Fast Forward

The Birth of Video Streaming, Media's Wild Child

Craig Leddy

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Paperback

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English

Koehler Books
23 September 2025

Media, information & communication industries; Television technology

Long before Netflix, Amazon, and YouTube redefined entertainment, a team of innovators embarked on a groundbreaking mission: to create on-demand movie streaming, interactive shopping, and virtual gaming through the visionary concept of interactive television. Spearheaded by Time Warner CEO Jerry Levin, the ambitious Full Service Network (FSN) sought to outpace media moguls, including cable pioneer John Malone and Microsoft's Bill Gates, in a race for digital dominance.

In 1994 the developers risked it all to unveil the first-ever on-demand movies to a global press corps. Behind the scenes, their cutting-edge network teetered on the brink of collapse, threatening a public humiliation.

In Fast Forward: The Birth of Video Streaming, Media's Wild Child, renowned business journalist and television expert Craig Leddy reveals this thrilling story of innovation, teamwork, and resilience amid a backdrop of corporate hubris and greed. With unparalleled insight, Leddy connects the trailblazing efforts of the early digital pioneers to the streaming revolution that still is disrupting entertainment and culture. Their successes, failures, and lessons offer timeless wisdom for navigating today's digital business landscape.

By: Craig Leddy
Imprint: Koehler Books
Dimensions: Height: 229mm, Width: 152mm, Spine: 14mm
Weight: 327g
ISBN: 9798888248645
Pages: 242
Publication Date: 23 September 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Throughout a forty-year career as a business journalist, researcher, and educator, Craig Leddy has chronicled innovations in television. As a reporter and editor for Cablevision, Multichannel News, Electronic Media, and Light Reading, Leddy covered major milestones in cable, broadband, and interactive media history. Leddy founded Interactive TV Works, Inc. and produces and hosts the biannual Interactive Case Competition, which has mentored more than 500 business students. Leddy has taught popular industry courses to more than 7,000 media professionals, earning acclaim for his insights and engaging style. Leddy lives outside New York City, where he and his wife enjoy both traditional television and streaming.

Reviews for Fast Forward: The Birth of Video Streaming, Media's Wild Child

""Fast Forward is a must-read for anybody interested in the evolution of digital TV, broadband, and streaming video. Craig Leddy's rich and deep industry research and knowledge is unparalleled.""-Bob Benya, former president and CEO, iN DEMAND, and VP and marketing, FSN ""Fast Forward should be on the reading list of all those interested in a better understanding of the digital distribution technology achievements that produced what we have today, as well as a primer on the dynamic processes involved in all cutting-edge development projects.""-Tom Feige, former division president, Time Warner Cable, and president, FSN ""What a story! Both the crazy project itself and the subsequent convergence of technology, media supply chain, content creation, user consumption behaviors, etc., etc.""-John Callahan, streaming software and product development consultant, former software manager, FSN