Cox Launches ‘TV Everywhere’ Test With TNT, TBS
Posted by Jesse Ward on Monday, December 20, 2010 · 
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Cox Communications has jumped on the TV Everywhere bandwagon, beta testing a new online service which offers full-length episodes from TNT and TBS within 24 hours after they air. Users who subscribe to Cox’s cable TV service can access this limited catalog of walled off and digital rights managed Internet video content.
The operator kicked off an initial test launch December 16 in all of its markets but with limited content including TNT’s The Closer, Southland and Men of a Certain Age, and TBS’s Conan, House of Payne, Meet the Browns and Lopez Tonight. Cox plans to expand the service in the first quarter of 2011. Read more
Mobile Video for Public Broadcasting
Posted by Steve Fravel on Friday, December 17, 2010 · (1) ·
Public broadcasters in 20 markets are set to receive funding to begin mobile video distribution by late 2011. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) will fund the effort with $2 million in funding.
“Mobile devices are rapidly becoming an integral part of our everyday lives, ” said Mark Erstling, senior vice president of system development and media strategy at CPB. He went on to add, “Consumers expect access to the same content they get from their television, radio or computer even when they are on the go.”
The development money will be made available to public stations as grants that will allow the stations to purchase the necessary infrastucture components for mobile DTV. Additional funding is planned for next year to expand beyond the first 20 markets.
Google Buys Widevine
Posted by Steve Fravel on Monday, December 6, 2010 · ·
Citing the ongoing improvement in broadband and wireless speeds and the relative ease ”to watch video wherever….and whenever you want,” Google announced the purchase of Widevine. Widevine provides video security products in the form of encryption, control and quality optimization. Read more
Avail-TVN to Invest Big in its Future
Posted by Steve Fravel on Tuesday, October 12, 2010 · ·
Avail-TVN announced last week that it will invest $30 million to expand and enhance its video distribution technology, infrastructure and support services over the next two years. The press release indicates that Avail-TVN will invest in a distribution platform that supports increased storage and “will focus on content preparation, aggregation and ingestion.” The company indicates that these are key areas in pursuit of digital video on any screen. Read more
Comcast Plans to Re-launch TV Everywhere
Posted by Jesse Ward on Monday, September 27, 2010 · ·
Comcast is planning to re-launch its TV Everywhere service next month, CFO Michael Angelakis said last week during a webcast presentation at Goldman Sachs Communacopia conference.
The service, which has been in beta testing since December 2009, will be called Xfinity Online TV. The company has said the new and improved service will feature a less cumbersome sign-on and authentication process, and support for additional devices and platforms.
TV Everywhere is basically an online video service that allows pay-TV subscribers to watch premium cable programming and movies over their broadband connections. While it’s often seen as the cable industry’s defensive move to over-the-top (OTT) content providers, Angelakis described his company’s Xfinity Online TV service as “offensive.” Read more
MaxGO.com on Verizon FiOS
Posted by Steve Fravel on Monday, September 13, 2010 · ·
Verizon FiOS TV is again the first in adding a premium on-demand service to its TV Everywhere line. MAXGo.com (Cinemax) — the sibling of HBOGo.com that launched in February — is now available to PC and mobile screens. Subscribers of Verizon’s FiOS service must also subscribe to Cinemax. The MAXGo.com choice provides up to 700 hours of online content.
DishOnline.com Launches in Support of TV Everywhere
Posted by Steve Fravel on Tuesday, August 24, 2010 · ·
After several months of beta testing with a few thousand users, DishOnline.com, the online portal for Dish Network’s TV Everywhere platform, launched on August 24. Subscribers may access up to 150,000 video clips, full-length episodes and films through the website.
Subscribers also may remotely access their DVR receivers via the site to manage recordings, set timers or search through the program listings. Those who have a ViP 922 Sling-enabled receiver, or who have a Slingbox may watch live or recorded content from wherever they may be.