Remember when Friendster was the hot social network, publishers doubted that ebooks would ever sell, and Netflix thought DVDs in red envelopes was the future? We do — that was that state of digital media when paidContent launched in 2002. Read more »
The adoption of tablets, social media and new interfaces and the changing nature of the TV itself mean the digital living room will continue on its path of rapid change, thanks to new ways of creating, viewing, bundling, distributing and selling content. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
The once dying Blockbuster brand generated a profit of nearly $14 million in the first quarter for its new corporate parent, Dish Network, flourishing as a combination streaming/physical movie rental service. Still, Dish plans to close 100 more brick-and-mortar Blockbuster stores in Q2. Read more at paidContent »
The Blockbuster brand emerged from the ashes of bankruptcy to have an impact on the bottom line of its new owner, Dish Network (NSDQ: DISH).… Read more at paidContent »
Warner Bros. (NYSE: TWX) has refused to give DVD rentals chain Blockbuster (NSDQ: DISH) its latest films, including The Hangover Part II and… Read more at paidContent »
Netflix came under a lot of heat when it announced plans to separating its DVD service and re-brand it Qwikster. But after nearly unanimous disapproval, the company has decided to shelve those plans, and will keep DVD-by-mail a part of the Netflix brand and website. Read more »
For the latest streaming video chart, click here.
Our July streaming video chart followed word that Netflix (NSDQ: NFLX) was separating DVD… Read more at paidContent »
Our July streaming video chart followed word that Netflix (NSDQ: NFLX) was separating DVD and streaming subscriptions and raising the price… Read more at paidContent »
The timing of the Dish Network’s and Blockbuster’s introduction of new a streaming video venture couldn’t be more perfect. With Netflix (NSD… Read more at paidContent »
Dish Network unveiled its new streaming and DVD service, Blockbuster Movie Pass, Friday. But those who thought it would be positioned as a Netflix killer will be sorely disappointed: Despite earlier speculation, at launch, Movie Pass will be strictly to the satellite operator’s pay TV service. Read more »
Dish Network could soon take on Netflix in the subscription streaming space, with a new service offered through Blockbuster. The service is expected to roll out next month, as Dish seeks to take advantage of Netflix’s recent price hike and steal angry customers away. Read more »
Nicolas Rapp, who just started as the director of infographics for Fortune magazine has put together this awesome chart that highlights the efficiency of the online distribution model. Amazon and Netflix are two of the most visible examples of companies that are ascendant. Read more »
Netflix subscribers are still unhappy with the company’s price change, which increases the cost of unlimited streaming and one DVD out by 60 percent. The good news is that the number who will unsubscribe altogether is likely overstated due to the emotional response to the change. Read more »
Blockbuster is trying to take advantage of outrage over Netflix’s recent price increase with a new campaign aimed at courting its users. But once their 30-day trial is over, new Blockbuster subscribers will be paying $2 more a month than if they had stayed with Netflix. Read more »
Zediva launched a service to stream DVDs to users’ web browsers. That raised the ire of Hollywood studios, which sued it for copyright infringement. Now Zediva has filed its response, claiming that it is no different than other DVD rental services from Netflix or Blockbuster. Read more »
Google has blocked its Movies feature for rooted Android devices, and now Blockbuster’s application is following suit. While this content protection makes business sense to content creators, it’s sure to put Google on a collision course with Android device owners who want to customize their devices. Read more »
Dish Network unveiled its first cross-promotional deal with the Blockbuster assets it just picked up in a bankruptcy auction. Under the promotion, Dish will provide three months of free access to Blockbuster’s DVD-by-mail service to any new subscribers of its satellite TV service. Read more »
TiVo is adding more cable content to its DVRs, announcing a deal to bring Comcast’s Xfinity On Demand library to its menu of options. With 22.8 million subscribers, Comcast provides a huge user base for TiVo to target with a more-integrated DVR offering. Read more »
With adaptive streaming technology in its set-top boxes, access to digital rights and the Blockbuster brand, as well as some spectrum that could be used for wireless broadband services, Dish could be well-positioned to roll out new, IP-delivered video services. Read more »
Now that Dish owns Blockbuster, it will try to build a profitable business from the ailing video rental store. Digital will be a part of Dish’s plans, but CEO Charlie Ergen said it wouldn’t compete with Netflix, in part because Netflix is already too big. Read more »
Dish Network could keep as few as 600 retail Blockbuster locations open, a strategy that highlights the importance of the video store’s digital rights. Those rights, along with some spectrum it got in the acquisition of DBSD, could help Dish expand its streaming video services. Read more »
Dish Network won an auction for embattled DVD rental firm Blockbuster, ending long-running bankruptcy proceedings that have led to store closings and layoffs. But Dish has some major challenges ahead in its plan to make the acquisition pay off in the long run. Read more »
