1:3 High Def spawns 3 channels for the price of 1

There's a lot of talk about the new high definition technology and how it will affect local television.

Local television stations that are moving to the digital delivery process will not only free up analog broadcasting for public security and other government-driven programming, but on the digital beam, they will be able to choose between broadcasting ONE high-def channel, or three standard channels.

Guess which will make them more money.

But here's the rub. What will they put on those channels?

Reruns?

Or new, quality content from indie producers? This is a golden moment for indie producers. It's time to go visit your local broadcasters and see if your content will help them fill their need for "localized" and specialized content.

AOL has just announced a new video portal that goes live in August 2006 with 45 new video-on-demand content channels. It is supported with an elaborate programming guide and search system, as well as space for user-generated content.

More opportunity.

All these operators will want high production quality. But I recall what happened at Amazon when they decided to make one million books available on their new website -- they took everything they could find.

While the theatrical market might be drying up -- the alternative media is heating up. Where there's change -- there's opportunity.

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