ivi Launches ‘Highly Disruptive’ Online Streaming TV Service
Posted by Jesse Ward on Wednesday, September 15, 2010 · 
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ivi TV pro — with controller and guide open
A new online video service was launched to great industry fanfare on Monday. ivi offers a live Web feed of more than three dozen broadcast channels, including ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, The CW, PBS and Telemundo. Ivi claims to have more content then Hulu, with plans to add more channels in the future and also maintain al a carte options.
The service is available via a downloadable application for $4.99/month, with a free 30-day trial. Subscribers can add-on DVR functionality for an additional 99 cents per month.
The ivi TV player currently is available in Windows, Apple and Linux formats, and soon will be available on other platforms, including mobile devices, tablets (such as the iPad) and set-top-boxes.
The Seattle-based start-up describes itself as “highly disruptive,” taking aim at pay-TV providers and specifically cable subscribers. Read more
AT&T Reaches Agreement with Rainbow Media
Posted by Jesse Ward on Monday, July 19, 2010 · ·
AT&T U-verse announced last Thursday that it reached a new carriage deal with Rainbow Media.
Rainbow, part of Cablevision Systems, owns AMC, IFC and WE tv. The agreement with U-verse expired July 1, but was extended another 14 days for negotiations.
“We are happy to report that AMC, IFC and WE tv will remain on AT&T U-verse,” AT&T said in a statement. “We’re very satisfied that we were able to reach the fair deal we wanted for our customers – one that includes the right content, across platforms, at prices that are in line with the marketplace, and that helps us with important strategic content initiatives. We are very grateful to our customers for their support.”
Rainbow also released a statement: “We’re pleased to have reached an agreement with AT&T for AMC, WE tv, IFC and Sundance Channel that truly recognizes the value of our networks. We look forward to continuing our partnership with AT&T and are excited to continue to bring their subscribers our award-winning programming, including the new season of AMC’s Mad Men on Sunday, July 25.”
90% of Network TV Shows Available for Free Online
Posted by Jesse Ward on Thursday, July 15, 2010 · ·
Approximately 90% of network TV episodes are available online, but taken down after six weeks or less, this according an exhaustive study performed by online video search site Clicker.
Clicker’s study includes shows that came online at any point during the fall or spring seasons from ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC and The CW. Clicker narrowed its focus to free streaming only—the study does not include paid downloads or video on demand (VoD) streaming from Netflix, Amazon or iTunes. Clicker determined that a surprisingly high percentage of episodes on broadcast TV were made available on ad-supported video websites. Read more
NY Times Profiles ‘Big TV Brawls’
Posted by Jesse Ward on Monday, July 12, 2010 · ·
The New York Times published an interesting article yesterday which highlights the escalating programming war between content providers and carriers – and the simultaneous conflict for subscriber eye balls between telcos and cable providers.
Over the weekend Verizon took aim at Time Warner Cable, noting that Time Warner’s contract with Disney – supplier of ESPN, ABC and the Disney Channel – will expire on September 2. Verizon ran two high-profile ads which urged customers to preemptively switch to Verizon’s FiOS service to retain programming. Read more
AT&T at Odds with Rainbow Media
Posted by Steve Fravel on Monday, July 12, 2010 · ·
AT&T has begun providing set-top-box delivered messages to its U-verse subscribers that may lose access to AMC, WE Tv and IFC as soon as July 14. According to reports, Rainbow Media and AT&T have not reached agreement on renewal of the Rainbow-owned channels. Rainbow Media Holdings is owned by Cablevision.
At risk is the season premiere of Mad Men on July 25. AT&T reportedly began sending messages to subscribers on July 9 letting them know that while the agreement had been extended until July 14, a resolution on a new agreement was imminent. AT&T has indicated that they wish to come to a fair agreement, but that they have reached an “impasse,” in their negotiations.
Will Dish Network Subscribers Lose the Weather Channel?
Posted by Steve Fravel on Friday, May 21, 2010 · ·
According to the New York Times, Dish Network had not dropped TWC as of early Friday morning. The contract for carriage between Dish Network and Weather Channel reportedly expired at midnight on May 21.
Continued carriage is a pretty good indication that negotiations are still underway and that a new deal may yet be reached.
VOTW:Free Press Releases ‘Comcastaction’ Video
Posted by Steve Fravel on Thursday, May 20, 2010 · ·
The media advocacy association FreePress has released a video on YouTube to help illustrate the facts of the Comcast-NBC Universal merger. While humorous in concept, the video is a serious work and provides details that show just how enormous the Comcast – NBCU conglomerate would be in terms of networks and properties.
Additional information and tools for adding comments on the merger are available via the Free Press website.