Babelgum

Infobox Software
name = Babelgum



caption =
author =
developer = Babel Networks
released = Beta (March 7, 2007)
latest release version =
latest release date =
latest preview version =
latest preview date =
operating system = Windows XP, Mac OS X
platform =
language =
genre = Peer-to-Peer TV
license =
website = [http://www.babelgum.com/ www.babelgum.com]

Babelgum is a an advertisement-supported system for distributing recorded TV shows over the Internet. The project is the brainchild of Italian media and telecommunications entrepreneur Silvio Scaglia (one of the founders of Italian TelCo FASTWEB) and scientist and innovator Erik Lumer. Their vision was that the flexibility, capacity and interactivity of IPTV could potentially be extended to the open Internet [ [http://www.onscreenasia.com/article-1739-towerofbabelgum-onscreenasia.html Tower of Babelgum | OnScreenAsia.com: The One Stop for TV / Entertainment News ] ] , and thus they formed Babelgum in 2005 with the aim of developing interactive software for distributing TV shows and other forms of video over the Internet. [http://www.babelgum.com/html/about_us.php Babelgum profile] ]

Babelgum uses peer-to-peer TV technology to provide free, on-demand, tailored TV content [International Herald Tribune, March 05, 2007 ] to end users, supported by advertising.The company aims to combine the “immersive viewing experience” and visual quality of traditional television with the interactive, customised features made possible by the internet.

The service was "unveiled" in London on Wednesday 7th March 2007 cite web
publisher = The Register
title = Babelgum - another new, new TV thing
date = March 072007
url = http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/03/07/babelgum_launch
accessdate = 2007-03-07 ] and is currently in open beta-testing phase.The beta software is available to download for free from the Babelgum website.

On September 1 2007 Babelgum launched the Babelgum Online Film Festival, the first global online film festival dedicated to independent film. Online viewers voted for the shortlists in the 7 categories (including Shorts, Documentaries, Animation, Music Videos, Advertising). A jury of industry experts chaired by Spike Lee selected the winners, who were awarded at a ceremony in Cannes during the Cannes Film Festival. [http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/sep2007/gb2007094_157643.htm Babelgum's Contrarian Approach to Web TV ] ]

Babelgum is an international company with offices in London (U.K.), Dublin (Ireland), Milan (Italy), Nice (France) and New York. It employs 100 people. CEO is TLC technology expert Valerio Zingarelli. [cite web
publisher = Mad.co.uk
title = Independent Streak
date = August 022007
url = http://www.mad.co.uk/Main/News/Disciplines/Digital/People/Articles/ed3649572f5748d5a27e4b5fd650ba0b/Independent-streak.html ]

[http://www.mad.co.uk/Main/News/Disciplines/Digital/People/Articles/ed3649572f5748d5a27e4b5fd650ba0b/Independent-streak.html |Independent Streak] ]

Name

According to the company's website, Babelgum's goal is "to act as an international 'social glue'", bringing a vast range of content to a global audience of different nationalities, like a "modern-day Tower of Babel". The company's green bubble-shaped logo is therefore a visual pun on the name as well as a reference to Babelgum's commitment to a greener planet.

Content

Unlike other video distribution sites such as YouTube which feature user-generated material, Babelgum only airs professionally produced content, with the editorial focus on indie film and festivals, adventure sports, nature and travel.In addition to mainstream TV content, Babelgum offers niche programming [cite web
first = Dominic
last = Wells
publisher = Timesonline
title = Internet TV ushers in the million-channel future
date = June 212008
url = http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article4163421.ece] such as independent and short films, aiming to "serve the Long Tail of viewers' interests" [http://www.last100.com/2007/05/29/introducing-babelgum-joost-isnt-the-only-game-in-town/ Introducing Babelgum (Joost isn’t the only game in town) | last100 ] ] and give visibility to small independent producers who would not normally get widespread distribution.The thematic channels on Babelgum include News, Trends, Music, Sport, Documentaries, Lifestyle, Animation and Fiction. In addition to these, the platform features branded channels through licensing agreements with content providers such as Associated Press, Reuters, BBC, PBS, 3DD, Shine Limited, IMG, Ministry of Sound, Off The Fence documentaries and Serie A Italian Football. Babelgum also has partnerships with international film festivals such as the Seattle International Film Festival, DC Independent, Encounters and Rushes Soho Shorts. [cite web
first = Michael
last = Jones
publisher = Variety.com
title = Seattle Festival Kicks Off
date = May 062008
url = http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117984941.html?categoryid=13&cs=1&query=T]

