I’ve written previously on new technologies or services in the content distribution space that scream about how disruptive they are, the new found efficiency they bring, or my personal favorite – the “democratization” of content they unleash. Unfortunately, when you strip away the made-for-TechCrunch adjectives, we are (in many cases) simply left with a Rube-Goldberg like contraption built for one thing and one thing only – stealing someone else’s content and monetizing it.

The concept of virtualization at the service provider level is nothing new. We’ve seen this in many instances in the mobile space for example, with Amp’d, Virgin Mobile, Boost and others becoming Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNO’s) – albeit with mixed success. Therefore, it was only a matter of time before this trend moved into the cable space.

I believe in the power of iTV (in all of its forms) and the promise it holds for consumers, programmers and carriers alike. I was an early pioneer in this space, having co-founded Broadstream Communications, Inc. Also, I’m not here to pick on Google specifically, but rather what continues to play out in the iTV space.

Let’s face it, the term “video snacking” describes the quick and consistent consumption of video, and how millions of people have historically chosen to view content online.

Advertisers should continue to experiment with new approaches to deliver targeted messages to more specific audiences. Understand where your target audience is going to find video content. If approached correctly, the right messaging at the right time could increase both your brand affinity and the ROI of your ad buy.

Here at 1cast, we’re very committed to bringing the best of television news from around the world to your desktop, mobile or any other device. And yesterday we delivered a breakthrough that goes far beyond technology. We are the first to bring Al Jazeera to the US.

While I’m a fan of Ayn Rand’s objectivist philosophy, borrowing the title of one of her books as the theme for this blog is in many ways an anathema to modern day political correctness. And yet, when it comes to media consumption, specifically online video, we’re all guilty of a bit of selfishness. We want media delivered on our terms, to our devices and at times that are convenient for us.