Jalipo is looking to create a broadband marketplace for TV content. Julian Clover reports
A new business model is being proposed for broadband TV that offers customers a low commitment pay-as-you-go means to enjoy online TV. Jalipo will launch its service in the form of an open beta at MIP TV in Cannes next week (April 16-20), demonstrating its monetising of internet TV over coffee and croissant at its specially created internet café.
The company previously ran services under the Greengrass name, which Jalipo’s commercial director Lindsay Oliver describes as the forerunner to the new service, given that there are differences in both the technology and the business model.
“Broadcasters will give their content to us, we will then put it on our servers and encode it,” explains Oliver. “Viewers will be able to access the content on a pay-per-view basis through what we’re calling J credits in the same way you would charge up a mobile phone.” Jalipo’s system makes it possible to geographically restrict content to individual territories, allowing the distribution of movies and sports, only where the broadcaster has acquired the rights. This according to Oliver will help keep up the attractiveness of the channel.
“What we’re providing is a solution that is non-exclusive, so we’re not asking people to tie themselves to us for two or three years, and our syndication system will be a powerful tool in finding viewers on the Internet.” The syndication will allow programmes to be broadcast both over the Jalipo site, but also on any site authorised by the content owner. “We see this as being attractive to any content owner that doesn’t necessarily have the name to be found through their own site.” Jalipo will also encourage third party sites to take content appropriate to them.
CEO Alex Taylor says the beauty of the system is that it allows the content to be syndicated while ensuring its integrity is protected at all times. “The content owner can offer a commission to the website to that syndicates their content giving them a stronger incentive to take the content. That will have the effect of allowing the content to really find its way onto Internet.”
The Jalipo system uses Flash in much the same way as YouTube. Jalipo has been working closely with Adobe to develop its own proprietary rights management system that sits on top alongside the per second monetisation system.
Pricing on Jalipo is dependent on the content provider that will choose how much they want to make their content available for. A number of channels have already signed and announcements are expected over the next few weeks.
