Interesting reading. Not a bad idea.
http://www.cepro.com/article/after_c..._software/K316
http://www.cepro.com/article/after_c..._software/K316
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Re: Vudu Accelerates Plan to OEM its VOD
I was just about to post a link to this as well.
I hope the cutbacks and concerns expressed over funding in the article don't mean the box I just bought is a heartbeat from a paperweight.
I also hope this OEM distribution of software was always on the roadmap - rapidly changing plans suggest instability to me.
I think the Vudu is awesome - I just wish we had a better idea of the health of the platform.
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Re: Vudu Accelerates Plan to OEM its VOD
Thanks for the link.Originally posted by BrandonC View Post
Quote from article:
"So it looks like Vudu will have to fast-track its OEM software model. We all knew that Vudu wasn't in the box-making business. "We're a software company first and foremost," Miranz says."
End Quote
I wish I would have bet some cheese on this, because I predicted this over 6 months or so ago. I believe it was my post 1,276.
(BTW I promise not dress you in a banna suit)Comment
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Re: Vudu Accelerates Plan to OEM its VOD
I'm willing to bet some cheese that it wasn't anywhere near that post #.Originally posted by HeadHodge View PostComment
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Re: Vudu Accelerates Plan to OEM its VOD
Sorry, I was quoting the number in HEX with a checksum.Originally posted by Nded View Post
In decimal I believe it's #27.Comment
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Re: Vudu Accelerates Plan to OEM its VOD
This actually seems like an upbeat article to me overall. The one thing that really caught my eye is that line about being by far the most revenue per subscriber. That is likely what is driving all of those companies to their door. I, for one, am hoping for Vudu on Tivo as well as in higher-end TVs and Blu-Ray players.Comment
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Re: Vudu Accelerates Plan to OEM its VOD
Right On Larrs, as long as it doesn't sacrifice quality. (which is generating the revenue per subsriber, as well as it's content availability)Originally posted by larrs View Post
My two favorite fundamental formulas are:
Buy Low + Sell High = $$$
High Quality + Large Content = $$$Comment
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Re: Vudu Accelerates Plan to OEM its VOD
It's probably a sign of the how bad things are right now that an article that talks about layoffs and the possible need for cash infusion when there is no cash to infuse could be considered upbeat by anybody. I do hope that Vudu does survive (and thrive). We have become almost completely dependent on it for our movie watching needs. I can't imagine going back to anything less.Originally posted by larrs View PostComment
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Re: Vudu Accelerates Plan to OEM its VOD
This is not the first mention of OEM talk, but -- all other things considered -- I think VUDU also sees Netflix, Amazon, Yahoo widgets, etc. make their way to TVs/third-party hardware and doesn't want to miss out.
Anyway, here's a little summary of the article's main points:
(1) VUDU endured another round of layoffs. Total number of employees is down from high of 110 to 50.
(2) VUDU is accelerating OEM plans and is, supposedly, being bombarded with inquiries.
(3) Hardware was partly done as proof-of-concept to OEMs but VUDU isn?t going to exit retail or custom channel business.
(4) "Another generation" / "even lower cost product" is in the pipeline for retail release.
(5) OEM strategy is similar to Netflix -- "We are going to try to piggyback on TVs, DVD players and other classes of devices"
(6) "We have the highest RPU [revenue per user] of any video-on-demand in the industry ? by orders of magnitude. The better the user interface, the higher the revenue per box."Comment
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Re: Vudu Accelerates Plan to OEM its VOD
Don't be just an observer, take a stand and make a prediction.Originally posted by Rusdude View PostComment
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Re: Vudu Accelerates Plan to OEM its VOD
In another thread I was talking about the possibility of an announcement similar to this coming from Vudu. I felt that it had to be sooner than later. Not so much about the layoffs, but about the need to find partners to grow the business. The big players are starting realize that the technology for VOD is ripe and that user are getting comfortable with content on demand. Companies like Vudu with an attractive offering in this arena have some good technology bargaining chips. The main issue right now is that Venture capital is drying out. Without a big brand name or a large base of "committed" users the investors will stand on the side to see how things pan out. They will wait until the big players move in for the kill and see what's left. That is not to say that Vudu is doomed... just means that without funding they have to partner, sooner rather than later with someone that compliments their offering. This is the only option if venture capital does not materialize. (Of course if they're able to sell a whole bunch boxes and rent/sell a lot of movies... it would also help)
In the past year I've seen this happen again and again to folks I know in the tech business. They work for small companies that have good ideas and products, but they're not getting funded. This is the main topic of conversation after work at the bar.
I have only been a Vudu user for a short time and I saw Vudu as more af a content aggregator than a software company. But, I guess I was wrong. With Vudu Labs they are making the move towards opening the box to developers so that more content channels could be added. I also thought that a software client to move Vudu to other platforms was on the burner.
Well, as long as the key development staff remains intact and the remainder employees moral does not get banged up too hard they're still a viable player in this arena. I wonder what are going to be next moves by the folks from Tivo, Netfilx and Hulu. Believe me in this market even big name player are not safe. Without readily available venture capital they're all wounded.Comment
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Re: Vudu Accelerates Plan to OEM its VOD
That's an interesting take. I always thought them as being both a content provider via their software and their hardware.Originally posted by tamanaco View Post
I had predicted long ago, they would eventually have to choose whether they wanted to be a content provider that would accomodate many different boxes or whether they would be a hardware provider that supported many different sources of content.
My wish is that they choose to be a content provider to many boxes via their software. But I feel that they might end up being a hardware provider instead. Investors tend to like investing in a material product and not so much a service or software.
The choice is a very interesting one (to me). Right now it seems like they are playing both ends of the candle.Comment
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Re: Vudu Accelerates Plan to OEM its VOD
I've been involved with Vudu since before the public launch of the product. My impression has always been that their ultimate goal would be to see their VOD product and interface be incorporated into other set top boxes such as those from cable companies, etc. This isn't really all that surprising.
Also, people have been predicting the death of Tivo for years as well...Comment
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Re: Vudu Accelerates Plan to OEM its VOD
I can see them making the software available to be on boxes like TivoHD, much the same as Netflix and Amazon. I also see them working with telcos to be the provider of VOD for their IPTV service. If IPTV is to get off the ground and thrive they need to be able to compete with cable companies in this area and Vudu is a perfect match.Comment
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Re: Vudu Accelerates Plan to OEM its VOD
I wrote the story ... enjoying the dialog.
While Vudu is undoubtedly the best vod option on the market, don't read too much into its having the best rpu (revenue per user) in the category.
It is a single-purpose machine, so people buy it expressly for the purpose of VOD. That is not why people buy Tivo, cable boxes, Media Center PCs, etc.
If Vudu added PVR/epg capabilities to its boxes, we would naturally see RPU drop.
And, of course, if Vudu capabilities are added to third-party devices, RPU would plunge.
Still, that's not to take anything away from the Vudu experience or their business.Comment
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