Dmitry Shapiro CEO of Veoh invited me to a GoToMeeting webinar today to unveil a serious challenger in the Web TV market. VeohTV Beta, subtly billed as a "Joost Killer", is actually an amazing development in online video viewing. The impetus for the Veoh TV service is characterized by a Veoh slogan Dmitry related during the webinar: “Video Lives All Over the Web.” This simple truth is demonstrated in the new VeohTV service’s approach to aggregating and utilizing all types of video. VeohTV allows users access to virtually any video with unparalleled functionality, quality and control from a very advanced viewing interface.
VeohTV homepage
About Veoh
I originally reported on Veoh back in February and several times since, and I have always been impressed with Veoh's somewhat different platform as compared to the other video sharing sites. The service is a diverse suite for collecting, publishing and watching HD Quality video from a wide range of sources. These Veoh services, in combination with the Veoh player, essentially transform online video into a cinema experience for its users. Veoh started in 2004 out of the vision of CEO Dmitry Shapiro, and is backed by some of the most influential technology investors in the world; including Spark Capital, Michael Eisner’s Tornante Company, Time Warner Inc. and Shelter Capital Partners.
Open vs. Closed Systems
One of the paradigms of Web TV is revealed in comparing two distinct types of systems for utilizing video content. Joost has been something of a “poster child” and what many consider the best Internet TV service so far. Regardless of how we might be inspired by this fantastic innovation Joost is, as Dmitry described it, a “closed” system where programming and function are essentially static. Veoh’s assertion for Web TV is hardcore open source and a departure from the ideology that browser based applications are perfect for all services, and in that it provides a platform where programming is determined wholly by the user. Joost and other video services essentially attempt to utilize the browser, which is really poorly designed to support quality video.
Put simply, Joost is a finite system where excellent programming can be viewed and manipulated only to a slight degree, while the Veoh service I witnessed today allows users comparatively limitless and diversified choices. As an example let me to illustrate several features that differentiate a closed online TV service from an open one, and a very good application from a killer one.
| Characteristics | VeohTV | Joost |
| Source Agnostic | Yes – Any Source | No |
| Format Agnostic | Yes- Any Format | No |
| Bandwidth Mgmt. | Yes | No |
| Disc Space Mgmt. | Yes | Unneeded – No Download |
| Library Mgmt. | Yes | Unneeded – No Library |
| Interactivity | Yes | Limited |
| Remote Control | Yes | Yes |
| Portability (Mobile) | Yes | No |
Advanced Features
Based on this preview of VeohTV users will experience superb performance from a single interface; where searching, browsing and viewing Internet content has been made radically simple. The downloadable VeohTV viewer essentially acts as a browser, but with video player efficiency and speed. After installation, VeohTV launches immediately into a cable TV type channel guide. Users are allowed to browse channels such as CBS, NBC, Road & Track and many others in a similar way they might on their TV sets. With the advanced interface, video is streamed either directly from the host site or delayed via a virtual DVR aspect (your PC is your DVR). A simple connect to an HD TV renders all content viewable remotely controllable on the big screen, and Veoh also has set top device integration deals on the horizon. Below is an expanded list of features:
Channels - Browse for content by channel
Search - Keyword search for relevance from literally thousands of websites
Favorites - Subscribe to content from favorite TV shows, channels and producers or download and store favorites
Recommended - Advanced recommendation engine suggests content from viewing habits and preferences
Interact Mode - Interact with dozens of widgets while viewing content. Services from Amazon, eBay, Gmail, Hotmail, Craigslist and Alexa are supported with others being added continually.
VeohTV Channel Interface
Management of Quality
This service is a great innovation and aggregation of much of what we have seen across several platforms so far this year. The VeohTV library utilizes drag-and-drop functionality to organize and create playlists. The download capability emulates a DVR function and can be set to automatically save preferred content. Essentially Veoh has created an individual TV station for every user, but with the tools to mix and mash content in just about any way they desire. I was particularly taken with the "interaction" mode because of the ability to multi-task; and Dmitry illustrated a cool aspect wherein a searched network could be followed with relevance via stock ticker or other widget in real time. Finally, the quality of the player and the HD content is quite excellent and video streams much more smoothly overall than during many of my visits to Joost. VeohTV is true cinema quality, full screen video with all the features of home entertainment.
Interactive Mode
Conclusion
Is it a Joost killer? Joost is an excellent company and I doubt they are quivering in fear, but they are going to have to do some "Matrix like" bullet dodging in my opinion. In comparing VeohTV to Joost there are a couple of areas where Joost still maintains an apparent advantage. Joost content is obviously excellent and the quality of broadcasts there is very stable, which illuminates one of VeohTV's only real weaknesses - the system is dependent on the quality of sometimes less than excellent online video. This is not problematic with content from NBC or other major networks, but the user's "hands on" filtering will determine a quality library. The ads were a major concern of mine and I found Joost to be an early leader in upscale and unobtrusive advertising. Dmitry reflected a rather perfect logic in response to this concern, in that VeohTV will be able to target ads that will be relevant to individual users and therefore inherently less obtrusive.
Dmitry's team has made an excellent innovation that seems to have left no stone unturned. The beta testing of this service will be very limited initially and you can sign up for an invitation here. We will also have a very limited number of invitations to test VeohTV in the very near future and we will keep you advised on developments.
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