NEXT.TV Brings TV-Like Experience to PCs

HEWLETT PACKARD HAS STRUCK A deal to ship new notebook computers with
a peer-to-peer Internet Protocol system called NEXT.TV and powered by
DAVE Networks.

As part of its launch, the NEXT.TV service will initially be available
via a Web update on HP consumer notebooks shipping with Microsoft
Windows Vista since January 2007. By the end of the month, HP's
Presario and Pavilion models should come equipped with NEXT.TV and
feature content from CBS, Fremantle, and Endemol. Sneak previews
should also include MGM, Eye.TV, Lazy.TV, and Reality.TV, while other
content partnerships are expected to be announced over the next month.
HP consumer notebooks are expected to come pre-installed with updated
QuickPlay, including NEXT.TV, in early 2008.

"HP consumer notebook PC users will be able to experience Internet
television from anywhere they have an Internet connection, such as
their office, the park, corner coffee shop or living room," says DAVE
Networks CEO Rex Wong in a release.

NEXT.TV faces stiff competition from a slew of competitors--including
Joost, Veoh, and British Telecom--all of which are fighting to reach
long-term deals with various content providers.

In another boost for the startup, in May, DAVE Networks was added to
the CBS Audience Network, previously known as the CBS Interactive
Audience Network.

DAVE Networks, which had already established its video-sharing site
DaveTV, launched its white-label service for businesses to create
custom video sites. The business-to-business platform is for
organizations interesting in setting up community sites with social
features such as profile pages, blogs and user-generated video
tailored to particular brands or affinity groups.