All broadband is not equal. As CUrtis says, the Quality of Service is just not good enough to send video easily over the internet, with a consumer experience that rivals, say, Sky.  

From what point of view? Basic components are: Headend: Client billing system Middleware servers CA/DRM server Encoders for broadcast TV VOD Servers for VOD Then on the client (STB), you need the middleware display engine (usually a browser or JVM), the CA/DRM client (software smartcard equivalent) and, erm, that's it.

MemeSlider:With the realization of IPTV, any content creator can deliver media directly to their audience via the web. What value do the cable providers and telcos provide? Particularly if everything is on demand? I can browse a site and download the content or even subscribe to a feed through software such as iTunes or Democracy (for Mac). I know

Curtis: ''The Accedo Application Portfolio is presently the largest available collection of interactive value-added services such as games, karaoke on demand, weather, puzzles, horoscope, comics, quizzes and PlasmaArt for IPTV.'' <snip> Realistically, the vast, vast majority of times that people turn on their TV, they don't want to ...