Not even into "pre-school", the Web 2.0 has already overthrown a couple of arrogant stars & politicians. Ask U.S. Republican Senator George Allen. Or Indian actor turned television ("Bigg Brother") celebrity Shilpa Shetty !

On the positive side, the tools of the Web 2.0 (which are mainly social networks & online video sites) have also been effectively used to to create a buzz about products and recently, even for political campaigns.

One such community was created on Facebook.com around a month ago. It is called "One Million Strong for Barack" to support U.S. Senator Barack Obama's candidature for U.S. Presidential Elections. Wiithin a month, this community boasts of nearly 3,00,000 members. This figure is even more amazing if you consider that there are already 500+ similar communities which support Sen. Obama on Facebook.com!

Of course, it is also a fact that online hype may not always reflect in the offline world. (This is especially true for positive buzz!) We have the example of the "remarkable" marketing buzz that was created during the making of a movie called "Snakes in a Plane" - a movie which was a miserable flop in the box office.

From a consumer's point, Web 2.0 is about enhanced, interpersonal e-relations & communications - all at the speed of light ! And at the rate at which Web 2.0 is being embraced, it will soon be capable of effecting mega changes in society "instantly". Something unthinkable when it comes to traditional media like television, newspapers, radio, cinema et al.

Meanwhile, another question: Are social networks worldwide really evolving from engaging in frivolous activies alone (like dating & gossiping)? If so, then is the average age of members on the rise? Or is it a sign that today's youngsters are maturing?!

The New Television
How do you 'broadcast' your TV spots which for some reason, you did not (could not?) show on network television ? By starting your own Internet Television channel. And 'showing' these ads with a 'humorous' twist under the title of (say) "Rejected Ads". That's what beer marketer Anheuser-Busch(a.k.a. Budweiser) has done. With their dedicated Internet Television channel Bud.TV displaying the programming line-up as a well, line-up. Bud.TV presents a new format of Internet TV - take a look !

Largest Newspaper Runs Largest Web-site
Verdens Gang (VG) happens to be Norway's largest tabloid newspaper. And also the most popular web-site in Norway as well as Sweden. On a global scale, it's like saying that the world's largest-traffic web-site Yahoo! also owns the world's most popular newspaper !

Awesome? No wonder Oslo based Schibsted (publisher of VG newspaper & web-site) is the subject of a current Harvard Business School case study.

I.P. Television
Imagine a ready-to-use telecom network, (suitably "groomed" if required) which can deliver 2.0 Mbps bandwidth (ADSL). Add a video server which hosts MPEG4 video files. Add ready software which can stream television programming, offer video-on-demand, implement DRM (digital rights management for content ), serve ads and take care of subscriber-accounting.

Next, tie up with television channels for content streaming - much like cable & satellite operators do. (Of course, you may have to convert some analog content to digital, but most of today's TV channels will provide MPEG files.) Now get into revenue-sharing arrangement with the telecom operator to avoid the humungous capital expenditure costs for laying the network. And also use the existing billing / collection machinery of the telecom operator. Finally, distribute set-top boxes which will show the content on conventional TV sets.

Viola! You have a competing model for cable & satellite operators. With the added advantage of displaying your ad banners & links alongside the content window. All this at a fraction of the investment / running cost ! (Of course, you will need to subsidize/finance the set-top boxes - but that's true for cable TV as well as satellite television. What you save on is the considerable cost of laying cables / leasing satellite transponders.)

Since the minimum last-mile bandwidth requirement (1.5 - 2.0 Mbps) is acheivable on most legacy telecom networks, I.P. Television riding on existing telecom networks is clearly a viable option. More so for developing nations. No wonder I.P. Television is catching up worldwide.

Pssst! Any takers for I.P. Radio?