At the Stanford Networking Research Symposium on New Media Networks, Reed Hastings, CEO and founder of Netflix, had some interesting things to say about internet television, as recounted in Light Reading (IPTV vs Me-Too TV):

[He] said the industry had reached a crucial juncture, where it would be choosing between "freedom and control." He said that closed, proprietary TV systems such as those present on cable systems represent control, while open, IP-based networks represent freedom.

Hastings said that the industry will thrive only if multiple access networks develop and service providers pursue innovative products based on open technology. But Hastings said telcos are going down the wrong path if they are out to copy cable offerings:

"The tragedy is that the telcos are going to spend billions of dollars to do me-too TV."