NBC choosing Microsoft Silverlight as exclusive online video platform
January 6, 2008
During CES 2008 keynotes Bill Gates said that:
“I’m pleased to announce today we’ve found a perfect partner to showcase Silverlight: NBC has chosen Microsoft as its exclusive video partner for online video footage. We’ll make it all available live and on demand.”
It is not clear if this will apply to hulu.com or strictly to the NBC web site content. Hulu has been using flash as it’s video platform. Moving to Silverlight would be a major blow to Adobe.
This might apply to the NBCOlympics web site only… but wait… I just checked http://www.nbcolympics.com/video and the web site still is HTML and Flash… so no Silverlight there yet.
Update:
OK, apparently the partnership is limited to the Olympics site… not everything NBC has.
NBC Pull YouTube Content in Preparation for Hulu
October 22, 2007
A representative from NBC Universal called NewTeeVee today and let them know that the network did indeed remove its channel from YouTube over the weekend in preparation for the launch of its own online video portal, Hulu. The spokesperson also de-emphasized the YouTube channel, calling it “promotional.”
NBC to Offer Free Downloads of Popular Shows
September 19, 2007
NBC.com has announced a service called “NBC Direct” which will allow users to download NBC shows such as “The Office,” “30 Rock,” and “Heroes,” to their desktop. The NBC Direct software will allow users to view each episode for up to one week, at which point the license will expire. While free to view the shows, the videos will include advertising.
NBC Direct will also include a feature for automatically delivering new episodes of NBC shows to users. Versions for both Windows and Mac are expected, with the first release of the software coming in October.
Via mashable.com
From the NBC release:
The first version of this new feature, which will begin beta testing in October, will allow users to download full length episodes for viewing on Windows based PCs. Each original episode will be licensed to users for viewing through “NBC Direct” for one week following broadcast and will then expire. The downloaded file will provide users with an improved overall viewing experience compared to traditional streaming video.
The list of programs available at launch will include “Heroes,” “The Office,” “Life,” “Bionic Woman,” “30 Rock,” “Friday Night Lights,” “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” and “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.”Later in the beta launch, users will be provided the free subscription option that will allow them to pre-select their favorite NBC programs they want to watch. Those shows will be automatically delivered to their computers as soon as they are available after the original broadcast. The downloadable player will also have filtering technology, which will prevent it from playing any stolen copyrighted material.
NBC shows now on Amazon Unbox
September 4, 2007
Credit to xMattx for the tip:
Amazon.com (NASDAQ:AMZN - News) and NBC Universal today announced that a wealth of quality TV content from NBC Universal is now available on Amazon Unbox (http://unbox.amazon.com), Amazon.com’s digital video download service. Amazon Unbox and NBC Universal are offering customers a variety of content packages, including up to 30 percent off when purchasing full seasons of their favorite TV series.
Popular NBC shows now available on Amazon Unbox include the Emmy® Award-winning series The Office, the critically acclaimed drama Heroes, and Emmy®-nominated comedy 30 Rock. Beginning on September 10, Amazon Unbox customers can download for free — in advance of their network premieres — the pilot episodes of NBC’s new shows Bionic Woman, Chuck, Journeyman and Life. New episodes will be available on Amazon Unbox the day after they air on TV.
Amazon Unbox has offered movies from Universal Pictures, Rogue Pictures and Focus Features since September 2006. Offerings include new releases such as Smokin’ Aces and Hot Fuzz; classics such as Psycho and National Lampoon’s Animal House; and later this year Knocked Up and Evan Almighty.
“With the addition of NBC Universal TV content to Amazon Unbox, fans now have the ultimate convenience for enjoying their favorite shows whenever or wherever they want,” said Jean-Briac Perrette, President, NBC Universal Digital Distribution. “This further expands our longstanding relationship to bring a robust content offering to the marketplace in a variety of ways that will benefit the consumer and, at the same time, protects our content.”
“We are excited to bring NBC Universal shows like the award-winning The Office, 30 Rock and Battlestar Galactica to our Amazon Unbox customers,” said Bill Carr, Amazon.com Vice President for Digital Music and Video. “Our customers can now enjoy their favorite NBC Universal shows either on their personal computer or on their TV through the Amazon Unbox on TiVo service.”
NBC Universal’s networks include USA Network, SCI FI Channel, Bravo, Telemundo, mun2, NBC Sports, and NBC News. Examples of shows now available on Amazon Unbox from these networks include USA Network’s Emmy®- and Golden Globe® Award-winning Monk, SCI FI Channel’s Emmy-nominated Battlestar Galactica, Bravo’s Emmy®-nominated Top Chef, Telemundo’s El Cuerpo De Deseo, and mun2’s popular The Chicas Project. Additional shows and episodes from NBC Universal’s networks will be added to Amazon Unbox regularly.
These NBC Universal shows are part of a growing selection on Amazon Unbox that includes over 10,000 television shows, movies and other video content for rent or purchase. With the fall television season about to start, customers can now catch up or stay current with their favorite NBC Universal shows by watching them on their PC, on portable video players, or on their TV through the Amazon Unbox on TiVo service. Shows are available to purchase the day after they air on TV and complete seasons may be purchased as soon as the season concludes.
[Source Yahoo]
NBC point of view on failed iTunes deal
September 2, 2007
Source: quote.bloomberg.com
We are also disappointed in not being able to successfully negotiate a new iTunes agreement with Apple. We’re hopeful that we can reach a resolution before the existing contract expires. However, we felt it important to set the record straight.
