The Incredible Shrinking Video Screen

First we had VHS delivery. Then we shrunk to create video for kiosks. Later we adapted video to fit a tiny window for 56K modems. And guess what? Except for performance speeds and better resolution, we’re still working with relatively the same video size despite a decade of web. Even worse, cell phones are going to be a dominant video-distribution channel which has implications for content, audio, camera shot and type. No more small titles and wide shots… unless you want facial expressons that are 7 pixels.

Just when I was beginning to think my grandchildren would be watching video on an erasor head, I got this release…

GridNetworks launches a new delivery platform for DVD-quality digital content. The GridCast™ Platform is a new system that provides instant-on, full-screen, DVD-quality video to broadband-connected viewers worldwide.

“Demand for video content on the Internet is growing at a phenomenal pace, but consumers are still watching video in tiny windows that constantly re-buffer. The only alternative today is to wait for hours to download a movie and play it later,” said Jeff Payne, co-founder and chief executive officer of GridNetworks. “GridCasting is an entirely new content delivery approach that provides broadband users worldwide with reliable, immediate access to full-screen, DVD-quality video.”

What’s this mean to amateur video creators? Probably not much in the short term. It seems like a way that larger media properties can distribute better quality content without worrying about theft. We amateurs do need to keep one eye open on methods like this that can transform traditional broadcast methods. This could change the playing field and the economics.

Talking to Brightcove tomorrow, so hopefully I’ll have more insights on this web/broadcast conversion that is occuring faster than I might have anticipated.