Open Media Network's first steps

There are many ways to get videos from and publish them on the Internet. There are few that are easy, convenient, fast and legal.
Open Media Network is one of them. It an attempt at creating a delivery system for downloading and watching videos, as well as to publish them, and at developing over time a public repository of rich media content. The underlying strength of the system is a "grid network" technology that speeds up downloading considerably. Files are stored and managed centrally and delivered within a digital-rights management mechanism, and the OMN provides a listing by categories and tags making it easier to find the desired video. A future version will also include a payment feature so that producers can sell content through the OMN. (Oh: and they just released their beta client for Mac).
OMN is set up as a non-profit through the Open Media Foundation. Its was founded by Mike Homer, of Netscape fame; he's surrounded in the venture by several other Netscapees, including Marc Andreessen. His stated intention is to create a "public service that gives consumers an easy way to get both traditional and grassroots media authorized for Internet distribution" by both professionals and amateurs, but Mike has also a business interest in this, as OMN serves as a showcase for his other company's technology, Kontiki, which powers the distribution grid.
The early content (from public broadcasters, the witness.org human-right group, Undergroundfilm indie stuff, podcasts, and so on) is still limited, and the software still has glitches and needs some polish. But this first iteration shows that the OMN model is flexible and scalable and could play a key role particularly in allowing individuals and independents to seek an audience.