Broadband's Halo Effect

There is much talk about the importance of broadband to individuals, societies and nations.  It is fair to say we at the Internet Innovation Alliance from time-to-time evangelize on broadband as the transformative technology of our generation, and essential to changing how we work, live and learn.  And certainly new applications for education, health, business and energy efficiency hold great promise.

But if we're honest about things, the leading driver of broadband adoption and usage is entertainment.  Music, movies and games remain core to the most innovative uses of broadband to-date and for the foreseeable future.  Companies like Joost are transforming industries and business models with new offerings that take advantage of fatter pipes.  Perhaps the greatest recent example is the recent release of Halo3 video game (H3).

Before H3, the biggest entertainment opening of all time had been Spiderman 3, with a $150 million opening weekend.  Halo 3 rang up sales of $170 million in 24 hours... on a Tuesday... and by opening week's end it hit $300 million.  ESA President Michael Gallagher suggests more than 7 million H3 sessions were initiated in that first week, all in HD, all with surround sound.

Don't try that with dial up.