A couple days ago, I talked a little bit about my experience and expertise around the mechanics of how Internet over cable works, and why it befuddles me that cable companies continue to refuse to deliver IPTV, ten years after most of them had the technology to do so.

Later that evening, Stacey Higgenbotham posted a videoed conversation between her and Gustavo Prilick, the CEO of a smaller cable company called Broadstripe. In the interview, he expressed concerns about the increasing cost of content for delivery over the wire, and the increasing consumer demand for more choice.

The video sort of cuts off in the middle, but watching his response to the middle two questions gives you the basis of his troubles.

Again, though, I’m back to the question and the befuddlement over why he and his cable company (just like almost all others) hasn’t decided to go with an IPTV set-up.  It’s much more efficient in terms of delivering the content, and combined with creative programming choices from non-standard sources, is the silver bullet to fix his programming cost woes.

As a multi-year consumer of the middle and upper tiers of most of the living room entertainment providers for the last several years, I can tell you that I and my family tend to only watch a small fraction of the programming available on the dial.  Most of it has become a reality-TV wasteland, with only a few gems of programming on the spectrum.

The only real sources of value programming are networks like TBS, USA, SyFy and the hit-or-miss records of the network affiliates in terms of creating shows that I’d be proud to say I watched.  Most of the rest are watched because there’s nothing else on, or we lost the remote again.

The upper tier of programming is usually only purchased because it gives access to one or two channels I really want or need (the children’s networks like Cartoon Network or NickJr are wonderful for placating a rambunctious child when you need a minute or two of silence).

Then, you turn to the internet and see the rise of programming, like what Leo Laporte does over at TWiT, or Kevin Rose does with Rev3, and you have to think to yourself that we’ve arrived at the age where the New Media has it figured out.  The quality of programming is such in not just talking head programs but also entertainment that these could all be bundled and resold to the mainstream consumer, and they’d be at least as happy as they were watching re-runs of Jerry Springer and Judge Judy (one would hope).

There’s a lot of worry about what the impact of a Comcast-owned NBC world is going to look like, and a major source of concern is that NBC syndication fees will get jacked up. IPTV based content consumption devices make it a whole lot easier to incorporate a range of programming outside the spectrum of typical living room fare, and now, more than ever, the selection to choose from is quite ample to satisfy viewers.

Related Stories

• The New Media Minute, NATPE Conference Edition (2)
• Redbox Streaming, Netflix Abroad and Hulu Ads Beat YouTube (2)
• If You Think Hulu Isn’t Taking Over the World, You’ve Not Been Paying Attention (5)
• Dear CableCo’s and Telcos: Today is the First Day of the Rest of Your Lives [An Open Letter] (4)
• CableCo Cord-Cutting Finally a Reality. Are You the One in Eight? (3)
• Leo Laporte Visits Austin. Has Lunch. (4)