While dynamic site acceleration and application delivery are quickly becoming the next big thing, questions remain about how these services work and overlay the traditional CDN network. On Monday May 9th, the Content Delivery Summit kicks off in NYC with discussions and presentations from telcos, MSOs, ISPs and content delivery networks and suppliers about the infrastructure of over-the-top video.

One of the sessions, entitled "Demos: Application Acceleration and DSA" will feature executives from Akamai, Limelight Networks, Cotendo and Level 3 demonstrating how their app acceleration and dynamic acceleration products work, the technology behind them, and why they are needed in the market.

• Moderator: Dan Rayburn, Executive Vice President, StreamingMedia.com
  
• Presenter: David Reisfeld, GM, Enterprise Solutions, Limelight Networks
• Presenter: Michael Kuperman, VP, Operations, Cotendo
• Presenter: Neil Cohen, VP, Product Marketing, Akamai
• Presenter: Mark Taylor, VP, Content and Media, Level 3

Attendees will have the chance to see a brief overview from each company as well get their questions answered during the Q&A portion of the event and afterwards, do one-on-one meetings with the companies.

Readers of my blog can take advantage of special pricing by registering using the promo code of DAN to attend the CDN Summit for only $395. Taking a look at the pre-register attendee list we have carriers, telcos, ISPs, MSOs, content owners and vendors coming from all over the world. This is the event to be at if you are in the content delivery business. Twitter hash tag #cdnsummit

I am really excited to announce something really special for the industry we are calling the Broadband Device Pavilion; a new hands-on demo area at the Streaming Media East show, providing the ultimate over-the-top video experience. The Broadband Device Pavilion is a dedicated area on the exhibit floor that will give attendees access to more than 3 dozen of today's leading hardware devices and content platforms.

This demo area is free to attend and you'll be able to test out a wide range of streaming boxes, tablets, Internet enabled Blu-ray players and more than a dozen content platforms including:

• Devices: Apple TV, Roku XDS, Microsoft Xbox 360, Boxee, Logitech Revue, Seagate GoFlexTV, Sony PS3, Nintendo Wii, Sony SMP-N100, TiVo Premiere, ViewSonic NexTV, WD TV Live and Live Hub, OnLive and more.

• Content Platforms: iTunes, Netflix, Blockbuster, VUDU, MLB.TV, HBO GO, Hulu Plus, Google TV, Zune Video, Amazon, ESPN, EPIXHD and others.

• Connected Blu-ray players: from Vizio, Sony, Samsung, LG, Panasonic, Sharp, Phillips, Toshiba, Magnavox and Sylvania.

• Tablets: Apple iPad 2, Motorola XOOM, BlackBerry PlayBook, Samsung Galaxy Tab, Dell Streak and others.

And best of all, we're giving a lot of this gear away. Thanks to many of these vendors, we're going to be raffling off devices from Roku, Boxee, Western Digital, Logitech and others as well as subscriptions and credits to Netflix, MLB.TV, VUDU, Amazon Prime and more!

This is your chance to compare these devices and platforms in action, side-by-side, and check out what each platform offers in the way of content and video quality. All you need to do is register online for a FREE exhibits pass and you'll have complete access to the Broadband Device Pavilion.

Content producers need to distribute their content as widely as possible in order to build a brand, grow an audience, and augment revenues. But in a world with infinite UGC and reduced barriers to entry for professional producers, there doesn't seem to be enough advertising to support the ever-increasing supply of content.

At the Streaming Media East show, on May 10th and 11th, we've got Ashkan Karbasfrooshan, CEO and blogger of WatchMojo.com moderating a panel entitled "Open Distribution vs. Premium Monetization: Striking the Right Balance". In this session, speakers will examine the different strategies required at various stages in a content producer's life cycle to achieve the above objectives without diluting leverage and pricing power for securing various revenues streams on multiple platforms. Confirmed speakers include:

• Moderator: Ashkan Karbasfrooshan, CEO, WatchMojo.com
• Brett Wilson, CEO, Co-Founder, Tubemogul
• Bradford Matson, CMO, Bluefly
• Paul Kontonis, VP/Group Director, Brand Content, The Third Act, Digitas
• Lance Podell, Director, Global Head, YouTube/Next New Networks

It's not too late to get a pass to the show and readers of my blog can register using my own personal discount code of DAN, which gets you a two-day ticket to the show for only $695. Twitter hash tag: #SMEast

Streaming sites like Hulu, CBS, ABC, and others have proven that savvy audiences are turning to their computers for entertainment, and in a way that's profitable. How are traditional and cutting-edge companies capitalizing on this trend? In addition to providing the content, how are they taking advantage of this "connected" platform as they deliver content?

