Content Packaging for 2012 Holidays

November is full of content announcements that mean consumers will have some interesting gift giving for the holidays!  Recent announcements by several major players underscore the myriad of options yet to come in content monetization.

Content for the 2012 holidays- in all kinds of packages

You Tube looks to become more like your local cable company with their talk about multiple channels.  The most recent announcement of a Disney partnership speaks to their efforts to create professional targeted content channels

In a move that signals their view of broadband as a critical content conduit, Charter Communications is reported by Multichannel News to connect subscribers to popular free online video.  The description given explains “…Charter.net will provide embedded playback of Hulu’s free-to-consumer content, alongside its own authenticated video services…   The website also displays listings from Charter’s linear TV and VOD services with information on how to access that content on TV.”  It’s a marriage of unlikely bedfellows that acknowledges the consumer desire to navigate ALL video content in one place.

Amazon continues to break out surprising bundles that mimic and potentially exceed the current cable content options.  Amazon Prime just added a library of Kindles books to their free standard shipping and select video streaming package.  This along with the reasonably priced Kindle Fire tablet could prove to be the break out holiday gift for 2012.

All good.  All mean competition and positive packaging for the consumer.  The Long Tail of content options just gets longer.