Evangelist program

[redwein]

Re: Evangelist program

If you'll trust that I know a few things about market research, the proper way to read a 5 point scale is 5's + 4's= good, 3's indifferent, and 1's + 2's= bad. With that, you've got 3 good, 9 indifferent, 13 bad, and a meaningless sample size.

I voted 3 and I considered at positive vote. I most certainly was not indifferent. Of course, I read the descriptions of each vote. Your "proper" way of reading a vote assumes that the poll was built using matching guidelines. If you look at the descriptions of what each vote means, you can see that this poll was not created by professional pollsters. Imagine that.

[redwein]

Re: Evangelist program

Unfortutanely, both are critical for Vudu's success and no matter how much one loves the box, it's going no where without content.

Many people, myself included, don't see it in just the absolute terms of "unacceptable" and "fantastic", being completely unsatisfied until it gets to the latter. It seems reasonable to judge it based on its current state compared to other VOD vendors out there for the time being. Of course it needs to improve in time but I would argue that it doesn't need to happen overnight or in one fell swoop. It needs to make steady progress over a reasonable time frame. I consider 6 months to a year to be reasonable. From the progress that has been made to date, I feel fairly confident they will get over the hump in plenty of time to make this thing successful.

[Nded]

Re: Evangelist program

....snip... If you look at the descriptions of what each vote means, you can see that this poll was not created by professional pollsters. Imagine that.

Thanks for noticing . I guess this means I've retained my "amatuer" status rating for the upcoming pollster olympics.

[cfisher]

Re: Evangelist program

Redwein,

I think the question that you raise about time frame is an interesting one. I do not think that six months to a year is a reasonable horizon for Vudu. As I said in other posts, I think Vudu has to take serious action to define itself in the short-term. Think about Verizon's claim to have a 1000 items for HD-VOD in 2008. Whether Verizon will follow through on that or not is moot. The point is that they have the resources to roll that out much more quickly than Vudu. I think Vudu is a great product (I'm an evangelist) but in order for it to survive it has to define its niche (or niches, pl?) and do so quickly. If Verizon, or anyone else, met half their goal, Vudu would be irrelevant. No one would be willing to pay $399 for a service, most of which you could do for free. One thing we don't talk about much is advertising. Incorporating advertising into the Vudu experience may be the only way to bring the price of hardware and software down. It may also be the only way to keep revenue coming in when the demand for the boxes stagnates as other VOD services improve. As for the poll, we are arguing about whether "3"s are good or not. I don't think anyone at Vudu should be happy with a "3". I am not sure why we spend so much time on the forums bickering about the quality of the service and so little time thinking about how to improve it. Evangelist or not, I think we are lucky to participate in Vudu early. If, perchance, someone other than the moderators are following our discussion, then we have the opportunity to shape the service towards our own ideals. Kind of exciting to me.

[NA9D]

Re: Evangelist program

we have the opportunity to shape the service towards our own ideals. Kind of exciting to me.

This is a HUGE statement here and you've grasped something very fundamental. Vudu is a small enough company to be able to listen and react to the needs and wants of its customers. Customer feedback already has resulted in additions to the Vudu firmware. Vudu staff and management regularly read these forums and are very in tune with what the users feel and want. The management team is VERY hands on. The early users have the power to help shape the product.

[redwein]

Re: Evangelist program

Redwein,

I think the question that you raise about time frame is an interesting one. I do not think that six months to a year is a reasonable horizon for Vudu. As I said in other posts, I think Vudu has to take serious action to define itself in the short-term. Think about Verizon's claim to have a 1000 items for HD-VOD in 2008. Whether Verizon will follow through on that or not is moot. The point is that they have the resources to roll that out much more quickly than Vudu. I think Vudu is a great product (I'm an evangelist) but in order for it to survive it has to define its niche (or niches, pl?) and do so quickly. If Verizon, or anyone else, met half their goal, Vudu would be irrelevant. No one would be willing to pay $399 for a service, most of which you could do for free.

