AKIMBO PUTS BLOGGERS ON TV

Akimbo, the San Mateo, Calif.-based company that bills its platform as the great democratizing technology of television, has launched what may be the ultimate in micro audience targeting. The company has introduced the ability for video bloggers to upload their content onto the Akimbo service.

Initially, Akimbo is offering up what it believes are five of the Internet's most popular video blogs — Rocketboom, FreshWave. TV, Clint Sharp's Vlog, Steve Garfield's Video Blog and “The Carol and Steve Show” — but will continue adding more on a weekly basis. The goal is to add as much unique content to the video-on-demand service as possible.

“It was by design meant to expand the range of content that is available,” said Josh Goldman, Akimbo CEO.

The Akimbo service downloads content into a hard drive within the company's player and currently has a range of on-demand content from the BBC to a library of golf teaching videos. Consumers pay either $9.99 per month or a lifetime subscription of $200 for the service. In addition, users must buy the Akimbo Player for around $200, but Goldman said Akimbo wants to integrate its technology into other devices and video services.

“We're not about selling hardware,” Goldman said. “We're all about making this run as a service, and the best way to make this run is get it built into other devices. Unfortunately, because we were so early in doing this, we did put out a device. But long-term, that's a means to an end. It's just a way to show that this works.”

Akimbo is talking to several regional telcos that could integrate the technology into a set-top box or resell the Akimbo service as an adjunct to IPTV. “We think we can make something that makes their service different,” he said. “We think the future is in on-demand, not in creating new ways to watch broadcast.”

The launch comes at a time when interest in Internet-based video is booming. Last week, AOL reported that its free streaming of the Live 8 concerts drew more than 5 million users, making it one of the most watched Web events ever.

Such numbers are becoming more common as broadband continues to spread, particularly in areas where access to cable networks is limited, said Michelle Abraham, senior analyst for In-Stat/MDR. “You get to some markets like France and Italy, and the number of people that would have access to MTV would be starting at a much lower number,” she said.