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For starters there39s linear video via your local MVPD Multichannel Video Programming Distributor aka your local cable operator or local telco or both as well as the two satellite purveyors and even a couple of fiberonly players Google for example and a couple of fixed wireless attempts plus some almost broadband cellular operators amp160Then there39s linear and short form video on demand fromamp160the same MVPDs amp8230 to say nothing of linear video from streamers aka vMVPDs or quotvirtualquot versions of the program aggregators which distribute via broadband providers but charge customers directly for their programming and ride free or almost free over the Internet see Random Notes belowPlus we have linear and streamed video on demand riding over all of the Internet providers charging the viewerconsumer directly amp8230 and free and paid shortform video from YouTube Google Facebook and more via all the above broadband andor almost broadband Internet providers amp160So instead of the four video providers around when I was a kid ABC CBS NBC PBSamp160we now have an exploding array of choices vying for our subscription dollarsAs MediaVillagecom Editoramp160Ed Martin so vividly reported from the Television Critics Association TCA tour in a few days ago there39s a quotnew world orderquotamp160 He quoted FX39s John Landgraf who said quot amp8230 we are all watching an epic battle unfold for who will control human attention which is both a finite resource and the most economically valuable commodity on Earth because who controls your attention controls the ability to monetize that attention amp160This is the root of the battle between Walmart and Amazon between Facebook and Google and Apple between Instagram and Snapchat between Netflix and Amazon and the legacy television brandsquotOr linear vs nonlinear with the real question being how to sensibly monetize all the steps from creation thru production and distribution to consumptionThis as many of you readers will know is not so easyamp160 Which is why I39ve been writing and thinking about the coming wars between distributors the infrastructure and the freeriders Silicon Valley39s geniuses backed by the previous administration39s tilt to Californiaamp160 I wonder who will back which side for what reasonFor now socalled cordcutting is accelerating in that legacy linear cable channel subscriptions are melting away almost a million last quarteramp160 That of course doesn39t mean the cord was really cut seeing as the Internet is the vehicle that distributes almost all of the moving pictures todayamp160amp160The connection via the infrastructure whether cable fiber satellite wireless etc still is the common denominator between the programmer and the consumerRandom NotesFreeamp160 Well almostamp160 Many MVPDs and vMVPDs contract with companies such as Layer 3 to high speed it to nodes in order to deliver a better signal to the consumeramp160 Another method is to do the same but lease space from the nonInternet spectrum within the cable operator same result but companies such as Layer 3 TV do that to beat the service and onscreen delivery of the cable system they ride onJust for clarity I suggest we might start considering how to rechristen differing distribution and consumption methodologiesamp160 What39s a broadcaster amp8230 a quotcablequot operator amp8230 a telcoamp160 amp8230 an MVPDamp160 amp8230 a vMVPDamp160 amp8230 a cellular operatoramp160 amp8230 a programmerStay tunedClick the social buttons above or below to share this story with your friends and colleaguesThe opinions and points of view expressed in this content are exclusively the views of the author andor subjects and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaVillagecomMyersBizNet Inc management or associated writers

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Welcome to a la Carte. Get Ready to Pay Up!

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Paul S. Maxwell

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