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MTV on demand launches in the UK, now everyone's got a 'banker' for those cold nights

Daniel Cooper — Fri, 04 May 2012 04:18:00 EST

If you, or your kids, wish to view the dionysian exploits of Newcastle's finest at any hour of the day, then you're in luck. MTV has unveiled an online on-demand service in the UK that will allow you to binge-watch Geordie Shore and other shows of its ilk for a modest fee. £2 ($3.20) will buy you 24 hours access, while £3 ($4.80) will provide a full week of delightfully low-brow programming. Given the adult nature of MTV's oeuvre, only those 16-and-over will be eligible to access the service, but be warned -- it's charged via your monthly cellphone bill, so keep it a safe distance from the rugrats.

MTV on demand launches in the UK, now everyone's got a 'banker' for those cold nights originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 May 2012 04:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Youzee: Spain's streaming startup answer to Netflix

Joseph Volpe — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 19:34:00 EST

A new streaming service has shed its beta cloak, only this one isn't made for U.S. eyes. Youzee, a Madrid-based start-up, aims to offer Spaniards the best of both pay models, offering up a monthly subscription service alongside separate à la carte pricing. According to the company's site, its catalog of films and TV shows will be made available in a range of dubbed and subtitled versions to suite language and viewing preferences. You'll have to pony up 6.99 Euros (about $9 USD) monthly for access to those selections, but for any titles -- new releases or otherwise -- that reside outside of its collection, there's a one-time fee required, ranging from either 2.99 Euros (about $4 USD) for 480p DVD-quality or 4.99 Euros (about $7 USD) for 720p HD. Plans are also on deck to grow the outfit's content library of paid content with an assortment of free exclusives. So, if you call the Iberian peninsula home and the return of the Bluths on Netflix just isn't enough to tide you over, well, now you have an alternative online video fix.

Youzee: Spain's streaming startup answer to Netflix originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 21 Apr 2012 19:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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YouTube lets you watch 1080p 2D videos in '3D' with your anaglyph specs

Joe Pollicino — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 14:59:00 EST

Another day, another bit of news out of Mountain View. Stereoscopic 3D videos have been on YouTube for nearly three years, and since last year, the site has given viewers the option to transform "short-form" 2D content to 3D -- with a single click on the settings bar, that is. Today, the beta feature comes to 1080p videos, meaning you'll now be able to watch your favorite Phillip DeFranco and Shay Carl vlogs with extra chromatic impact in full HD. YouTube notes that it's "constantly improving the underlying conversion technology," which figures out how to simulate the effect based on characteristics of the video itself and true 3D videos uploaded to the site. We'd say there's still something slightly amiss about using folding blue and red glasses to watch two-dimensional HD video in faux anaglyph 3D, but you can make the call for yourself by reading up about the magic at the source link below.

YouTube lets you watch 1080p 2D videos in '3D' with your anaglyph specs originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Xbox 360 apps now live for Comcast Xfinity TV, HBO Go and MLB.tv

Billy Steele — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 12:07:00 EST

Anxiously awaiting the arrival of those brand spanking new apps for your Xbox 360 console? Well, the wait is over. Video apps for Comcast Xfinity TV, HBO Go and MLB.tv have arrived on a number of consoles here at Engadget HQ. Major Nelson dropped the official word a little while ago, leaving you mere moments away from live and on demand television and baseball just in time for the start of the season. Keep in mind all three of these high profile applications feature Kinect integration -- but don't worry, you won't be forced to swing any bats in your living room. If you're looking for more info, details on the HBO Go and MLB.tv offerings await in the PR below.

Continue reading Xbox 360 apps now live for Comcast Xfinity TV, HBO Go and MLB.tv

Xbox 360 apps now live for Comcast Xfinity TV, HBO Go and MLB.tv originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 12:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Xbox 360 Comcast, HBO and MLB.tv apps arrive today on consoles used more for video than games

Richard Lawler — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 01:27:00 EST

Microsoft has confirmed via multiple mainstream media outlets that today is the day for several more high-profile video apps to appear on its Xbox 360, namely Comcast Xfinity TV, HBO Go and MLB.tv. There's not a lot of detail on the apps themselves, although the HBO Go and MLB.tv services are familiar due to their availability on other platforms, while we've already heard the Xfinity TV app will mirror the experience and content already seen on the PC. All three naturally include significant Kinect integration, and bring the total number of video apps (already including recent additions like Verizon FiOS and YouTube) available to 36. Interestingly, another stat Microsoft is focusing on is that the time spent using its consoles to watch online video is now over half, outpacing the time users are spending playing its games for the first time. Head of marketing and strategy for Xbox Yusuf Mehdi is quoted by the LA Times as saying usage is up 30 percent from a year ago. We're not sure if that just reflects gamers powering through to (and possibly being disappointed by) the ending of Mass Effect 3, but we'll be keeping an eye on our dashboards for the new apps all the same.

