Here’s a big announcement at NAB: Adobe said it’s now extending its Flash video platform to play on TV screens. Since 80% of the video on the web is currently played in Flash, this is no small announcement (press release). “(It) will dramatically change the way we view content on televisions,” said David Wadhwani, GM and VPt at Adobe. “Consumers are looking to access their favorite Flash technology-based videos, applications, services and other rich Web content across screens. We are looking forward to working with partners to create these new experiences and deliver content consistently across devices whether consumers view it on their desktop, mobile phone or television.” Among the initial partners: Comcast, Intel, Netflix and the New York Times.
Of course, even if the technology enables it, there are burning questions about porting web video to the television set. The cable and satellite companies don’t want to be left out in the cold, and content providers don’t want to cannibalize their existing revenue streams. Stay tuned…
