Why is Britain so buttoned up when it comes to product placement in commercial television? RTL Chief Gerhard Zeiler certainly put the case in Edinburgh this week no sooner did James Murdoch put the boot into the BBC and state regulator Ofcom.

There’s a “gold rush” to put video content onto multiple screens ranging from televisions (of course!) to PCs to mobile phones with assorted other devices in between. As with any gold rush, some will strike it rich and others will go bust because things just don’t pan out.

One thing is certain: there’s a public hunger for content, and people will go to any available screen to watch what they want. I see it on the freeway -- distracted drivers out there playing with their handheld devices when they should be looking at traffic.  (It’s why I try to take Caltrain to work.)

I love urban legends; the more outrageous the better. It’s always fun to figure out whether there’s actually a grain of truth in stories like penguins falling over onto their backs trying to see airplanes flying overhead or domesticated turkeys looking up at falling rain until they drown or that the daddy longlegs spider is “the world’s most poisonous animal.”

This is a video of Ivan Sutherland demonstrating his light Sketchpad back in 1963. Ivan Sutherland, for those of you who don't know, is one of the fathers of the Virtual Reality movement (note: I have to say "movement," because that's all it was as the industry floundered to some extent - I know - I saw it) as well as being an all around computer innovator in every way. This technology he displays is still exciting!  What happened to it?

Tracy Swedlow

I've always wanted to know what Hellen Keller and her teacher, Anne Sullivan, were really like. I teared up after I watched this. It reminds me how powerful a very good person can be and - oh - how rare. Hellen Keller has such a desire to communicate - such passion!

Again, this isn't modern push-button "interactive TV," but doesn't this beautifully demonstrate a kind of real, physical connected interactivity with the human body - as if Hellen Keller were using Anne Sullivan as a life-size touch-screen television that  powerfully communicates information about the outside world and communicates information back to her?   -- Tracy Swedlow

AT&T for TV On The Go:  Our friends at AT&T are beating the drums louder for their in car satellite live TV service called “CruiseCast” since their nationwide US launch date on June 1, 2009.  And with the rather steep installation price of just under $1,300 their success will be a sure sign that consumer spending is up and the economy is really rebounding.

While the United States media community typically winds down a notch or two as those last barbecues of summer approach, there’s no shortage of activity across The Pond.  In Europe, they’re gearing up for IBC, the annual September media event that draws broadcasters, operators and programmers from all over the world to Amsterdam.

Disclaimer: I have an art car that I made myself. One of the reasons I made an art car is because I went to the opening of a documentary Harrod Blank made about the Art Car phenomenon back in the 90's, that he showed at the Red Vic moviehouse in San Francisco. I was so inspired by that film and the cars sitting outside on the street that I knew I had to do it myself and knew why it was important (long story). 

Now, David Silberberg has made a very interesting documentary on Harrod called "Oh My God! It's Harrod Blank" and this is the trailer. I believe it's showing around the country in different film festivals, but I highly recommend also looking at the art cars site called  http://www.artcars.com and the Art Car West Fest http://www.artcarfest.com

Working Both Sides of the Connectivity Puzzle

The DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) and the CABA (Continental Automated Buildings Association) may want to explore joint opportunities to influence the  Connected Home of the future.

The Money Machine is Working for the Over The Top Video Market

Press stories based on SEC filings show that two of the premier OTT providers have turned on their money magnets:  Roku has raised at least $24 million over four financing rounds, including a $6 million investment from Netflix (NSDQ: NFLX) according to Paid Content.Org. In the meantime, Ustream.TV pulled in another $2M for their live streaming service.  Not bad when times are still considered tight.

Disney-ABC and Taiwan TV Shows Now Available to Subscriber

The OTT (Over The Top) IPTV market continues to show strength of the business model with separate announcements from Netflix and NeuLion channel KyLinTV this week on top of Qwest's proclamations last week.

BSkyB Launching 3DTV for Subs

BSkyB will launch Europe's first 3D TV channel programming in the UK in 2010. The 9 million subscriber British MSO made the announcement during its second quarter financial report on Thursday, July 30, 2009.  The 3D channel will offer 3D movies, entertainment and sports.  However, to watch 3D programs customers will also need the latest "3D ready" TV set and special glasses (Oh No!).

So the new FCC boss, Julius Genachowski, thinks there should be restrictions on interactive programming aimed at children. I agree; there’s no reason to let kids run wild with a remote control. I disagree, though, with the idea that some sort of uber parental opt-in device is needed to save the children and their parents from themselves. That’s, unfortunately, the type of overkill that maims and destroys new ideas such as interactive TV before they even get off the ground.