Xbox 360 Comcast, HBO and MLB.tv apps arrive today on consoles used more for video than games originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 01:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sky dubs upcoming internet TV service 'Now TV', chases those currently without pay-TV

Richard Lawler — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 10:08:00 EST

After recently announcing plans to launch a new over-the-top internet based TV service in the UK Sky CEO Jeremy Darroch has revealed its name, Now TV, and what it will bring to customers. Speaking at the Media Guardian Changing Media Summit in London, Darroch indicated Now TV would operate as its own brand, targeting the 13 million UK homes that don't pay for TV from any provider. It will start offering instant access to movies this summer followed by sports and other entertainment soon after, with access by monthly subscription or PPV across a variety of devices. It will be different from the existing Sky TV service, and all of its online tie-ins like Sky Go by focusing on flexibility and "spontaneous access" Constantly complaining about a lack of access to programming like, say, Game of Thrones without a traditional pay-TV package? It sounds like this should be right up your alley, so while details like exact pricing are still TBA, feel free to hit the source links below for all of the info currently available including a transcript of his speech, or head to the Now TV website directly to sign up for updates.

Sky dubs upcoming internet TV service 'Now TV', chases those currently without pay-TV originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Mar 2012 10:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HBO GO teases vocal controls via Kinect, coming soon to Xbox 360 (video)

Darren Murph — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 16:56:00 EST

We knew it'd be arriving on April 1st, but now we're actually longing for it. HBO has just released a half-minute teaser propping up the impending release of HBO GO on Xbox 360, and while it's available on a plethora of other platforms, being able to verbally command HBO (through Kinect, of course) to play your favorite shows just takes the enticement up another level. Care to see for yourself? Tap that video just after the jump.

Continue reading HBO GO teases vocal controls via Kinect, coming soon to Xbox 360 (video)

HBO GO teases vocal controls via Kinect, coming soon to Xbox 360 (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Mar 2012 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Twonky Beam Browser hands-on

Daniel Cooper — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST

Showing your friends the latest viral video traditionally requires huddling around a smartphone or tablet, which is odd when you're sat in a room with a 40-inch flat-screen. Web connected TVs or media units like the Apple TV will let you watch YouTube as long as you spend five minutes tediously inputting the search term on your remote. For those of us who can't afford a unified Airplay setup, there's PacketVideo's Twonky Beam Browser, which lets you push mobile content to your TV as fast as your wireless router can handle it. Does it work as well as advertised? Is it the answer to your prayers? Read on to find out, dear reader, read on.

Continue reading Twonky Beam Browser hands-on

Twonky Beam Browser hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Verizon rumored to be working with Redbox on its internet video streaming service

Richard Lawler — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 00:48:00 EST

If you're still trying to make the pieces of the recent "Verizon is launching an over the top video service" rumor fit, perhaps the missing element is information detailed by TechCrunch suggesting Big Red is the unnamed partner aligned with Redbox's upcoming online video efforts. According to the rumor, the two would connect like Voltron, or, like Dish Network and Blockbuster -- without the whole falling into ruin, bankruptcy and eventual purchase part of the story -- for a subscription service offering movies for streaming and download to a variety of devices. Allegedly dubbed Project Zoetrope, it would launch this spring however unlike Netflix or Amazon Prime Instant Video's all-you-can-eat approach, its hook is described as a credit based system allowing a certain number of movies to be streamed or downloaded every month. It's all very sketchy at the moment, but Redbox has gone dark about its streaming plans and it's just about time we heard something there, so we'll add one more thing to keep our eyes and ears open for at CES in January.

Verizon rumored to be working with Redbox on its internet video streaming service originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Dec 2011 00:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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YouTube got nearly 21 billion hits in a month, mostly thanks to naughty Fenton

Daniel Cooper — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 21:19:00 EST

The latest report from comScore makes for eye popping reading -- Google's video sites, of which YouTube is the most important, received 20,933,113,000 views in October. To put that into some context, that's roughly three videos watched by every person alive on the planet. According to the statistics, YouTubers spent an average of seven hours watching the month's hottest videos (such as Community's Beetlejuice easter egg and Naughty Fenton). Surprisingly, Facebook came second, but viewers spent an measly average of 18 minutes watching last night's karaoke. In other news, Hulu came top for online advertising and Vevo was the most watched partner site, you guys obviously love your Lady Gaga.

