Broadband: New Mantra for Mainstream TV.

While MIP-TV was under way in Cannes, another major TV trade show was taking place in Las Vegas -- the annual National Association of Broadcasting (NAB) convention.

Billed as the world's largest broadcasting convention, NAB not only tackled the broadband revolution but, as the press widely reported, for the first time the Internet overshadowed digital television as the focal point of this convention. HDTV was not even an attraction at NAB; streaming media and broadband were the buzz words. Indeed, for all practical purposes, HDTV has now been declared DOA (Dead On Arrival).

One might wonder, "What is broadband?" Experts say it is anything faster than 128 kilobits per second (kbps), which is a relatively narrow pipe if one considers that a broadcast television channel can accommodate (on the average) more than 30 Megabits per second. Nonetheless, 128 kbps is sufficient to view a good-quality TV show on a wide-screen receiver. Broadband is causing telephone companies to morph into television service providers. Broadband is also what will allow Internet Service Providers to become future cable-TV service operators.

Headlines such as "Does the Internet Signal the End of TV as We Know It?" are popping up everywhere. As if this weren't enough, the formation of an advocacy group was announced at NAB 2000. The Internet Broadcasting Association (IBA) is "dedicated to preserve, protect and promote the rights, privileges and quality experience of the Internet citizen." The movement hopes to give Internet denizens a voice in the future direction of the Internet/broadcast industry. The IBA presented the first of six annual "Awards for Excellence in Internet Broadcasting," honoring KLAS News Channel 8 for integrating their broadcast product with the web for a global audience since 1994. KLAS general manager Dick Frame received this award for his team at Landmark Communications, pioneers in bridging TV and webcasting.

A palatable progression has happened since Video Age first published its Webcasting Magazine insert on October 1998. Then, the Internet was known as the "information super-highway." Today it has become the Internet Protocol-based multimedia delivery system. In analogical terms, the IP revolution seems to travel at a speed of 4:1. In other words, analog has required four years to do what the Internet rakes one year to accomplish -- with the same results. However, IP technology is two years ahead of IP marketing implementation. This means that in two years' time, all of today's hype will become yesterday's warnings.

We're now at the Los Angeles Screenings where echoes of MIP and NAB are fading, involved as we are with talks about programs (but not necessarily "content") for the upcoming TV season. In appearance, it seems the good ol' days are back, where talks are about deals and prolonged screening sessions make our eyes flicker even after the lights are turned off and the nights are filled with parties.

In reality, a strong current is blowing us away from bygone times and, once again, trade publications are displaying a window of things to come.

It has been noticed, for example, that a major domestic U.S. TV trade weekly, on the verge of losing its traditional client universe due to mergers and acquisitions, is now basking in renewed hope with the advent of dot-coms. At Video Age, we introduced Webcasting Magazine to bridge the gap between programmers (content providers) and Internet companies.

In addition, even if one doesn't see many dot-coms at the Screenings, it doesn't mean that when the lights are switched on after the projectors stop humming that there are no talks of Internet rights (whatever they mean.)

It is believed that soon, instead of mediating over Internet rights which reflect only a form of transport, we'll begin hearing about IP rights embodying all kinds of transmission, delivery and reproduction issues.

Meanwhile, NAB teamed with eTV World, a new media conference developer, to provide opportunities for companies offering interactive services. The hot topic was electronic commerce via interactive-TV, known as T-commerce.

It has been envisioned that in five years, there will be fundamental changes affecting not only the way the broadcast industry operates and generates its revenue, but also the manner in which TV trade shows are organized.