THE DOWN LOW

December 19, 2007 | Link This | Email this | Comments (1)

There's a definite change at Blockbuster under CEO Jim Keyes. Big Blue is embracing the web as a vehicle to distribute niche content and strengthen studio partnerships.

Following last week's announcement that Blockbuster will provide an exclusive online release window for  Jackass 2.5, which it will also retain rental rights to, Blockbuster yesterday announced a deal to offer exclusive content online for The Great Debators, staring Denzel Washington and Forrest Whitaker, prior to its theatrical release on Christmas Day.

Blockbuster will also have exclusive DVD rental rights to the movie in an arrangement with The Weinstein Co.

Blockbuster's special features of behind-the-scenes maki...Read More
Industries: Retail, Show & Tell, Studios/Suppliers, Technology, VOD/Downloads

December 18, 2007 | Link This | Email this | Comments (19)

The rumor mill is churning once again as analysts and enthusiasts gear up for MacWorld 2008 in January.

Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster issued a note to clients this week that he believes Apple will announce a much anticipated movie rental service from its iTunes store that will include connectivity to the television through the Apple TV media extender.

"If Apple begins renting movie downloads on iTunes, we expect a related software update to the Apple TV enabling movie rentals direct to the Apple TV. In fact, the Apple TV software currently includes 'iTunes Store settings' in its setting...Read More
Industries: Retail, Studios/Suppliers, Technology, VOD/Downloads

December 17, 2007 | Link This | Email this | Comments (0)

If nothing else, the ongoing writers' strike could be a huge boon for online-based ventures. The Los Angeles Times reports today that dozens of film and TV writers are negotating with venture capitalists to set up companies that would bypass the Hollywood studio system and reach consumers with video entertainment on the Web.

Seven groups are planning to form Internet-based businesses that would ironically strike a blow to the very issue of digital residuals at the heart of the 7-week WGA strike.

The Writers Guild is fighting the major studios over how much their members are paid when their work is distributed online.

Silicon Valley investors have repotedly begun con...Read More
Industries: Retail, Studios/Suppliers, VOD/Downloads

December 14, 2007 | Link This | Email this | Comments (0)

It seems that for now consumers are content to keep Internet content on the computer.

Until their TVs come Internet ready at an affordable price, consumers are going to keep to their same behavior patterns. For my peer group, it means renting or buying a DVD when they want to watch a movie or ordering pay-per-view on demand through their cable company.

People that I know (might) purchase content on iTunes to hear on their iPod or watch on their computer. They won't try to stream it to the TV. To them, the two experiences are completely different.

Online content providers are still waiting on an industry standard Internet to TV solution though. But many are staking out positions in the portable media space -- assuming that handheld media players will soon replace portable DVD players.

Cin...Read More
Industries: Retail, Studios/Suppliers, Technology, VOD/Downloads

December 12, 2007 | Link This | Email this | Comments (0)

Sony is making moves to integrate its game devices online. A blog item out of Japan says that Sony has a 3.80 firmware update for their hot selling PlayStation Portable device scheduled for release on Tuesday that will provice the PSP with some Internet functionality.

PSP users will be able to stream Internet Radio, search videos, and chedule (Japanese) mobile television recordings.

Meanwhile, Sony Corp. CEO Howard Stringer has indicated plans to connect the company's flagship PlayStation 3 console with PSP and other electronics devices and add non-game content.

Sony, under pressure to provide more Internet interactivity seen in its game consoles like its rival Xbox 360, will hook the PS3 and PSP online before extending the links to products such as mobile phones, Stringer told reporters on Tuesday in Tokyo.

The move revives...Read More
Industries: Show & Tell, Technology, Videogames, VOD/Downloads