I think "6 months to a year" falls within Verizon's 2008 projection so I don't see the issue there with the timeline that I suggested. Also, I am not aware of anybody who will give me Vudu functionality for "free". I suspect that I will have to become a paying customer somewhere along the line. As for the cost of the box, I bought 4 Tivo series 3 boxes (@ $600 to $900 per box) when I could have got Comcast's DVR for free. I also bought 3 iPhones (and many others did too) when they could have got "free" phones from their own wireless provider.

You are just wrong about interpreting the 3 as "not good" the way the poll is structured, given that it is described as "good". It reflects the reality that everyone agrees that the studios need to play ball if this is going to ultimately succeed. If the majority of votes was 4 or better, given what the votes mean, it would indicate that has already occurred, which I think you would agree is ridiculous. My own personal vote of a 3 was intended as a positive but realistic and thoughtful vote.

I'm not saying that Vudu can remain static or complacent on either their library offering or the price for the box, etc.. However, your doom and gloom prediction is way too simplistic to reflect reality.

[redwein]

Re: Evangelist program

One thing we don't talk about much is advertising. Incorporating advertising into the Vudu experience may be the only way to bring the price of hardware and software down. It may also be the only way to keep revenue coming in when the demand for the boxes stagnates as other VOD services improve. As for the poll, we are arguing about whether "3"s are good or not. I don't think anyone at Vudu should be happy with a "3". I am not sure why we spend so much time on the forums bickering about the quality of the service and so little time thinking about how to improve it. Evangelist or not, I think we are lucky to participate in Vudu early. If, perchance, someone other than the moderators are following our discussion, then we have the opportunity to shape the service towards our own ideals. Kind of exciting to me.

I agree that discussions about improvement are more fruitful than rehashing the same old same old. However, the biggest area for improvement happens to be in various facets of the content offering so it is only natural to have the most discussions on it.

I think it is premature to "worry" about the price right now. Price changes over time and is something that Vudu can work with as the competitive landscape changes. As such, I would be hugely disappointed if I had to endure any type of commercial advertisement to use my Vudu box. I pay for satellite radio so that I don't have to endure commercials. People universally don't like advertisements with their entertainment. Talk about a way to tick people off. If it had to happen for survival, that would be one thing. However, discussing it now as something that should be considered is also way too premature.

[dvcii]

Re: Evangelist program

I'm not saying that Vudu can remain static or complacent on either their library offering or the price for the box, etc.. However, your doom and gloom prediction is way too simplistic to reflect reality.

cfisher's got it right. This is about first mover advantage, and there's a lot of competition from large companies in this space. Timing is everything. It is that simple.

[redwein]

Re: Evangelist program

cfisher's got it right. This is about first mover advantage, and there's a lot of competition from large companies in this space. Timing is everything. It is that simple.

I agree that timing is important but, so far, there is nothing on the horizon from the competition that is remotely interesting to me. The closest thing is Amazon Unbox/Tivo. If that becomes a better offering in quality and selection than Vudu, I would probably switch over. I believe Vudu is the "first mover" in the VOD space as far as what they have been able to achieve and the quality product and service they have to show for it.

[Rusdude]

Re: Evangelist program

Vudu's main competitor will be Apple TV when it gets rentals (as expected to happen in a couple of weeks). However, the rumor is that only Fox and Disney are on board with Apple right now.

[NA9D]

Re: Evangelist program

Vudu's main competitor will be Apple TV when it gets rentals (as expected to happen in a couple of weeks). However, the rumor is that only Fox and Disney are on board with Apple right now.

Well, Disney is easily on board since Mr. Job's is their largest shareholder and has a seat on the board.

But we know nothing of the rental terms or interface. At present, the AppleTV doesn't support anything but trailers from its UI. All downloads and transactions have to occur via iTunes. It is possible that this will still be the case. It's also possible we will have rev 2.0 of the AppleTV software coming out.

One thing to note: iTunes has ZERO (A BIG FAT GOOSE EGG) movies in Dolby Digital. Those people who have been so critical of Vudu for this fact had better set their sites on Apple now...

