Biz — GigaOM

Biz

Netflix wants to improve the quality of its streaming offering in Canada, adding “hundreds” of new titles there, including TV shows like Weeds, The Tudors and Kids in the Hall. Netflix claims the service has more video “than you can watch in a lifetime.” Read More »

Snapstick is introducing a new, wireless streaming solution that will let users stream anything on the web — including video from Hulu, CBS.com and others — to their TVs. And it plans to do so by taking advantage of the PC or mobile apps for content … Read More »

 
 

Starz has been a key component in the growth of Netflix’s streaming service over the past two years, but it has been woefully underpaid in that time. A new deal could bring Starz more than $250 million a year, according to BTIG analyst Richard Greenfield. Read More »

Speaking at the UBS Global Media and Communications Conference, CBS research chief David Poltrack said that about one-fifth of primetime viewing is time-shifted on DVR. That number jumps significantly in the 18-49 demographic, where shows get a 42 percent lift in audience when DVRs are counted. Read More »

Vid-Biz: Netflix HTML5, Roku PPV, FilmOn & Ivi

Today on the Net: Netflix explains why it uses HTML5 for its connected device user interfaces, Roku is preparing to roll out a pay-per-view offering for small video publishers next year and FilmOn and Ivi are both hated by broadcasters but they’re not the same company. Read More »

The latest evidence that the pay TV market is starting to unravel came yesterday as DirecTV executives said the satellite TV provider could drop low-rated cable networks as a way to lower programming fees. That means less niche programming and less value for its subscribers. Read More »

Hollywood studios and TV programmers are becoming increasingly uneasy about Netflix’s effect on the video industry and cannibalization of their existing business models. But refusing to work with a company offering billions for their content isn’t a solution — it’s just part of the problem. Read More »

Vid-Biz: Hulu Expansion, FCC TV Spectrum, MLB Mobile

Today on the Net: Hulu considers raising money for a possible expansion in international markets, the FCC unanimously votes on a proposal to enable TV broadcasters to auction off spectrum and MLB has lots of viewers on mobile devices, but very little revenue so far. Read More »

YouTube’s Skippable Ads Go Live

YouTube’s skippable ad format — dubbed TrueView — is going live today, offering users the ability to choose between different pre-roll units or skip them altogether. That means advertisers get more engaged viewers for their ads, and YouTube will get paid more for ads that actually … Read More »

Netflix Adds More First-Run Movies for Streaming

Netflix has struck another deal that will give it exclusive access to streaming movies in the pay TV window. Beginning in 2011, new film production and distribution firm FilmDistrict will begin making its movies available on Netflix streaming shortly after they are available on DVD. Read More »

Want to cut the cord, but you’re an avid sports fan that can’t bear to be without ESPN and live sports content? Well have no fear: most games from the major sports leagues can be watched live online, if you’re willing to pay for them. Read More »

Vid-Biz: TiVo, AOL, Silverlight

Today on the Net: TiVo continues to lose users and is down to 2.3 million subscribers, AOL has created a new video division led by 5min CEO Ran Harnevo and Microsoft is looking to add Silverlight to the Xbox 360 for app development. Read More »

More Must Reads

YouTube has struggled for years to add premium, long-form content to its video library. But the news that it is in talks to bring Miramax titles like Pulp Fiction to its site might mark a shift in its strategy for acquiring content. Read More »

Internet TV streamer FilmOn was dealt a blow yesterday, as it was issued a temporary restraining order by a federal judge, requiring it to stop retransmitting over-the-air broadcast signals online. That could be bad news for Ivi.TV as it fights its own court battle. Read More »

Digitalsmiths announced today that it is acquiring Gotuit in a deal that will bring its automated metadata creation technology together with Gotuit’s platform for easily adding manual time-based metadata. The combined company also has a deep patent portfolio, with more than 35 patents related to metadata. … Read More »

Today on the Net: Cord-cutters are less prevalent in major cities than in other parts of the country, YouTube is negotiating with new Miramax parent to get access to films like Pulp Fiction and the secrets to Netflix’s content acquisition strategy Read More »

YouTube will soon introduce an ad format that give viewers the ability to choose between multiple video ads, or skip them altogether. While choosing between ads has worked for Hulu, which pioneered the format, it’s unclear if having a choice will resonate with YouTube viewers. Read More »

The big reason cable subscribers are leaving companies like Time Warner Cable isn’t just the cost of their current cable packages, but the low value that they get for their money. Unfortunately, the new TV Essentials package is a step in the wrong direction. Read More »

Every year, the Miss California USA pageant attracts hundreds of contestants, with a winner usually being crowned on live, broadcast TV. But things are being done a little bit differently this year, with the entire three-day program streamed over the Internet, to TVs and mobile phones. Read More »

Over the last few weeks, AOL’s video strategy has blasted off, with new shows from Next New Networks and Vuguru being added. The new focus comes from this month’s complete redesign of the AOL.com home page, which emphasizes visual media and a more topical focus. Read More »

Dish Network unveiled new mobile Remote Access apps that allow its subscribers to watch live and pre-recorded video from their iPhone, Android and BlackBerry mobile phones. The catch is that customers need a SlingLoaded DVR or purchase a Sling Adaptor for the apps to work. Read More »

Today on the Net: Google TV Ads will now be available on 50 channels on Verizon FiOS, cable distributors and programmers appeared before a senate subcommittee meeting on retrans fights and Yahoo Connected TV is rolling out Paid Widgets beginning next year. Read More »

