Would you like to have an alternative to cable and satellite subscription services that worked over the Internet? That is exactly what start-up Zillion TV wants to give you.

The company’s concept calls for offering television shows and streaming movies directly to user televisions using a broadband internet connection. Zillion TV has conceived and built a small device called the Z-bar. This device connects the television set to the Internet via an Ethernet cable or even via Wi-Fi. At the same time, the Z-bar becomes the receiver for the Zillion TV remote control, which works much like a laser pointer. The unique remote uses sensing technology to navigate through a company-provided content menu on the TV screen. Think of it as a really high-tech cable box for the internet.

Zillion already has a start on procuring that content. Though they only officially launched on Wednesday, Zillion TV has already signed deals with several major Hollywood movie studios and TV networks. Those under contract at this time include Disney, 20th Century Fox Television, NBC Universal, Sony Pictures, and Warner Bros. Digital Distribution. That is by no means every content provider, but it is an impressive list for a new company.

Zillion TV will not require a subscription. It also doesn’t require users to buy an expensive set-top box. Instead, for a nominal activation fee of less than $50, users will get the Z-bar and the special remote control. They will then be able to view up to 15,000 titles of TV shows and movies through the service without having to sign up for a monthly subscription, according to a CNET article.

Perhaps the pricing available from Zillion TV is the most interesting aspect of the proposed service. Once installed, users could view all available content for free, but with commercials. As an alternative, they could pay a fee for each program they wish to watch without commercials. Users can even buy the content “to own” for a slightly higher per-program fee. Even if the viewer chooses to watch free with commercials, Zillion says that there will probably only be half as many commercials as we are used to in broadcast television, and that any ads in movies will be all at the beginning and at the end of the films.

Zillion has a long way to go before they will be able to compete with existing entertainment delivery systems. Initially, the service will only be offered through  Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and service is scheduled to begin in the last quarter of 2009. They only have a small portion of the available content. They will be starting without live television, including sports, which would be a deal-killer for many. Still, theirs is a promising idea. The world may be ready for a fresh, new alternative to cable and satellite, one which offers more choice for less money.

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Entry was posted on Wednesday, March 4th, 2009 at 2:14 pm under Advertising, Internet, Media players, Online video.

Read more entries by Michael W. Jones.
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