[Rusdude]

Re: Evangelist program

One thing to note: iTunes has ZERO (A BIG FAT GOOSE EGG) movies in Dolby Digital. Those people who have been so critical of Vudu for this fact had better set their sites on Apple now...

From what I understand, people have been hugely critical of Apple TV. It's actually made it into some Worst of 2007 lists. Nevertheless, Apple managed to sell 400,000 units (before the holidays). Small by Apple standards, but Vudu would take that, I am sure

[NA9D]

Re: Evangelist program

From what I understand, people have been hugely critical of Apple TV. It's actually made it into some Worst of 2007 lists. Neverthelessl, Apple managed to sell 400,000 units. Small by Apple standards, but Vudu would take that, I am sure

I have an AppleTV and yeah, it's disappointing - especially compared to what it "could" do if Apple hadn't done a poor job with it. But it could all be fixed in software updates though...

I am sure Vudu would love to have 400,000 units sold! FWIU, sales are good but not that good!

[Paul Maxx]

Re: Evangelist program

There are a lot of comparisons being made with Apple TV and yes VUDU surpasses it on a lot of levels. However it unfortunately does not always come down to what the best quality product is. Apple and Amazon are household brands to the everyday person. And that is huge especially in relation to Apple. The fact that there content is limited and not DVD quality gets overlooked because everyone has an Ipod and uses Itunes already so they are very comfortable with it. And it works. Be it with a IDOC from Walmart or an AMX or Crestron controlled house. This is a HUGE hurdle for VUDU to overcome. They have released this product which is getting good reviews in the industry but all with reservations.
There was a good right up on the box in Home Entertainment under their Top Picks of '07. Good exposure to the high end integration industry. The problem is that VUDU cannot be controlled. So it is immediately overlooked for things that are known to work regardless of the lesser quality. Cable VOD, Sat. DVRs and VOD, TIVO, Itunes,and Verizon all work now and promising more content with an established Library and customer base. VUDU right now is a lot of promises and what ifs. Now I do love my VUDU and have faith but time is most definitely of the essence. If Verizon or someone says six to a year VUDU cannot afford to do the same they need to be first. They need to get IP Control out of BETA and released or no one will confidently integrate. That is just the nature of the indusrty and clients. VUDU has a great selling point as a solution to the format wars but it needs to show it with titles that are available on both. Having the Bourne Trilogy available is great and a big landmark but means nothing to the consumer and integrator.
There is a statement in the article mentiond previously that the originator of an idea is not nearly remembered as it's innovator. Who is remembered more Humphrey David or Thomas Edison? Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot or Henry Ford? VUDU needs to get it right, get it out there, and shout it from the mountain tops or somebody else will. Everyone is looking for the box that will get this technology right. If VUDU wants to be Henry Ford they have to be aggresive and be aheadm, not in line with the competition.

[rstone]

Re: Evangelist program

Vudu's main competitor will be Apple TV when it gets rentals (as expected to happen in a couple of weeks). However, the rumor is that only Fox and Disney are on board with Apple right now.

Personally, I don't even know if I would call Apple the main competitor, as far as movies as concerned. iTunes has a horrible selection of movies, and if you thought vudu was slow on new releases, then you should try iTunes, its god aweful. As for selection...iTunes only has 716 movies available vs Vudu's 5000+. I don't even think I'd put apple in the same category in regards to movies.

If anyone comes close, in my opinion, to being a main competitor, I'd say its Amazon Unbox with Tivo. As that is the closest you get to a box (ie: TIVO) that you can order movies to/from via the box, if connected to the internet (havent tried that yet on my TIVO) or order online via a PC to be sent to the TIVO box.

As for TV, yeah iTunes definately has an edge over Vudu in content availability. And while TV is something I would like in the future, (ie: more content and availability) I'm more concerned with Movie content and availability, which is why I got the box. After all I don't go to blockbuster or hollywood vido to rent TV shows, I go there to rent movies.