Users can pick and choose from the available content to create their own customised channels, and are encouraged to rate the programmes they watch. Users can log their preferences in the system and create their own tailormade "smart" channels. This information will also be used to target advertising to users' individual interests. [cite news
first = Chris
last = Tew
title = Multimedia backing for the latest bright idea in online video
work = The Times
date = March 022007 ] Content owners can upload their videos at no cost through the Babelgum Video Publisher, (announced on October 8 2007 by Babelgum CEO Valerio Zingarelli at the Mipcom in Cannes, France) [ [http://www.babelgum.com/blog Babelgum Blog ] ] , which provides for the simultaneous upload of entire content libraries [http://www.fest21.com/blog/editor/babelgum_platform_introduces_direct_upload_feature_for_content_libraries Babelgum platform Introduces Direct Upload Feature for content libraries | Fest21.com: films, festivals & digital community ] ] .

ocial aspect

Babelgum has been described as a "social network built around video" [cite web
first = Dan
last = Tynan
publisher = PC World.com
title = 5 Reasons to Ditch Your Cable Box or Satellite Dish
date = June 212008
url = http://www.pcworld.com/article/147324-2/5_reasons_to_ditch_your_cable_box_or_satellite_dish.html] , given its variety of social features. Users can rate videos, tag them, embed them in their blogs or on their Facebook profile, and create their own playlists of favourite clips. In addition to this users can join "communities", where they can watch content and exchange comments on a message board focusing on a specific interest. There are currently three main communities named Films & Festivals, Nature & Conservation and Motorcycling, and users can also set up their own communities on themes that interest them.

Technology

Babelgum has developed its own proprietary technology based on secure peer-to-peer streaming, which allows the fast distribution of TV Quality video content, along with a system for video compression using H.264 codec, and a video player to show the content. Minimum system requirements are 1.0 GHz processor, 512 MB RAM, 32MB video RAM and bandwidth of at least 450 kbit/s. [http://www.babelgum.com/html/overview_faq.php Babelgum ] ] Video piracy is prevented as the data stream is encrypted, and bandwidth usage is automatically limited to that left free by other applications. If no video is playing, processor usage drops to virtually 0% and the client continues running in background mode. [cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=Babel Networks to join increasingly crowded online video market | date=2008-03-07 | publisher= | url =http://www.screendigest.com/online_services/intelligence/broadband/updates/bi-070307-dcsj1/view.html | work =Screen Digest | pages = | accessdate = 2008-02-01 | language = ]

Financing and Business Model

Babelgum has solid financial backing. It is an independent, privately held company that is wholly owned and funded by Silvio Scaglia, using profits from the sale of his majority stake in FASTWEB when it was acquired by Swisscom for 3.1 billion euros. [cite news
first = Rhys
last = Blakely
title = Scaglia bets on Internet TV
work = The Times Online
date = 2007-02-21
url = http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/media/article1419538.ece] The company has so far invested 50 million euros (of Scaglia's personal fortune) and is expected to invest between 35 - 60 million euros per annum in the period 2008-2010. Babelgum has a fully funded business plan and is not seeking external funding.

The company's business model is based on advertising revenue-sharing, whereby content owners receive a percentage of advertising revenues. Advertising is currently running but still in testing phase. Advertisers include globally renowned brands such as Benetton and Vodafone. The publicity spots do not interrupt the videos while playing. [cite news
title = Spike Lee at online film festival
work = New York Times
date = 2008-05-21] For content with no advertising attached, Babelgum guarantees producers a minimum of $5 for each 1000 unique views. [cite web
publisher = Business Week
title = Babelgum's Contrarian Approach to Web TV
date = September 042007
url = http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/sep2007/gb2007094_157643.htm?chan=search
accessdate = 2007-09-04] For premium content Babelgum can offer a license fee guarantee which is recoverable from first advertising revenues. Once recovered, the parties move to advertising share model.

ee also

*Jaman
*Joost
*IPTV
*Vuze
*GONG
*Veoh
*Blinkx

References

External links

* [http://www.babelnetworks.com/ Babel Networks]
* [http://www.TheunderwaterChannel.tv/ The Underwater TV Channel]