YouTube got nearly 21 billion hits in a month, mostly thanks to naughty Fenton originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Nov 2011 21:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Did Netflix just start limiting users to one movie stream at a time? No

Richard Lawler — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 11:37:00 EST

Over the last couple of days, some Netflix users have reported getting error messages whenever they tried to view Watch Instantly video streams on two different devices at the same time. While some reports have suggested that along with instituting a price hike September 1st it also decided to start cracking down on multiple streams, it turns out there's a simpler explanation. According to spokesman Steve Swasey, the policy is still the same and no Netflix member is limited to less than two streams at once. The messages people are seeing indicating otherwise? An "error" the company is correcting. Glitches suck, and are becoming a bit too routine on the service for our liking -- Hacking Netflix reports another blip caused S1 of Star Trek: TNG to disappear temporarily over the weekend -- but the rumors of a change in policy just aren't true, so keep that subscription canceling finger holstered for now.

Did Netflix just start limiting users to one movie stream at a time? No originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Sep 2011 11:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Zediva puts the brakes on its streaming service, soothes your fears with monkeys

Joseph Volpe — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 20:37:00 EST

Zediva fought the law and the law shut it down. The unique DVD rental service, sued by the MPAA and Hollywood studios for running afoul of licensing and distribution agreements, has temporarily closed shop. A statement on the outfit's website optimistically refers to the court-ordered injunction as an "intermission," pointing to a hopeful future resumption of operations, and guaranteeing customers a solution for unused credits. The company's promised to fight back against Judge Walter's decision, and is in the process of appealing the ruling that could see it facing a permanent service blackout. We hope for the sake of its "DVD-changing monkeys" that all parties involved can work this out. Make sure to head past the break for Zediva's full explanation.

Continue reading Zediva puts the brakes on its streaming service, soothes your fears with monkeys

Zediva puts the brakes on its streaming service, soothes your fears with monkeys originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 11 Aug 2011 20:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Zediva's DVD rental service ordered to close shop, Hollywood pops celebratory bubbly

Joseph Volpe — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 19:41:00 EST

Zediva's loophole-exploiting DVD rental service has just been dealt a lethal blow by Judge John F. Walter. The recent court-ordered preliminary injunction effectively halts the company's ability to rent its library to users across the internet's great streaming divide. Citing irreparable damages to both the nascent video on demand market and Hollywood's bottom line, the federal judge found Zediva's business in violation of studios' exclusive right to public performance of copyrighted works. The bizarro Netflix alternative had been operating without the normal licensing restrictions required by the industry and despite its claims of imminent ruination, will have to close shop. For its part, the unique startup has vowed to appeal the ruling, but if that doesn't work, at least its creators can watch No Strings Attached ad nauseum.

Zediva's DVD rental service ordered to close shop, Hollywood pops celebratory bubbly originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Aug 2011 19:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rovi hits Hulu with patent infringement lawsuit

Joseph Volpe — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 16:38:00 EST

Mo money, mo problems, right Hulu? Seems it, considering the newly up-for-sale content hub has just been slapped with a patent infringement suit. This latest bit of intellectual property beef centers on the online content provider's alleged unlicensed use of Rovi's electronic program guide technology. According to Reuters, the company, which currently powers the streaming likes of Blockbuster On Demand and CinemaNow, is seeking financial compensation for potential "lost license revenue and treble damages," potentially tripling any future settlement award. While Hulu has yet to issue a statement on the matter, we'd be willing to bet those takeover talks are taking a backseat until this gets sorted.

Rovi hits Hulu with patent infringement lawsuit originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 31 Jul 2011 16:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dish adds HBO Go, Max Go to DishOnline package, tweaks Netflix in the process

Richard Lawler — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 14:02:00 EST

Just after adding Epix to its assortment of wares, Dish is expanding DishOnline with HBO Go and Max Go streaming. This follows last week's announcement by DirecTV regarding the services, but instead of highlighting the upcoming mobile apps, Dish's press release chose to point out that the HBO shows and movies subscribers can access won't be available on Netflix. An interesting choice, but we suspect it won't matter much while you're busy watching some Boardwalk Empire on your laptop.

