Future of Internet TV Is Coming Into View

[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Leslie Walker]
[Commentary] I want my IPTV! Internet protocol TV allows multiple layers of video, pictures and text to be mixed with video feeds in ways viewers can control with their remotes. It's the old interactive TV vision -- point your remote at an actress on screen and up comes her name, prior credits and perhaps a "buy me" button for her blue sequined dress. Major telecom players such as AT&T and Verizon are slowly rolling out IPTV services over high-speed broadband networks. Trials are underway around the country. Microsoft showed off some IPTV software in Las Vegas, and some start-up companies displayed systems for delivering Internet video streams to home computers, bypassing traditional networks owned by cable and satellite companies. At the same time, Hollywood studios announced new deals to distribute TV shows over the Internet in a mix of new pay-per-view and subscription offerings. And Google and Yahoo, the Web's top search providers, jumped in with new services they hope will give them central roles in helping people find all this Internet-delivered video. In fact, so many new IPTV services and technologies were displayed or announced at the Consumer Electronics Show that it was hard to make sense of them all.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/11/AR2006011102134.html
(requires registration)