Lance Koenders (TA, Intel Digital Home Group) presented an up-to-date overview of the Widget Channel framework in a panel discussion entitled "The Marriage of Television and the Internet" at the Cinequest Independent Film Festival on February 28, 2009.

Intel and Yahoo set out to democratize social network access to TV distribution through the creation of new hardware, a web2.0 API, and network partnerships with Twitter, MySpace, Joost, CinemaNow, Cinequest, and others.  The challenge was to differentiate between the desired user experiences on the PC and TV by supporting 1080P 60 FPS multi-streaming while insulating the consumer from malware, viruses, and other foul effects.  Leveraging the Intel® Media Processor CE 3100-based hardware development system called the "Innovation Platform", applications deployed under the Widget Channel Framework enable users to share experiences with their social network friends, and to invite them to watch together in real-time (albeit in virtual space).  A logged-in user has a personalized space that reflects elements of her/his profile and shares what they care about.  Current developments and deployments by framework partners have opened doors to independent film producers and content owners to market, distribute, and monetize on a larger scale and at greater cost effectiveness than had previously been thought possible.

Last fall in his keynote to NewTeeVee, Reed Hastings (Chairman and CEO of Netflix) forecast that this would take longer, as I mentioned in a post to VatorTV on March 24, 2009.