Joost Finally Fails Miserably - Not!

Sometimes I feel like the official reporter of Internet TV leader Joost because their news always seems to gravitate in my direction. Today Joost announced former Cisco Systems executive and expert deal maker Mike Volpi as their CEO.

Volpi was the senior VP and General Manager of Cisco's routing and service provider group, and he helped acquire more than 70 companies for the Cisco system during his tenure there. Volpi will replace founding CEO Fredrik de Wahl and will assume the helm of Joost immediately.

Joost spokespeople see Volpi as ideal for this role and Joost Co-Chairman Janus Fris said that his leadership abilities combined with his vision and technological experience will serve as the driving force for Joost in the future. According to news from Reuters, De Wahl will remain on board as Joost's chief strategy officer.

More Juice for Joost

I am sure anyone familiar with Joost would not perceive that the company might need more hard hitters or any help in taking their innovation to the summit of Internet TV. I would be among those thinking that the company is doing such an excellent job and that they would probably be the best for the foreseeable future. The other side of this thinking is that Joost is not just content to do "anything" just well enough. By this I mean that every aspect of their technology, planning and network partnership gathering has aimed very high, and this news today just points their compass even more decidedly North. Volpi is renowned for being one of the very best at attracting deals and closing them, so one can only wonder at upcoming collaborations and deals that might be headed Joost's way.

This appears to be just another example of Joost's determination to not only lead, but to stay out in front in the long Internet TV venue. Appointing a company catcher like Volpi signals that Joost intends to gather "the product", or more specifically content. Joost has signed many of the biggest and best content providers and broadcasters including Warner Music, Viacom, Sony Pictures TV, TBS, and many others so far.

The Take

I will not mention that we have tested Joost again or that we rooted for them, admired their innovation, gawked at their ability to top one headline after another or essentially lead Web 2.0 into the Internet TV business. After all the great news I "almost" wish they would just goof something up to prove they are human. Well, they actually did some time back when they did not answer my email, but they rectified that in 4 hours and actually proved to this writer that they are the best in the process.

Didn't I just write a post yesterday about Joost and Next New Networks? Wow, I wish they would send me an email tonight announcing their announcement for tomorrow.