Business proposal

Here we go -- press images of the HP Slate just hit the web, right as Ballmer showed it off during his CES keynote. The prototype device is said to be coming later this year, and it's running Windows -- Ballmer showed it running the PC Kindle app. It's also multitouch, and can do some gaming -- they showed it playing Frogger. Check one more pic and the teaser vid after the break. And trust us -- we're going to find out everything about this thing before we're done.

There is a rumor that it will be running Microsoft Windows 7 Tablet . There isn’t a release date or price for the device yet. What is known about it though is that it will have capabilities to stream media such as newspapers, and videos. Because its such an unknown machine, there aren’t that many people/companies backing it. For NBC to make money off this future “must have device”, the company needs to create a live connection to the device to stream NBC programming and news casts. During the production of the device, and sponsoring it would put NBC’s name on it somewhere and it would establish an agreement. For media streaming of NBC’s programming, say the device requires a subscription to stream video, NBC takes a piece of the profits of subscriptions which might be anywhere from 20 to 50 $ a month, NBC proposes the idea of making 30% off the subscriptions for company programming. NBC starts making money off every person who buys an HP Slate just for video content streaming. This device also is planning to have a newspaper streaming feature. Granted NBC doesn’t create newspapers but NBC does make news stories for its website which could easily be sent to the HP Slate.

Available Content:

Wallpapers - different themes for the device promoting the channel or a show or something. As long as the actual theme looks cool, people will buy it. Pricing varies on how complex the theme would be

Video - previews and trailers for non subscribers and full length (standard or HD to save hard drive space) videos for subscribers and downloaders. Prices for standard video would be slightly lower than HD quality video.

News articles - After subscription, viewing news articles would be free. Without subscription they would get 5 or so free trial views of a full article and after that, they would have to pay.

Streaming:

The HP Slate is going to have internet capabilities, the most logical way would be to stream video to the server that controls content of the device and then from there HP would stream NBC content to the subscribing units. Because the Slate is internet based and has storage, the device would just receive the video and have the ability to download NBC videos.

On top of subscribers, there should be small trailers/previews of the shows. These previews would be small cuts of the show either 3 to 5 minutes of what the real show is.

Another way to get content:

Obviously the Slate needs to charge right? Instead of actually streaming video through their servers, NBC can create their own server specifically designed for the Slate. When the slate is plugged into the computer for charging (assuming that it has a usb charger) NBC’s Slate server could work much like iTunes with an iPod, as soon as the Slate is plugged in, a program would open with NBC content on it available for download and then later to be loaded onto the device itself. Like iTunes, this program could be accessed without the Slate plugged in and shows and content could be purchased with a credit card or some form of gift card then awaited for download to the Slate.

This way you wouldn’t have to use the money sending NBC content through HP and then to the Slate you could just send straight to the Slate. To install the program NBC would have to make a deal with HP to cause automatic installation for first time connection between computer and Slate.

It might take a while for this product to make a lot of sales but in time it looks like it would be a valuable investment.