Continue reading Dish adds HBO Go, Max Go to DishOnline package, tweaks Netflix in the process

Dish adds HBO Go, Max Go to DishOnline package, tweaks Netflix in the process originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Apr 2011 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google shutting down most of Google Video, urges you to back up your greatest hits now

Vlad Savov — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 05:19:00 EST

Google Video, the vestige of Google's in-house efforts at sharing moving pictures before the YouTube acquisition, is being closed down almost entirely. Everyone that isn't involved in the Google Video for Business and Education programs will see their videos terminated from Google's servers soon, with playback no longer available after May 13th. Options for downloading content you've uploaded or migrating it to YouTube have been made available, though they too won't last beyond the 27th of next month. We suppose this makes sense in light of all the riches that Google is pouring into YouTube and the fact that its more popular video site is shedding its time limits for vids, but still, we had a bit of a soft spot for Google Video and the obscure stuff we could find on there. Better get the most out of it while the thing's still around.

Google shutting down most of Google Video, urges you to back up your greatest hits now originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Apr 2011 05:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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YouTube starts transcoding all new uploads to WebM, already has a third of its library ready

Vlad Savov — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 04:11:00 EST

Google's resolve to bring WebM video streaming to the masses doesn't seem to have been weakened by a general lack of interest from the rest of the tech world, and the company's announced that each and every new YouTube upload will now be automatically transcoded into a WebM version. Nearly a third of YouTube's archives have already made the transition to the open source format, though if you think that's a small proportion, you should probably know that those 30 percent account for 99 percent of all views on the site. Apparently, we all have a narrower set of interests than we like to believe. So, with all popular vids encoded and every incoming one getting the transcoding treatment, all you really need now is a compatible browser -- Chrome (naturally), Firefox 4, Opera, or IE9 with a plug-in -- and to enroll in YouTube's HTML5 trial linked below to get rolling with WebM playback. Appending "&webm=1" to a search string or a video's URL will also help you ensure you're getting the good stuff.

YouTube starts transcoding all new uploads to WebM, already has a third of its library ready originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Apr 2011 04:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MPAA sues Zediva for streaming DVDs, no one is surprised

Richard Lawler — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 17:56:00 EST

We told you to get through that 10 pack of rentals quickly didn't we? As pretty much anyone could have predicted, the Motion Picture Association of America (in case you've forgotten, that's these guys) doesn't think Zediva has the right to rent access to DVDs for streaming across the internet. Specifically, the MPAA calls Zediva for not being the traditional rental service it claims to be, and claims streaming the output of a DVD player across the internet even to one user amounts to public performance of the movie. There's no response yet from Zediva, but in the meantime armchair lawyers can check out the MPAA's statement in PDF form at the source link.

MPAA sues Zediva for streaming DVDs, no one is surprised originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 17:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ComScore: Microsoft becomes second for online video in one month (update)

Christopher Trout — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 22:57:00 EST

Earlier this month, we got word that Bing had surpassed Yahoo! as the world's second most used search engine, and now Microsoft's solidifying its place as runner-up, coming in behind YouTube as the internet's number two provider of streaming video, with 48 million unique viewers in February. According to ComScore's latest ranking of online video providers, the software giant went from number seven to number two in just one month, bumping Yahoo! down to third place. Of course, YouTube is still way out in front, with over 140 million visitors, but given the speed with which it leaped ahead, we'd say Bing is doing something right. Check out more online video results after the break.

Update: Well, as it turns out, Microsoft wasn't number two for video in February, after all. We received an e-mail this morning informing us that ComScore made a correction to its numbers, showing VEVO as the runner-up, with 49 million unique viewers last month. That doesn't change the software giant's leap ahead -- it's still holding down third place, with 48 million -- but it certainly looks like someone's got some stiff competition. Check out the updated chart above for the new numbers.

Continue reading ComScore: Microsoft becomes second for online video in one month (update)

ComScore: Microsoft becomes second for online video in one month (update) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Mar 2011 22:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Internet Explorer 9 gets WebM support with 'preview' plug-in from Google, internet video gets more friendly

Jacob Schulman — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 19:51:00 EST

Google has released an early WebM plug-in for Microsoft's latest and greatest browser, IE9 -- stepping in to fill a gap that Microsoft itself refused to fill. You may remember the firm's decision to not build in support for the new standard natively, but that it was "all in" with HTML5, WebM's close cousin. Billed as a "technology preview" at this stage of the game, the add-on will enable users to play all WebM video content just like the good Internet overlords intended them to, despite the fact that an additional download is needed. Microsoft said that it would allow for support and it appears to be following up on its word, regardless of other harsher comments made separately. Isn't it good to see big companies getting along? Now if only these same niceties played out in the mobile landscape, then we'd really be getting somewhere.