Dish Network and Carl Icahn have joined the bidding for Blockbuster in advance of a bankruptcy court auction next week. But after years of failing to adapt, will a new investor or management team be able to turn around the beleaguered DVD rental firm? Read more »
Today on the Net: DirecTV hopes to see some movement on retransmission reform, but doesn’t expect anything in the next year. Also: YouTube is betting on Bollywood video and cricket in India and Hollywood studios are fighting to get unpaid fees from Blockbuster. Read more »
Today on the Internet: YouTube wants to play ball — basketball and hockey, to be precise, Blockbuster has set its sale price at $290 million, and Al Jazeera English is now in talks to join US cable networks. Read more »
Today on the Net: Al-Jazeera launches a Google TV-optimized website, Foursquare celebrates check-in records and citizens in Egypt document their victory via online video. Read more »
More exciting than examining the previous quarter is looking forward into the next 12 months and using the trends of 2010 to predict the realities that will surface in 2011. Throughout this past December, GigaOM Pro’s curators did just that, making trend predictions, pointing out companies to watch and even telling us what not to expect. Connected Consumer curator Michael Wolf’s thoughts, analyses and predictions are compiled here in a single report. Companies mentioned in this report include Netflix, Hulu, Facebook, Apple and Boxee. For a full list of companies, and to read the full report, sign up for a free trial. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
2010 was a major turning point in home entertainment, especially when it comes to the decline of physical rental outlets like Blockbuster. As even smaller chains start to go under, though, it’s worth remembering what we’ll lose once the last video store shutters. Read more »
Today on the Internet: Senator Bernie Sanders’ eight-hour live-streamed filibuster was a big hit for C-SPAN, Blockbuster is experimenting with pricing and kiosks, and when will Netflix add live TV to its content offerings? Read more »
The television business is on the cusp of the biggest technological upheaval since the introduction of cable TV. The addition of Internet connectivity to living room devices will enable new functionality around programming services, program discovery, social networking, ad targeting and measurement — aspects of the TV viewing experience that have remained largely unchanged for decades. These trends have the potential to become the foundation for new economic models around how viewers pay for video service and how program creation is financed. In this report, we examine the leading contenders’ strategic positioning, relative strengths and weaknesses, and provide the early line on their odds of success. Companies mentioned include Google, Apple, Boxee, Roku, Vudu, Samsung, Microsoft and Sony. To see a full list of companies and to read the full report, sign up for a free trial. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
Today on the Net: New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie thinks Cablevision is at fault for its dispute with Fox, VEVO sings up with Univision and Time Magazine explains how Blockbuster got it all wrong. Read more »
Today on the Net: Netflix confirms that it is now available on 200 different consumer electronics devices with 60 million units sold in 2010, Blockbuster is looking for a new CEO after Jim Keyes ran it into the ground and 3-D TV sales disappoint. Read more »
Today on the Net: The New Yorker on Blockbuster and the future of video rentals, CBS’ fall season is taking off and Google is trying hard to line up cable providers for Google TV. Read more »
Today’s news that Blockbuster is filing for bankruptcy should surprise no one, but are Blockbuster’s troubles a sign that all large brick and mortar retailers of content –- be it music, movies and yes, even books –- are eventually doomed? Read more »
Blockbuster’s Chapter 11 filing marks the end of an era, in which it dominated the home entertainment space with thousands of local stores throughout the U.S. But bankruptcy was a long time coming, as the convenience of online video ultimately trumped Blockbuster’s DVD selection. Read more »
Blockbuster is on the verge of filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, and is negotiating a restructuring with creditors that will see it cutting brick-and-mortar locations and wiping its debt slate clean. But will a leaner Blockbuster be able to compete with Netflix or Redbox? Read more »
Blockbuster is telling Hollywood studios that it is preparing for a mid-September bankruptcy through which it would attempt to recapitalize and shed some lagging assets. The bankruptcy filing comes as the video rental firm attempts to stay alive despite holding nearly $1 billion in debt. Read more »
Today on the Internet: Blockbuster’s head of digital strategy talks smack about Netflix and Apple, Kyte makes a move for mobile with new Blackberry features and NBC U’s iVillage seeks out women to contribute blogs and vidoes to the site’s new UGC section. Read more »
Today on the Net: analyst say bankruptcy might be imminent for Blockbuster, Adobe’s CEO says he doesn’t need Apple or the iPad to survive and Gene Munster says rumors of a $99 iTV could mean Apple could soon introduce out a connected TV. Read more »
Blockbuster is adding 3,000 video games for Xbox, Xbox 360, PS3, PS2 and Wii game systems to its DVD-by-mail offering, hoping to attract gamers to sign up for the subscription service. By doing so, subscribers can rent TV, movie and game discs through a single service Read more »
