Great post from Mark Cuban concerning the video iPod launch this week. Cuban is involved in the creation (HDFilms, HDNet) and distribution of content (Landmark Cinemas, DVDs, and a number of syndicated TV properties).

Its not inconceivable that just as DVDs have surpassed box office in revenues and the theatrical release has become a commercial for the DVD sale, the network TV broadcast could become the commercial for the download sale. I dont see download sales surpassing advertising revenue, but I do see it as likely that the download sales could more than compensate for any advertising market weakness brought on by ratings erosion and / or changes in how ads are delivered on TV. I also think it wont be long before we see an ad or two in front of the show that will further increase revenue.

This move (the Video iPod release coupled with ABC making its content downloadable) is a big step. This creates a video podcasting opportunity for microbroadcasters going forward. Similar to the way Podcasting became a phenomenon:
the device (iPod or any other)
+ plus interested users
+ broadband
+ a distribution platform (the internet)
+ cheap tools to ‘roll your own’
=
the potential of ‘everyone a broadcaster’.

The barriers to entry are falling. Talent and a voice is more important these days than having an AVID. Look at what Amanda Congdon and RocketBoom are doing – they are producing their own show, ON A DAILY BASIS. Microbroadcasting. Systm, NerdTV, Rocketboom – all examples of we-media, citizen media, personal publishing. Not a big production. Small, fast, personal, interesting, fun.

And congrats to RocketBoom for the debut at a Steve Jobs presentation:

I rarely use the 4 years of high school french that I didn’t learn to describe something, but VG Map fits the bill (see title above).

VGMap is a new library created by Eyebeam R&D that allows designers, developers, and mapping geeks to overlay data on top of Google Maps in a richer way than is possible using their standard system. It is called VGMap because it adds vector-drawing capability to the already-awesome GMap API.

This is another example of we media. Users taking google’s maps, APIs and home-grown ingenuity to do something cool. The Eyebeam guys have combined GMaps with Flash (ooohhh vector goodness) and released a spec and set of ActionScript libraries for doing it yourself. Sharing is one of the tenets of Web2.0.

A description of Eyebeam:

Eyebeam engages cultural dialogue at the intersection of the arts and sciences. Its goal is to forge an understanding of the relatedness of these practices, which are becoming increasingly significant engines of cultural production. Eyebeam amplifies the flux and hybridity of the art/science intersection by openly fostering the parallel strands of EDUCATION, RESEARCH, PRODUCTION, EXHIBITION with its public and peers. It implements this mission by:

> Providing educational programming and access to cultural resources to the community.
> Facilitating research and development of innovation in cultural production and technology.
> Enabling artistic creation by providing access to technological and cultural resources.
> Expanding and informing the critical perception of art, culture and media through exhibitions and public programs.

Dave’s post today about his sale of weblogs.com, which has been pretty well recieved (except for some folks pointing out some institutional stupidity at Verisign).

I think news, good or bad, is always received this way: “What if it were me?” And this idea fits well into people’s minds that way. It actually could be me, they think, and I think that’s great. We need more people starting projects for the community, that build the community, and then have the perseverence to stick with it, in the hope that there will be a payday someday.
-Dave Winer

Dave is saying something important. Right now, whether you call it Web2.0 (with all the acquisition and investment news in the last 2 weeks it feels a little like 1998 again) is that people are creating, making, shaping with technology for themselves and sharing it with others. The tools are becoming commodities. Its what we do with them that makes it interesting. Dave, with a small bit of technology (small in complexity – I know I couldnt build a ping server), is able to facilitate a lot of other people/businesses/investments. He should get paid for it – to go and create something else.

Rinse and Repeat. Rinse and Repeat.

The innovation isnt coming from Oracle or AOL or MS. The smarts are with the audience, and not the guys and gals on the stage. The point of this ramblign mishmash of regurgitated stuff Ace and I have been talking about for years is that its not the technology, its what you DO with it and how you SHARE it.

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