[Thanks, ChrisSsk]

Internet Explorer 9 gets WebM support with 'preview' plug-in from Google, internet video gets more friendly originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 Mar 2011 19:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Next New Networks purchased by yesterday's old YouTube, more custom content on the way

Tim Stevens — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 08:36:00 EST

Tired of the unprofessional, poorly-lit, generally unfunny clips that get uploaded to YouTube by the thousands every day? How about some rather more professional looking but still potentially unfunny content? Welcome to YouTube Next. That's what Next Now Networks is calling its new focus, "supercharging content creator development on YouTube" after being bought by that company, which itself is still a fairly recent Google acquisition. The Next New Networks goal was to work with independent "talent" to develop their online following, helping them find "paths to revenue." Along the way that company found itself somewhere south of $50 million dollars, according to The New York Times, and has lost its CEO in the progress. What's next for the two? More YouTube superstars, naturally.

Next New Networks purchased by yesterday's old YouTube, more custom content on the way originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 08:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Opera browser headed to Sony TVs and Blu-ray players

Ben Bowers — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 13:55:00 EST

Opera has officially announced its much-loved web browser will be appearing on Sony TVs and Blu-ray players. There's no specific details, but it given its low-key presence at CES a few weeks ago (Sony Insider grabbed a video of it in action on the show floor -- embedded after the break -- unfortunately hampered by slow connection speeds) it will spread at least across the company's 22 new connected HDTVs. Since the browser is based off of the Opera devices SDK backbone, it's also not a stretch to imagine that Opera-enabled web applications, widgets, or other content using standards like HTML5 (no Flash, at least not yet) could piggy back onto Sony gear at some point. The real elephant in the room though is how this move relates to the Japanese tech giant's Internet TV initiative that's powered by Google TV. While we can't imagine it signals Mountain View's solution is destined for a dumping, between this and a similar move by Samsung including a browser in its own Smart TV platform, a little bit of jealousy could be just the kick Google needs to fix some glaring issues -- which we're all for, especially if it spawns a new round of potato based cajoling.

Continue reading Opera browser headed to Sony TVs and Blu-ray players

Opera browser headed to Sony TVs and Blu-ray players originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Jan 2011 13:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Time Warner, Disney and News Corp. bigwigs speak up against FCC stipulations in Comcast-NBC deal

Darren Murph — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 17:09:00 EST

Hello, inevitable. It simply had to happen, and now, it is. As Comcast, NBC and the FCC attempt to work out stipulations over Comcast's proposed 51 percent buyout of NBC Universal, a smattering of major media companies are paying close attention to the play-by-play. Naturally, the precedents that are set from this deal will affect future agreements of this caliber, and lobbyists for both Disney and News Corp. (as well as Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes) aren't standing over on the sidelines any longer. All three outfits have reportedly been "voicing their concerns this week with the FCC, worried that such conditions could undermine their own efforts to profit from the nascent online video industry."

We're told that the media mega-corps are worried that the rules -- if hammered down -- could interfere with ongoing negotiations with online video providers, and in turn, give them less leverage to monetize and control their content on the world wide web. In other words, if NBC Universal is forced to provide content fluidly to all ISPs (and not just Comcast), what's to say other content makers and internet providers wouldn't also be forced into similar deals, regardless of whether or not they're involved in takeover negotiations? Needless to say, we're nowhere near the end of this journey, and while the nuts and bolts are pretty dry to think about, the outcomes could have a serious impact on our future viewing habits.

Time Warner, Disney and News Corp. bigwigs speak up against FCC stipulations in Comcast-NBC deal originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 14 Jan 2011 17:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cisco joining connected TV party with updated cable boxes at CES

Nilay Patel — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 20:55:00 EST

The battle for the connected living room is about to heat up in a big way: the Wall Street Journal reports that Cisco will announce a new series of connected cable boxes here at CES tomorrow, as part of a larger announcement that combines online video with recorded and live television. You scoff now, but keep in mind that Cisco owns Scientific Atlanta, which makes an absolutely huge number of cable boxes for providers like Time Warner and Comcast -- and if Big Cable embraces connected TV by distributing integrated Cisco hardware, well, we'd say upstarts like Apple and Google might just go home with their tails between their legs. On the other hand, the WSJ says "cable operators will be able to customize the software interface and decide on pricing" for Cisco's new boxes, so it's possible America's favorite corporations will completely bungle everything at the first opportunity. We'll be there live tomorrow, so we'll see what happens.

