What IPTV Isn't and the Profound Scotch Question
Why don't people get it? IPTV isn't watching TV over the Internet.
We've spent countless hours trying to explain to people (who SHOULD know) the difference between something like Google video and IPTV. It's simple. Think of Internet video as merely downloading a file and watching it on your computer in a very small window.
IPTV, on the other hand, is watching (as it is streaming to you in real time) a compressed movie, TV or video content from the carrier's IP network (not the Internet) on a real television. The confusion is that both IPTV and Internet video come into the home over that same broadband (eg. DSL) connection and people don't distinguish between the two. As a result, people don't understand that IPTV is a service they watch, not a file they save. Ultimately the carrier controls the distribution of IPTV content over its own IP network.
That being said, TODAY, people just aren't going to watch (or pay for) TV over the Internet on a big 42" HDTV plasma screen and not all the pieces are in place yet. But Google, et al are extremely smart, aggressive and smell money. They, undoubtedly, WILL challenge convention by ultimately streaming IP-based video content over the Web so you CAN watch it on your 42" plasma TV.
But for the most part,the Internet was built for data transport and is shared by pretty much everyone on the planet. This means that predictable performance is almost impossible to guarantee (right now). Sure you can stream a small video file (or download a big video file) and watch it on your computer, but the carriers will never use it as a primary means to deliver real-time video content like movies or VoD. Why? Because money is too important (if the carriers can't control the quality, they'll be hard pressed to charge for services delivered over it). Ironically consumer-grade Wi-Fi in the home today is in the same boat -an unlicensed band that can't be controlled (we're fixing that though).
But make no mistake, IPTV will do for video what the Internet did for data - more choices, easier access, interactivity, more services, all that. As soon as people "taste test" this stuff in their homes, there will be no turning back. Once they experience it they will say "I want my IPTV!" It will fundamentally change our television experience making an explosion of content available, accessible and "interactable." But we're not there yet and the U.S. market for IPTV is still barely burgeoning.
Meanwhile, ask yourself this: "If my cable company or service provider actually offered IPTV today, what would it take for me to switch?" This is the multi-billion question being asked by carriers right now. And it the answer seems to come down to content, flexibility, content, price and content (more on this in a future post it). 
On another note...does anyone REALLY drink Scotch because it tastes good? Be honest with yourself for just one minute. I know you WANT to say yes....but come on. Just a random thought but these are some of the things that confound us.
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