For all the talk, there’s little evidence that cord cutting, to whatever extent it is actually happening, has loosened the grip of the networks or cable operators on the TV business. If anything, they’ve tightened their hold, as evidence from this last quarter shows. Read more »
The third quarter of 2011 was a busy one in the connected consumer segment. Netflix shot itself in both feet with its clumsy public handling of a price hike and spin-off of its DVD business this quarter — though the move may eventually pay off. Facebook, meanwhile, unveiled a major revamp of its news feed and user profile features, including the addition of real-time sharing of activity, while Amazon delievered its new $199, tablet-like Kindle Fire and posed perhaps the strongest challenge yet to the iPad’s overwhelming dominance of the tablet market. Finally, and despite the hopes of the cord cutters out there, the traditional pay-TV business remains as stubbornly undisrupted as ever. Companies mentioned in this report include Hulu, LivingSocial and Spotify. For a full list of companies, and to read the full report, sign up for a free trial. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
Conditions imposed on Comcast and NBC Universal by the FCC and DOJ will require the companies to make their cable content available to new online video distributors. But those over-the-top distributors have some hurdles to jump before the regulatory agencies will enforce those conditions. Read more »
Today on the Net: Disney expresses concerns about the conditions the FCC plans to levee against Comcast as part of its takeover of NBC Universal. Also: Fast Company profiles YouTube and Bitbop parent Fox Mobile Group has rebranded as Jesta Digital and gotten a new CEO. Read more »
Today on the Net: Comcast may need to make some concessions about online video to get its NBCU transaction approved, YouTube brings ads to videos on its Android mobile app and the BBC will refuse to create bespoke versions of the iPlayer unless compensated for them. Read more »
FCC chairman Julius Genachowski issued a draft order to the other commissioners today that gave the Comcast-NBCU deal the “OK,” with some “carefully tailored conditions.” But what those conditions are, and what they mean for the future of online video, remains to be seen. Read more »
Today on the Net: Due to ongoing discussions with regulatory agencies, the Comcast-NBCU merger is going to be delayed until early 2011. Also: a look at Starz’s subscriber numbers shows little evidence of cord shaving and SkyFire has released its Flash video app for the iPad. Read more »
Today on the Net: Comcast and NBCU are appealing to the FCC not to require them to provide their content to online sources, Sony’s Qriocity movie service has been switched on in Europe and Fox is using Hulu ad inventory to make good on ratings shortfalls. Read more »
Today on the Net: Comcast COO Steve Burke could announce NBC Universal’s new corporate structure as soon as next week, Boxee doesn’t make any money off the software that is used to run the Boxee Box and Adobe Flash on the Samsung Tab kind of sucks. Read more »
Today on the Net: an analyst estimates that NBC Universal is worth negative $600 million while USA Network is worth $11.7 billion, broadcasters like NBC are holding back the available ad inventory for sale on Hulu and Imax’s CEO says not every 3-D movie will work. Read more »
Comcast and GE were in need of a new CEO for the joint venture combining their cable properties after Jeff Zucker said he would leave. Today, they announced that Comcast COO Steve Burke will be named CEO of the new company once the deal is completed. Read more »
Jeff Zucker announced that he will be stepping down from his role as chief executive of NBC Universal upon completion of Comcast’s takeover of the company. The news was expected, but in dismissing Zucker, Comcast may be booting the best guy to run its cable networks. Read more »
Comcast says it has no plans to change NBC’s relationship with Hulu, making all the same content that available now also available in the future. It also said it would not withhold NBC content from other distributors or push it behind a TV Everywhere-type pay wall. Read more »
Today on the Net: Critics come out against the proposed Comcast-NBC Universal joint venture, Time Warner Expands its TV Everywhere offerings with Verizon and Teevox launched an app to turn your mobile phone into a remote for watching Hulu and Netflix on a computer. Read more »
Today on the Net: Paul Lee is taking over ABC Entertainment Group for Steve McPherson, Comcast expects advertising revenues to rise to $10 billion from $2 billion with the NBCU deal and Old Spice saw its sales rise 107 percent due to its YouTube campaign Read more »
The amount of online video that consumers watch is growing rapidly, but Comcast doesn’t see that growth as a competitive threat to its cable business, according to an FCC filing it submitted in response to critics of its proposed NBC Universal joint venture yesterday. Read more »
Today on the Net: The Comcast-NBC Universal deal gets approval from the European Commission, Hulu’s “Ad Selector” could become a standard for the web and the Old Spice Guy is making videos and tweeting out to fans. Read more »
Comcast has committed a $20 million venture fund for minority entrepreneurs to promote diversity in its proposed joint venture with NBC Universal. The fund will be established as part of Comcast Interactive Capital and will back minority entrepreneurs developing new media content and technology. Read more »
Today on the Net: The FCC stops the shot clock in its review of the Comcast-NBCU deal, enterprising businesses are looking to offer FaceTime sex chat services on the iPhone 4 and Canoe Ventures is launching its first interactive ads with Comcast and Time Warner Cable. Read more »
In a petition to deny the Comcast-NBCU transaction, Dish Network says the deal poses “grave threats” to online video. With a TV Everywhere initiative and a stake in Hulu, Dish says the combined entity would have the incentive and ability to take anticompetitive action against competitors. Read more »
Today on the Net: Comcast and NBC Universal received the blessing of ABC, CBS, and Fox affiliates — but with some conditions, Brand.net raised $14 million amidst some strong sales growth and Dish has dropped four Disney HD channels due to a carriage dispute Read more »
Comcast and NBC secured a number of well-know supporters for their proposed merger, but today’s FCC comment filing deadline was also used by a number of companies, labor unions and public interest groups to express opposition to the idea of both companies joining forces. Read more »
