THE DOWN LOW

November 12, 2009 | Link This | Email this | Comments (1)

Comcast has said that it plans to roll out Comcast OnDemand Online, its TV Everywhere initiative that will allow subscribers to access some TV programs online, by the end of the year, but has been careful not to give an exact date. But today, Interactive Media president Amy Banse narrowed it down a bit, to early December, while speaking at the newsy NewTeeVee TV Everywhere conference.

Comcast will rollout the beta test to all subscribers, allowing them to watch HBO, Turner, TBS and others on up to three different Internet-connected devices. Users will have to download an application and log in to Comcast's Fancast video site to connect each device to their subscriber account.

In a ...Read More
Industries: Technology, VOD/Downloads

November 2, 2009 | Link This | Email this | Comments (0)

Sort of. Apple is shopping an iTunes TV subscription service to TV programmers that would give subscribers unlimited access to iTunes TV content for $30 a month,  MediaMemo's Peter Kafka reports. No programmer has yet signed up, but Kafka says several have told him they're intrigued by the idea.

The rumor has been making the rounds for awhile, with Apple analyst Gene Munster predicting in a report earlier this fall that Apple also might upgrade the Apple TV to include DVR capabilities, making it a more popular set-top for consumers who are already dealing with too much set-top clutter.
The WSJ's Kafka reports that the proposal Apple is discussing no...Read More
Industries: Technology, VOD/Downloads

October 29, 2009 | Link This | Email this | Comments (0)

It kind of seems like a no-duh that Netflix's streaming movie service will be available on the Nintendo Wii at some point. It's been hugely popular on the Xbox 360 since the two partnered last year. Next month, it'll be available through the PlayStation 3 also. And Netflix's CFO has said the company wants to be on all game consoles out there as they have the greatest reach into consumer homes among Internet-connected devices.

Now Streaming Media says it's received screenshots of Netflix on the Wii, which its sources have confirmed to be legit. Less clear is when this deal will actually happen. The service was set to launch this fourth quarter, but could be delayed until next year to be timed with the launch of the Wii HD, the site says.
Industries: Retail, Technology, VOD/Downloads

October 7, 2009 | Link This | Email this | Comments (0)

Cnet's Greg Sandoval reports that lawyers from Viacom, which is suing YouTube for posting its copyrighted material without permission, have found evidence that YouTube managers were among those posting unauthorized copyrighted clips to the site. Cnet, quoting unnamed sources, also says that internal emails show that YouTube employees knew that users were posting unauthorized clips and chose to allow the clips to remain on the site.

The allegations are not part of the court record so far, Cnet said they surfaced during an exchange of information between the two parties in the suit. YouTube dismissed the reports in a comment to CNet.

Meanwhile, the New York Times, in a ...Read More
Industries: Studios/Suppliers, Technology

September 28, 2009 | Link This | Email this | Comments (0)

So said Apple today. The company didn't break out how many of those downloads were for paid apps vs. free ones. Apple now has more than 85,000 apps in its App Store for the iPhone and iPod Touch.

Those include studio-created Apps such as Fox Mobile Entertainment's Family Guy app, Summit Entertainment's Twilight Tracker and Disney's Toy Story game. Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has made a big push into apps with plans to distribute Apps from others in a bid to secure a piece of the business equal to its share of the movie business.

The App store is now listing top-grossing Apps. No. 2 on the list is EA's Madden NFL 10, the top app from the entertainment or games category.
Industries: Technology