Home Media Magazine - January 13-19, 2007 - (Page 10)

ELECTRONIC DELIVERY www.homemediamagazine.com Comcast Bullish on HD By Erik Gruenwedel AS VEGAS — Comcast Corp., the world’s No. 1 cable operator, later this year will introduce technology that allows subscribers to download high-definition movies in four minutes. Comcast plans to bow 1,000 on-demand HD movies at the end of 2008, using over-cable-service-interfacespecifications (DOCSIS 3.0), a new open standard highspeed Internet service created by an industry R&D consortium. Comcast CEO Brian Roberts included the announcement as part of the Philadelphia-based company’s ambitious entertainment plans outlined during a keynote address on day two of International CES 2008 in Las Vegas. He said DOCSIS 3.0 is capable of delivering digital video at speeds up to 160Mbps, compared to standard cable modems that deliver content at 6Mbps and DSL at 3Mbps. “You’re never going to want to get off the couch,” Roberts joked. Indeed, Comcast generates 275 million on-demand views per month, 6 billion since launching the service in 2003, according to the executive. Roberts said the company will aggressively seek content providers (read: studios) eager to expand current distribution channels. “We can work with whatever business model makes sense for them, whether it’s free, ad-supported, subscription-base or pay-per-view,” he said. Roberts did not comment about ongoing tests between cable operators (including Time Warner Cable) and movie studios regarding offering new releases on video- BRIEFS I TIVO ADDS INTERNET TiVo will offer subscribers the option to use its digital video recording service to play Web video on their televisions, according to a report from The Associated Press. The technology allows viewers to apply the Season Pass option to content available through Real Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds. The video choices range from network footage to fan videos to blogs. When the service begins in March, users will need to use TiVo’s PC software, although select video sources will be offered through the TV-based menu system. The new version of the software will cost $24.95 for new users, but will be a free upgrade for those who already bought the program. – John Latchem digital rights management (DRM) protection, and having Sony BMG do the same would be an indication that it has decided DRM protection may not be the best way to go with music. “A lot of these tests have led people to believe that maybe it works,” an unnamed Sony BMG source told The Associated Press, regarding the test sales of DRM-free music. – Chris Tribbey L on-demand the same day as the DVD release. Comcast also bowed Fancast.com, an interactive media portal that allows users to stream more than 3,000 hours of movie and network television content including theatrical trailers, remotely program their digital video recorder, buy movie tickets through Fandango, rent a DVD from Netflix Inc., and search the Web for entertainment information. An added feature, “Six Degrees,” allows users to research connections between actors, TV shows, movies and crew. Another development, SmartZone, which lets you check your home voicemail (if Comcast is your phone provider), will eventually allow DVR and e-mail access on the Web or TV. “This is like the feature you may have seen on the Apple iPhone,” Roberts said. The cable company also aims to become the thirdlargest telephone service provider in the United States and will soon offer caller ID and instant messaging directly on the TV screen, said Roberts. Monday, Comcast said it was working with Panasonic, Samsung, LG, Intel, TiVo, Motorola, Cisco, Microsoft and others to incorporate its “tru2way” technology that allows greater interactivity between consumers and their content on a variety of CE devices. It introduced a co-branded portable DVR (P-DVR) with Panasonic that will let Comcast customers record programming at home and take it with them in the car and on a plane. The P-DVR will be available beginning in early 2009. In the interim, Comcast has begun offering TiVo Inc.’s time-shifting service in its set-top box to the New England market. I GOFISH CATCHES CONTENT San Francisco-based Web video network GoFish Corp. has entered into a partnership with MTV Networks to bring ad-supported video from several MTV brands to GoFish.com. Content from MTV, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, VH1, CMT, Logo, The N, Spike TV, AtomFilms and GameTrailers on GoFish will include such shows as “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart” and “The Hills.” Viacom I VERIZON’S V CAST STREAMS BREAK.COM VIDEO Verizon Wireless and Break.com announced at the 2008 CES content from Break.com is now available to V Cast Video customers. Verizon customers with V Cast-enabled phones can access video content for $3.00 for 24-hour use or for a $15.00 V Cast VPak monthly subscription. Break.com features user-generated and professionally produced video in categories ranging from sports to news to games. – Billy Gil “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart” Dish Network Freezes Prices By John Latchem choStar Communications will freeze the prices of its most popular satellite TV packages until 2009, the result of an economic slowdown that saw EchoStar shares drop 5%. To attract new customers to its Dish Network service, EchoStar is offering three months of free programming to new customers and will waive activation fees, according to Reuters. The starting price of the DishDVR Advantage plan will be frozen at $39.99 per month until February 2009. The move comes amid industry concerns that a potential recession could weaken consumer demand for home entertainment product, intensifying competition among pay-TV operators. A spokesperson from rival DirecTV said the company has no plans for a price freeze this year. Several cable providers have announced increases in their subscription rates to counter rising video costs. CinemaNow and TAVI Offer Media Player By Chris Tribbey inemaNow has partnered with Long Beach, Calif.’s TAVI to offer consumers a customized video player whereby subscribers can view CinemaNow’s movie and TV offerings. Through the partnership, TAVI’s 030 IPTV Media Player will let users directly download CinemaNow content either on the device or on a standard TV. The device holds 60 hours of video or 15,000 hours of music. I FCC TO INVESTIGATE COMCAST’S WEB PRACTICES Comcast Corp. will cooperate with a federal investigation into the company’s Internet practices, and denied Jan. 9 that it had blocked some users from accessing ﬁle sharing services such as BitTorrent. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) launched the investigation after complaints logged against Comcast by consumer groups. “Comcast does not, has not, and will not block any Web sites or online applications, including peer-to-peer services,” Comcast EVP David Cohen told The Associated Press. “We believe our practices are in accordance with the FCC’s policy statement on the Internet.” The company admitted that some users might experience slow Internet speeds when accessing ﬁle-sharing sites. However the AP conducted a study in October which found that Comcast was actively blocking ﬁle-sharing services. – Chris Tribbey Inc., which owns MTV Networks, holds an equity stake in GoFish Corp. Separately, MTV Networks and on demand set-top box providers Veoh announced a similar deal, with content from the same networks available through Veoh. – Billy Gil I NEW VUDU FOR HOME THEATER Vudu Inc. this week announced the launch of a new high-end version of its set-top box at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Vudu XL is designed with advanced controls to integrate with networked home theater systems and IR-based universal remotes. It has enough storage capacity to hold more than 500 standard-deﬁnition movies. Beginning in February 2008, Vudu XL will be available through high-end audio video retailers and custom installers for $999. – Kyra Kudick “CinemaNow is evolving in the digital entertainment landscape by continuously cultivating new ways to deliver high-quality movies and TV shows across multiple platforms,” CinemaNow COO David Cook said. “By creating a secure platform that allows consumers to easily access and enjoy their content in any location on any screen, TAVI and CinemaNow have created a win-win proposition that will appeal to consumers and content providers alike.” SONY EMBRACES ONLINE INITIATIVES By John Latchem I PUNKTV STREAMING LINKIN PARK DOC Canadian-owned PunkTV.ca is airing the 22-minute documentary “Making of Shadow of the Day,” about modern rock band Linkin Park, accompanied by a text interview. The site’s videos appear via the video-delivery technology of Itiva Networks, which includes a P2P component. PunkTV’s output includes rock videos and entertainment shorts, with deals through such labels as Warner Music Canada. – Billy Gil I n a star-studded Consumer Electronics Show presentation featuring the likes of Tony Bennett and Jerry Seinfeld, Sony Pictures Television (SPT) unveiled a number of initiatives that embrace the age of online entertainment. Sony announced a partnership with YouTube for ad-supported video channels. First up this month will be The Minisode Network (TMN), which offers fiveminute versions of classic TV shows. TMN I AMAZON GETS SONY BMG TUNES Sony BMG, the last major music provider not selling its content through Amazon’s MP3 store, is ﬁnally on board, according to media reports. EMI, Warner Music Group and Universal Music Group already have been selling their songs on the service without “Married … With Children” will grow to up to 21 channels with such content as “Married … With Children,” “Newsradio” and an animation block. Home Media Magazine January 13–19, 2008 http://www.homemediamagazine.com http://GoFish.com http://BREAK.COM http://Break.com http://Break.com http://Break.com http://PunkTV.ca

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Home Media Magazine - January 13-19, 2007

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