We never asked to double the wholesale price for our TV shows. In fact, our negotiations were centered on our request for flexibility in wholesale pricing, including the ability to package shows together in ways that could make our content even more attractive for consumers.
It is clear that Apple’s retail pricing strategy for its iTunes service is designed to drive sales of Apple devices, at the expense of those who create the content that make these devices worth buying.
In addition, we asked Apple to take concrete steps to protect content from piracy, since it is estimated that the typical iPod contains a significant amount of illegally downloaded material.
Furthermore, we want consumers to know that all our returning series, including new episodes, will be available on iTunes through the remainder of the contract, which expires in early December. Our content is also available on NBC.com, Amazon.com, and the soon-to-launch hulu.com.
NBC pulling out of iTunes
August 31, 2007
Digital trends report that:
”
Less than two months after Universal Music decided not to enter into another year-long music distribution with iTunes Apple looks to be facing another high-profile defector from its digital media offerings: according to The New York Times, related company NBC Universal will not be renewing its deal to distribute digital versions of its television shows via the iTunes store.
The pull-out would not only impact shows like Heroes and The Office from the NBC broadcast network, but also shows from NBC Universal’s sibling networks like the Sci-Fi Channel and USA, so shows like Battlestar Galactica and Monk would also disappear.
ABC would like to be able to charge more for recently broadcast, popular shows in order to maximize revenue, while discounting shows in its back catalog (like, say, the original season of Law & Order, which aired umpteen years ago) in order to encourage sales.
Although NBC Universal does not currently offer Universal movies for sale via iTunes, the company would reportedly like to offer bundles of its TV shows with its movies.
Apple has historically favored consistent, across-the-board pricing, arguing differential pricing confuses and irritates consumers, which leads to fewer sales.
”
Does it have anything to do with Hulu? Maybe! But it is certainly a sad news for current U.S. iTunes users.
NBC Universal to Acquire Global Pay-TV Firm
August 28, 2007
London - NBC Universal announced on Tuesday that it will acquire Sparrowhawk Holdings, which operates a range of global pay-TV channels, from Providence Equity Partners, 3i and management shareholders.
Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Under the deal, NBC Universal will acquire the 18 feeds of the international Hallmark Channels, which include Movies 24 and Diva TV, and air across 152 territories to more than 60 million subscribers in the U.K., Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Australia, Latin America and Asia.
NBC Universal president and CEO Jeff Zucker said the deal is in line with the company’s plans to more than double the size of its international cable channels in the next two to three years.
Upon completion, the agreement will augment NBCU Global Networks to more than 30 channels in total, with ongoing plans to expand to more than 50 channels over the next 2-3 years.
[Source: dmwmedia]
YouTube, NBC not happy with VeohTV
July 16, 2007
No one has filed a lawsuit against VeohTV yet, but it could just be a matter of time. The service is something of a cross between YouTube and Joost, giving you the ability to surf for online videos without using a web browser.
The problem is that many of those videos don’t come from Veoh, but from sources like NBC, CBS, and YouTube. That includes full length streaming episodes of shows like 24, Heroes, and 30 Rock. And Veoh doesn’t ask for permission to distribute those videos.
The company’s argument is interesting. Since the networks and other sites are streaming these episodes for free, Veoh says all its VeohTV player does is provide a new interface for streaming the content. Any video advertising included by the content owner remains intact.
But NBC and YouTube officials tell the New York Times that they’re not too happy with the service. If viewers can access their videos without going to their web sites, they lose out on potential advertising revenue. So either Veoh’s going to have to work out licensing agreements with content owners, or we’re going to see this battle headed to court. Unless of course Veoh fails to make a dent in the marketplace. Then we doubt anyone will really care. VeohTV is still in private beta.
[Source downloadsquad]
NBC coming to Joost
May 21, 2007
Today Joost added a lot of new content to is growing database (5781 programs up till now). Part of this new content was “CNBC - The Business of Innovation“. Since CNBC is the specialist sibling financial network of NBC is appears that a deal between Joost and NBC must have been concluded.
This is no surprise since it was revealed late last week in a Joost Network Presentation PDF file that NBC was looking at partnering with Joost in a similar way Viacom did earlier.
This could mean that shows like “The Apprentice”, “ER”, “Heroes”, “Medium”, etc could find a home on Joost. It would be no surprise then to see NBC Universal movies show up on Joost as well. This would be a fantastic partnership for Joost users and advertisers.
Let see when to official announcement is made. My guess is that it won’t take too too long.
CBS to offer content on Joost… maybe
April 12, 2007
”
CBS is close to announcing deals to distribute TV shows to various Web sites, including Microsoft’s MSN and Time Warner’s AOL, according to a Thursday report on The Wall Street Journal’s Web site.
The Journal said CBS could announce the agreements on Thursday. The deals will make previously aired episodes of CBS shows such as CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, the Evening News with Katie Couric and some sports programming available to the sites, the paper said.
CBS is also expected to announce an agreement with Joost, an online-video service founded by the creators of Internet telephone service Skype, the Journal said.
CBS wants to keep 90 percent of the ad revenue generated by its videos, while the remaining would go to its distribution partners, the Journal cited unnamed sources as saying.
The company is also in talks to have a new NBC Universal-News Corp. venture distribute its shows on a nonexclusive basis, the paper reported.
CBS could not be immediately reached for comment.
”
Source: http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9588_22-6175422.html