Time Warner Cable is planning to introduce a lower-priced cable bundle that it hopes will help stem subscriber losses. The package, which will cost between $30 and $40, would include programming from Viacom, Time Warner, Discovery and News Corp., but it won’t include ESPN. Read More »

The average amount of time U.S. viewers spent watching TV declined by about 14 minutes a month in the second quarter. But don’t worry, TV execs, that’s out of about 140 hours of TV viewed on average, and about 30 seconds less TV per day. Read More »

Hulu Plus is making a run at Netflix, with a price cut announced today and broad distribution across a number of devices — including many that Netflix is already on. But at the Web 2.0 Summit, Netflix’s CEO downlplayed the competitive threat posed by Hulu’s subscription … Read More »

If once is a fluke and twice is a trend, we can maybe confirm what we’ve been saying all along: that cord cutting is something the cable industry needs to worry about. According to new data, 119,000 pay TV subscribers dropped service in the third quarter. Read More »

Online video startup Hulu cut the price of its Plus service to $7.99 a month, shaving $2 off the cost of monthly subscription. The service also announced a number of new devices that it will become available on, as well as a number of new promotions Read More »

Internet TV startup Verismo Networks is announcing today that it has raised $17 million in a round of funding led by Intel Capital. The financing comes just a few weeks after Verismo launched a platform to help cable and IPTV providers launch virtual network services worldwide. Read More »

Want to keep local news and major league sports on broadcast channels like ABC, CBS and Fox? Then stay out of our business, and let us make money through higher retransmission fees: That’s the message News Corp. President Chase Carey has for politicians in Washington. Read More »

Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen said his company’s battle with Apple comes as a war is brewing to bring new applications to consumer electronics devices. That war is being fought to capture developer interest and ensure that the best applications are being built on different platforms. Read More »

Video chat startup TokBox has raised $12 million in Series C financing led by DAG Ventures, and is launching a service called OpenTok. The new offering, which is built on a set of JavaScript APIs, will allow publishers to embed video chat services in their websites. Read More »

Not even the San Francisco fire department can stop us: NewTeeVee Live 2010 started off with a mandatory building evacuation, but ended up to be a fast-paced event highlighting Hulu’s success, Google TV’s vision, the challenges of designing TV-compatible interfaces and the power of conversations. Read More »

Clearleap has raised $4.5 million in new funding led by Noro-Mosely Partners, Trinity Ventures and Silicon Valley Bank. The funds will be used to advance its Stream On Demand product, which enables cable companies to stream video content to Internet-connected set-top boxes and connected TV services. Read More »

MTV has had decades of success serving up music videos to viewers on cable television, but it’s not for Vevo. At NewTeeVee Live today, Vevo CEO Rio Carareff said it won’t be building a linear cable channel anytime soon, because it’s not “the future of television.” Read More »

The video curation site Shortform is launching a new user experience to make the process of creating your own video playlists simpler. There are so far hundreds of “VJs” who use the site to create channels of YouTube videos, around whatever interests or themes strike them. … Read More »

Online video distribution and monetization startup RealGravity is announcing today that it has raised $3.2 million and is opening its video marketplace to all publishers. The company, which hopes to provide an alternative to online video distribution platforms, has already won some major media clients. Read More »

Time Warner Cable is introducing a new Look Back feature to its subscribers, enabling them to go back and watch some programming within the first three days it aired. But the new feature, which doesn’t require a DVR, also won’t let customers fast forward through commercials. Read More »

Cable channels Food Network and HGTV returned to AT&T U-verse, after it struck a deal with programmer Scripps Networks. For AT&T, which insisted on broad multiplatform rights for Scripps programming, the deal could mean bringing more cooking and home renovation content online and to mobile devices. Read More »

Were you wondering what Tremor Media was going to do with that $40 million it raised earlier this year? Well now you know: it has acquired rival ScanScout in a deal that will make it the second-largest online video ad server in the U.S. Read More »

Syfy.com used to be one of a few cable network sites that let Google TV users catch up on entire episodes of its shows – but no more: The NBC-owned network is now preventing Google TV users from accessing its content, much like NBC.com, ABC.com and … Read More »

Sorry, AT&T U-verse subscribers — you will no longer have access to The Next Iron Chef or that awesome new Vanilla Ice home renovation show, due to a blackout of Scripps networks. So what’s a U-verse subscriber to do? Maybe watch some kinda similar channels instead. Read More »

Time Warner Cable’s plan to reduce customer departures by offering smaller bundles of programming that includes only the channels most important to them sounds like a good idea. But more flexible packages could undermine the entire cable business by enticing viewers to choose only must-have stations. Read More »

There’s now even more evidence that subscribers are cutting the cord and opting out of paying for cable: By adding up subscriber losses from four of the top five cable companies, we found that more than half a million users have ditched their cable companies. Read More »

Want Hulu Plus, but tired of waiting for your invitation? Well, the wait’s over: The paid service is now open to anyone interested. In addition, more shows have been added to the catalog, as well as another connected device to bring Hulu Plus to … Read More »

YouTube has taken down videos that include calls to jihad by Yemeni-based cleric Anwar al-Awlaki after receiving pressure from U.S. and U.K. officials. The removal of the videos falls under YouTube’s terms of service, which prohibit hate speech and incitement to commit violent acts. Read More »

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