I talked with SyncTV last week, a TV download service that launched in private beta in November 07 and demoed a proof-of-concept device at CES in January. While others in this space like Hulu and Joost focus on broadcast content online, SyncTV aims to clear that elusive path from the study to the den, offering downloadable content online and allowing viewers to take it offline to view as they wish. SyncTV started as a skunkworks project within Pioneer Electronics and both parties are interested in spinning it out on its own.
SyncTV is an open-standards-based subscription service that allows users unlimited downloads of home-theater-quality television shows to watch when and where they choose. It currently works on Windows, Macs and Linux PCs and will work on consumer devices by the end of 2008, including TVs and portable players. Users subscribe to channels, each about $2 per month, and can download as many current and classic shows as they like from said channels, with no viewing limits and no expiration date. As long as you remain a subscriber, you have access to all your downloaded content, which is ad-supported. Each account allows for viewing on five home devices (TVs, computers) and 10 portable devices (in-car players, portable players). The company’s open-standards approach will hopefully facilitate quick development of devices by third parties. It will launch to the public later this year with at least three major broadcast partners.
To be honest, my excitement about SyncTV was tempered somewhat when I heard about the ads. Read the rest of this entry »
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