Cisco joining connected TV party with updated cable boxes at CES originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 Jan 2011 20:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FCC proposes rules for NBC-Comcast deal

Joseph L. Flatley — Sat, 25 Dec 2010 06:15:00 EST

As you can imagine, the thought of a marriage between a broadband / cable TV service provider and a content provider for television and movies has more than a few folks concerned, which is why it's taken a while for the FCC and its erstwhile chairman Julius "Caesar" Genachowski to draft the conditions under which it would let Comcast snatch up 51 percent of NBC Universal. According to the Wall Street Journal, the FCC wants to require that Comcast make any content owned by itself and NBCU available to competitors (including streaming video providers) "at reasonable, nondiscriminatory terms." Additionally, Comcast will be barred from prioritizing its own video streams above others or interfering with rival Internet traffic. Of course, without the actual announcement, it's hard to know what impact this will have on everyone involved (especially Hulu), although with any luck the actual proposal will see the light of day soon enough. Even then, it will need to be approved, which could happen early next year.

FCC proposes rules for NBC-Comcast deal originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 25 Dec 2010 06:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Regulators push for tough conditions in Comcast / NBC deal, aim to protect internet video

Darren Murph — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 18:36:00 EST

Is it the deal that'll never go through? Some might hope. For the better part of this year, Comcast has been jonesing to pick up a 51 percent stake in NBC Universal (for a cool $13.75 billion), but as you'd expect regulators have been poking and prodding the arrangement from just about every angle. The potential antitrust issues go on for miles, and now officials are paying particularly close attention to how the deal could shape the future of internet video. As you may or may not know, NBC holds a 32 percent stake in Hulu, and in theory, a Comcast buyout would enable it to limit access to other ISPs or force Comcast internet subscribers to also pay for a programming package in order to have access. A new AP report on the topic mentions that the US government is considering forcing Comcast to sell NBC's Hulu stake as a stipulation for the deal to go through, and moreover, they may insist that Comcast provide online access to NBC Universal's content library without a cable sub. Currently, Time Warner Cable requires users to sign up cable in order to access ESPN3 -- a nasty, strong-arm tactic at its finest -- and if the Fed gets its way, it could also set a new precedent for other operators. Needless to say, there's quite a bit to be sorted before NBC bigwigs take on corner offices at Comcast, and there's an awful lot at stake along the way.

Regulators push for tough conditions in Comcast / NBC deal, aim to protect internet video originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 18:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NFL to stream every pre-season game in HD for $40

Ben Drawbaugh — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 20:54:00 EST

Don't have the NFL Network but still want to catch every single pre-season NFL game in HD? Well you finally have an option with NFL Preseason Live. It'll cost you $40 for the over 50 live broadcasts, as well as on demand access, but what is particularly cool is access to either team's radio broadcast (we assume it is synced up to the video) as well as enhancements like Big Play Markers -- whatever that is. If you click through you can get a taste of what it's like by watching last year's Super Bowl, looks good up to 3Mbps. Now before you get all excited about the idea that this is a prelude to regular season games coming to the internet, just hold on there. The pre-season games are night and day when compared to regular season when you're talking licensing rights. While the regular season rights are part of some of the biggest TV deals ever, the pre-season rights are usually sold to local affiliates; which always makes it fun to see the quality of the broadcast with considerably smaller budgets.

NFL to stream every pre-season game in HD for $40 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 20:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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YouTube increases clip limit to 15 minutes, Cosby Show VHS rips now available in just 2 clicks

Trent Wolbe — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:37:00 EST

While revenue-sharing "partners" already had longer limits, free YouTube account holders can now enjoy 50 percent more freedom of length than the ten minutes they're used to. We're big fans of the whole less is more attitude -- especially when it comes to documenting screaming goats walking up ladders or ghost riding the whip -- but hey, who are we to judge? And we gotta admit, just like our peanut butter, we prefer our streaming video as chunk-free as possible.

YouTube increases clip limit to 15 minutes, Cosby Show VHS rips now available in just 2 clicks originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NBC and Time Warner inform Apple they'll be sticking to Flash, thank you very much

Vlad Savov — Thu, 27 May 2010 13:55:00 EST

When the iPad bandwagon was launched in late January, ABC and Netflix quickly jumped onboard with tailor-made apps, while CBS and others started transitioning their content to HTML5-compliant formats, all in the name of not being left behind by the revolution. As it turns out, however, some content providers will be letting this ride pass them by, at least for the moment. The New York Post today reports that big media heavyweights Time Warner and NBC Universal have turned their noses up at the iPad's high entry demands and will be sticking to what works:

Sources said several large media companies, including Time Warner and NBC Universal, told Apple they won't retool their extensive video libraries to accommodate the iPad, arguing that such a reformatting would be expensive and not worth it because Flash dominates the Web.

