[citation][nom]tenshin111[/nom]No, this is not the issue. HTML 5 defines semantics for the element and it's expected behaviour - not the actual implementation. It is up to browser manufacturers to choose specific codecs and use them.[/citation]
Your statement is accurate but I don't understand how you feel its not an issue. It means that no content provider can reach more than a fragment of the web audience using a single encoding format. Yes, they have the unattractive option of encoding everything in multiple formats, but between that huge drawback and other omissions, the end result is that we're right back where we started: the best way to serve video is going to be using something other than HTML standards. In the end, they failed to define a standard for web video, there is not likely to be one for some time, and to everyone's loss (except perhaps the rights holders looking to further monetize those patents.)