According to the NPD Group there are 425 million devices connected to the web inside US households. The largest number of these devices are computers at 183.8 million and as one could assume traditional computer's share of connected in-home devices is diminishing, fueled by the rise of connected gaming consoles (39 million), Blu-ray players (12.9 million), and TVs (16 million). Portable devices such as smartphones (133 million) and tablets (31.8 million) are witnessing hockey stick growth curves and the NPD says that by the end of 2013, there will be a shift toward "screen-sharing across devices." Much like what users can do with Apple's AirPlay, which allows them to throw content from one screen to another; this shared screen experience is converging device ecosystems and will allow for OTT content to become even more prominent on the TV. We are certain to see a multitude of these up and coming devices at next week’s CES. More: NPD.com
Wow! 2013... who woulda thunk? I've disappeared from the blogosphere since mid '08 and while I've been crisscrossing the globe while working with AccuWeather I never kept up with my Musings! Well, obviously... I'm back. The past five years have gone by quickly and from a technology perspective they have been game-changing. Fortunately in my position heading Global sales for all things Television, Video and Convergence I got a front row view and the ability to work with companies large and small that are changing (or hoping too) the way and places that we choose to view content. In the five years I've been a wicked road warrior thee link between mobile devices and internet websites via "social networking" have become a standard in digital communication. In 2010, 2 billion people used the Internet, twice the number using it in 2005. Cloud computing has entered the mainstream in and in a very short while tablets and phones are expected to exceed personal computers in Internet usage. It's a big new world and an exciting time to be in the media and content business. Lot's to talk about so let’s get right to it! Welcome Back....
The mobile Web has hit "critical mass" in the U.S., where it is used by 40 million subscribers, who make up at least 15% of the country's mobile users, according to a new study by Nielsen Mobile. The report, "Critical Mass: The Worldwide State of the Mobile Web," identifies the U.K. as having 12% penetration, and Italy as having 11%. Link: BBC News – July 11, 2008 – Mobile Web reaches Critical Mass
NBCU has unofficially won the bid for the Weather Channel at $3.5 billion, according to NewsBlues. 
That’s well under the $5 billion that Landmark had hoped to earn. NBCU was part of a consortium that included Blackstone Group and Bain Capital. The offer of $3.5 billion, roughly half of which, or $1.8 billion, is equity, according to Reuters. Blackstone’s GSO Capital is also putting in $600 million. The future of WeatherPlus is the big question now