According to the NYP article, these conglomerates have been emboldened by the forthcoming arrival of competing tablets from the likes of Dell and HP, and will be seeking their fortunes in the mobile space atop Adobe's winged stallion of web domination that we commonly know as Flash. This is a decision sure to end in tears -- we just don't know who'll be doing the crying when it all shakes out.

NBC and Time Warner inform Apple they'll be sticking to Flash, thank you very much originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 May 2010 13:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Showtime getting ready to go online?

Richard Lawler — Mon, 10 May 2010 16:31:00 EST

What's a "premium" movie service these days without access on additional screens? Not much, which is probably why rumors indicate Showtime is about to follow EPIX HD and ESPN 3(no 60) by creating an online service for subscribers to view on their PCs and mobile devices. Don't expect to watch Weeds, Dexter and The Real L Word on your iPad just yet (except for what's already available on Netflix) as a spokeswoman had only a standard "nothing to announce to" offer Bloomberg Businessweek, but their sources indicate it will resemble the HBO GO service we tested out recently when it went live for Verizon FiOS TV customers. Heading online seems like a good followup to turning on interactive HDTV features, but we'll see if that's enough to keep viewers signing up for its service when there are so many alternatives available.

Showtime getting ready to go online? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 10 May 2010 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spike Jonze's free web film features robot love, vodka, long wait times

Sean Hollister — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 21:54:00 EST

We wanted to tell you what Spike Jonze's new web film I'm Here is all about, we really did, and not just because it reportedly has robots in it -- though that was certainly a major factor in the decision. But after we crossed the virtual street to the virtual box office, we were informed that there were no seats left in the virtual theater. Imagine that. So instead of providing our impressions here, we'll just give you the facts. I'm Here is sponsored by Absolut Vodka; I'm Here is a 30-minute love story about humanoids living in Los Angeles. I'm Here can be viewed alongside Facebook friends; I'm Here can only be seen by 5,000 viewers a day. I'm Here promises a "striking online cinema experience," and we were struck by just how lifelike waiting for tickets could be. And if you, too, can't get "in" to see it, I'm Here can satiate you slightly with a one-minute trailer after the break.

Continue reading Spike Jonze's free web film features robot love, vodka, long wait times

Spike Jonze's free web film features robot love, vodka, long wait times originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 21:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DivX unveils its new form as online video-to-TV enabler

Richard Lawler — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 12:02:00 EST

Other than amassing support from seemingly every CE device on the market, DivX's next step? Online content aggregation. Announced as a partner with LG during yesterday's press conference, the company feels it is in a position to give a more TV-like experience to internet video by extending its platform to interested content providers. The software will allow users to stream not only from the cloud, but also compatible video from their own PCs. Its pitch to OEMs claims IP streaming capability on any hardware, and with it demonstrated ability to cut a deal, expect to see DivX TV on a set-top near you very, very soon. Press release and a quick trailer are embedded after the break.

Continue reading DivX unveils its new form as online video-to-TV enabler

DivX unveils its new form as online video-to-TV enabler originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 Jan 2010 12:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PlayStation 3 Video Delivery Service spreads to Europe

Vlad Savov — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:02:00 EST

When Sony isn't busy adding Facebook functionality or potentially courting Firefox for its PS3, it likes nothing better than to dream of global all-encompassing online services and stores. A step toward that goal is the company's recent introduction of the PS3 Video Delivery Service into the heart of Europe. PlayStation loyalists in Deustchland, España, France, and the United Kingdom can now use their beloved console (or the PSP) to grab movies from a selection that is set to grow at a consistent pace of 50 new films being added per week. Both SD and HD versions are available, with the cheaper variants going for €1.99 / £2.49 to rent or €7.99 / £6.99 to purchase, and you can see a trailer for the new service after the break.

Continue reading PlayStation 3 Video Delivery Service spreads to Europe

PlayStation 3 Video Delivery Service spreads to Europe originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Akamai sees more publishers switching to HD video online

Richard Lawler — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 13:18:00 EST

Sure Akamai sponsored a new IDC whitepaper finding smooth video and high resolution is important to most online audiences -- services it is conveniently positioned to help provide -- but that doesn't mean the results are wrong. Last year a similarly self promotional survey found 75% or broadcasters planning HD online and in the last twelve months we've had an explosion of HD on the net, from the Olympics and NCAA Championships to Netflix, Amazon, MLB and YouTube to 1080p from DirecTV, DISH and VUDU. Key results of the 2009 analysis? Publishers need HD streaming to keep up with the competition, video quality is important, and high definition means users will stick around longer. Notable in its absence is the complaint many have about downloads and streams, no high quality / surround audio. Just an idea for the 2010 survey guys.

