cars. Sniffs of desparation.

Ambac Needs Capital Infusion to Keep Its AAA Rating

Mon, 26 Nov 2007 18:46:57 -0500

Given the big drops in valuation, I think the key here is to invest in survivors and short the walking dead. Who are the companies that are hurting and unlikely to be bailed out?