At the Streaming Media East show, on May 10th and 11th, we've got Greg Sandoval, Senior Writer at CNET moderating a panel on "How Streaming Video Is Changing The Television Landscape". Come hear how online video based subscription offerings are affecting cable companies from speakers including:

• Moderator: Greg Sandoval, Senior Writer, CNET
• Andrew Kippen, VP, Marketing, Boxee 
• Hans Deutmeyer, VP, HBO GO
• Jorge Espinel, EVP, Strategy & Corp Development, News Corp. Digital Media
• Marc Goldberg, CTO, EPIX
• Phil Wiser, Co-Founder, President, Sezmi

It's not too late to get a pass to the show and readers of my blog can register using my own personal discount code of DAN, which gets you a two-day ticket to the show for only $695. Twitter hash tag: #SMEast

Content owners can now choose from a large number of new transcoding solutions including in-house enterprise-class software and hardware appliances; cloud-based solutions; and transcoding services offered by CDNs and other third-party vendors. Given this breadth of choices, choosing the right transcoding mechanism, or combination of mechanisms, has significant impact on the cost, quality, security, and reliability of the overall solution.

At the Streaming Media East show, on May 10th and 11th, we've got Arjun Saksena, Lead Product Manager of the Yahoo! Video Platform moderating a panel entitled "Transcoding: In-House Or In The Cloud?". This session will focus on the benefits and trade-offs of each mechanism and help you select the best solution for your needs. Confirmed speakers include:

• Moderator: Arjun Saksena, Lead Product Manager, Yahoo! Video Platform
• Tal Saraf, GM, CloudFront, Amazon
• Karl Wiley, VP, GM of Services, Shutterfly
• David Dudas, VP, Video Solutions, Sorenson Media
• Michael Christopher, Head Of Engineering, SchoolTube

It's not too late to get a pass to the show and readers of my blog can register using my own personal discount code of DAN, which gets you a two-day ticket to the show for only $695. Twitter hash tag: #SMEast

At the Streaming Media East show, on May 10th and 11th, we've got Roxanne Reid, Senior Director, Video Department at HowStuffWorks.com moderating a panel on "Building A Content Brand Using Social Media". This session will discuss and demonstrate ways content owners can use social media platforms to generate awareness for their video library. Learn the best practices for building a fan base with Twitter and Facebook as well as ways to augment your core brand via mobile devices and apps. Speakers will also discuss some of the most successful ways to package your brand to sponsors. Confirmed speakers include:

• Moderator: Roxanne Reid, Senior Director, Video Department, HowStuffWorks.com 
• Jesse Redniss, VP Digital, USA Network
• Hardie Tankersley, VP, Online Content, FOX Broadcasting 
• Paul Slavin, SVP, ABC Digital
• Eric Mortensen, Director of Content, blip.tv

It's not too late to get a pass to the show and readers of my blog can register using my own personal discount code of DAN, which gets you a two-day ticket to the show for only $695. Twitter hash tag: #SMEast

For all the buzz about online video advertising, most content owners have yet to be able to turn their online video from cost center to profit center. Still, strong signals suggest that video monetization is around the corner, provided content owners don't pull back in today's tight economy. What will it take to reach that tipping point, and what direct cost and revenue impact will it have on content owners?

At the Streaming Media East show, on May 10th and 11th, we've got Jamison Tilsner, Evangelist, Business Development at Kantar Video moderating a panel on "Monetization And Video Advertising Formats". Explore with this panel of speakers which ad formats have the greatest ability to help content owners monetize content and why.

• Moderator: Jamison Tilsner, Evangelist, Business Development, Kantar Video
• Seth Brickman, Sr. Business Manager, MSN/Bing Video
• David Kohl, EVP, Sales and Customer Operations, VEVO 
• Matt Blasco, Director, Marketing Analytics & Insights, Euro RSCG
• Robert Schneider, Manager, Global Operations, Media Innovation Group

It's not too late to get a pass to the show and readers of my blog can register using my own personal discount code of DAN, which gets you a two-day ticket to the show for only $695. Twitter hash tag: #SMEast