Filed under: Industry, Media streamers, Internet

Akamai sees more publishers switching to HD video online originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Apr 2009 13:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Analyst: Nearly half of broadband households are interested in Internet TV

Richard Lawler — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 09:21:00 EST

We guess it just depends how you ask the question. Parks Associates new white paper From Boob Tube to YouTube: Consumers and TVs breaks down consumer interest in all the new features popping up in televisions of late, like VOD access and various widget services, finding almost 50% are interested in "premium web content" like TVs and movies delivered through a set-top box, and 33% showing interest in widgets. VP of Parks Associates Kurt Scherf sees this as just the beginning, with customers making hardware purchasing decisions and subscription choices based on the availability advanced video services. So far so good, but we guess the real test comes when these new TVs hit the shelves later this year.

[Via Hometoys]

Filed under: Industry, Set-top boxes, Internet

Analyst: Nearly half of broadband households are interested in Internet TV originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Mar 2009 09:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Flickr adds HD video streaming for pro users

Richard Lawler — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 11:49:00 EST

Flickr is finally catching up with the crowd, now that it's launched HD video uploads for paying subscribers. Time is still limited to 90 seconds and filesize is a mere 150MB, so don't expect anything too impressive to show up, but for Pro users wanting to show off a few quick clips from their HD-capable cameras, it should be fine. Still on a free account? Now you'll be able to upload (SD) videos, but only two per month.

[Via CNET]

Filed under: Misc, Internet

Flickr adds HD video streaming for pro users originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Mar 2009 11:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Big Cable's take on internet TV could land as early as summer

Darren Murph — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 10:01:00 EST

It was but days ago that we first caught wind of Big Cable's plans to bite a chunk out of the online TV pie, and now we're already hearing that things could be ready to roll by summer. According to undisclosed sources quoted by Reuters, both Comcast and Time Warner Cable are heading up talks with major content providers like Viacom and Discovery Communications. We're told that their plans are at "different stages," but pay-TV subscribers could be tuning into bonus coverage on the web or via smartphone "as soon as this summer." Tick, tock...

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

Big Cable's take on internet TV could land as early as summer originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Feb 2009 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Big Cable's take on internet TV could land as early as summer

Darren Murph — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 10:01:00 EST

Filed under: Cable, Internet

Big Cable's take on internet TV could land as early as summer originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Feb 2009 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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More details on Comcast's On Demand Online internet TV offering

Darren Murph — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 07:59:00 EST

We heard late last week that Time Warner Cable and Comcast were looking to bring more online content to their loyal customers, and now the latter is bursting at the seems to tell us more. The company pinged us to say that "essentially, it is working with programmers (cable networks) to try to bring more content that is currently not online to the web," and while it's obviously early in the process, the initiative is being called On Demand Online for now. Basically, it's about bringing on-demand content to the web, and ultimately, anywhere you want to watch. Comcast will be utilizing technology from thePlatform, and while it's not going into detail just yet, it seems pretty stoked about the challenge of bringing new content to the web. We only hope that this doesn't slip into any sort of "exclusive" deal that limits content that would've otherwise been shot for free to all, but we guess only time will tell.

Read - PCWorld
Read - thePlatform

Filed under: Cable, Internet

More details on Comcast's On Demand Online internet TV offering originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Feb 2009 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cable companies work to bring new online content to pay-TV subscribers

Darren Murph — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 10:04:00 EST

In an effort to maintain relevancy during a time when online TV viewing is on the rise, a number of big name cable companies are looking to throw in online companion packages to sweeten the pay-TV equation. The Wall Street Journal is reporting that top cable providers (namely Comcast and TWC) and TV networks are looking to assemble a large swath of online programming -- some of which has been previously unavailable -- and deliver it only to subscribers. As it stands, loads of shows are available right now for free via Hulu and broadcast websites, but some channels without online portals can only be caught via cable. From what we're gathering, it seems that these operators could be working to bring some of that content to the web, essentially providing a means to tune into a Comcast or TWC lineup without having to be in front of the set-top-box.

Update: Due to some quotes taken out of context, we have revamped our story above to show a clearer picture of the cable companies' intentions.

Filed under: Industry, Cable, Internet

Cable companies work to bring new online content to pay-TV subscribers originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Feb 2009 10:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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