Blockbuster to Dish Network: Pay the Cashier
Posted by Steve Fravel on Wednesday, April 6, 2011 · 
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Dish Network announced early this morning that it had won the Blockbuster assets in the bankruptcy-court sanctioned auction.
The auction began in court early April 5 and then moved to a “closed door” session. Those bidding besides Dish Network included Carl Icahn who owns a considerable investment in Blockbuster and a group of liquidators and the aligned creditor group known as Cobalt Video.
What Will You Bid for Blockbuster?
Posted by Steve Fravel on Monday, April 4, 2011 · ·
April 4 is a big day for Blockbuster. The U.S. bankruptcy court has approved an auction where the highest bid will take the fading home video rental company. Blockbuster is currently reporting a $68.4 million loss for the first two months of 2011.
Bidders include Carl Icahn, South Korean Telecommunications company SK Telecom, Dish Network and Cobalt Video holdings, a group of hedge funds that put forward the February 21 $290 million bid.
Blockbuster is thought to be a potential “brand” for on-demand platforms sought by both SK Telecom and Dish Network. The Blockbuster licenses with movie studios and television producers would give either Dish Network or SK Telecom a competitive package to Netflix. One added advantage provided by Blockbuster is an earlier window on theatrical releases.
NetFlix Plans to Develop Own Content
Posted by Jesse Ward on Friday, March 18, 2011 · ·
[Update: House of Cards will indeed debut on Netflix. Netflix has committed to a minimum of 26 episodes of the Media Rights Capital drama, which is expected to be available to its subscribers beginning in late 2012. See the press release here.]
Netflix is in advanced negotiations with two of Hollywood’s biggest names for an original show. Netflix is bidding on the exclusive rights for a two-season, 26-episode remake of the British political drama House of Cards, starring Kevin Spacey and directed by David Fincher. Fincher is best known for directing the Oscar-winning movie The Social Network. Several major cable networks are also interested in the show including AMC and HBO.
Deadline.com, which first broke the story, noted that the deal could be worth more than $100 million. Under the terms being discussed, Netflix would have the right to distribute the series online before any other outlet carried it; however, Media Rights Capital, the company which owns the rights to the show, would be allowed to make arrangements for later broadcast or DVD sales.
Netflix is clearly the market leader in video on demand (VoD) and DVD rentals, finishing 2010 with more than 20 million subscribers and boasting a constant and user-friendly streaming presence in the home though its many connected devices.
Earlier this week market research firm NPD Group Inc. issued a report saying the Netflix accounted for 61% of all digital movie streaming—including rented movies acquired over the Internet and purchased through Apple Inc.’s iTunes and cable video on demand services—during the first two months of this year. Comcast Corp. was in second place with 8%, while DirecTV, Time Warner Cable and Apple were tied for third place with 4% each. Read more
Could Netflix Lose Subscribers?
Posted by Steve Fravel on Monday, February 28, 2011 · ·
A poll conducted by The Diffusion Group indicates that if the Amazon Prime movie streaming product is comparable, roughly 32% of the Netflix subscriber base would choose Amazon.
Amazon has indicated that it will make approximately 5,000 titles available for streaming and would include them with no additional fee in the Amazon Prime program. Amazon Prime requires a $79 annual fee.
Two thousand Internet households were included in the survey which consisted of two questions concerning Netflix and Amazon. Of the Netflix subscribers who also have Amazon Prim memberships, 36.2% indicated they would drop Netflix while 32.6% indicated a willingness to use both services.
While most of the attraction to the Amazon product may be the perception that it is going to be less expensive, Netflix could be looking at a substantial loss in its subscriber count.
Sezmi Altering its Cable Alternative Package
Posted by Steve Fravel on Monday, December 20, 2010 · ·
Letters to Sezmi subscribers were sent out last week detailing changes in the content packages. Sezmi will discontinue the $19.95 Sezmi Select Plus package of 23 channels currently offered only in the Los Angeles area.
Sezmi will instead concentrate on Sezmi Select, a $4.95 package of local channels with an online component that allows access to video on demand (VoD) movies and online TV shows. Sezmi currently provides service in 36 markets delivering its line-up via digital spectrum leased from local TV stations.
Subscribers must purchase a Sezmi set-top-box equipped with a 1TB DVR and an antenna. The $149 box is avalable at Best Buy in the Sezmi-served locations. Sezmi is said to be offering six months free Sezmi Select to orphaned Sezmi Plus customers along with $150 credit for VoD content.
Netflix Signs Content Deal with Disney-ABC for Early Streaming
Posted by Jesse Ward on Monday, December 13, 2010 · ·
Netflix announced December 8 that it has signed a new licensing agreement with ABC-Disney Television Group which will allow the on-demand provider to stream hundreds of episodes from the ABC Television Network, Disney Channel and – for the first time – ABC Family over the Internet. Some content could be available as soon as 15 days after it initially airs, making the service even more appealing.
The agreement gives Netflix and its 17 million subscribers access to a significant chunk of programming, including: Read more
Verizon FiOS Launches Flex View for ‘VoD Everywhere’
Posted by Jesse Ward on Monday, November 15, 2010 · ·
Last week Verizon FiOS TV launched Flex View, a new value-added service which allows the telco’s video subscribers to rent or buy video-on-demand (VoD) programming and watch it outside the home on a variety of devices such as laptops, smartphones and tablets.
The service launched November 10 in most FiOS TV markets and will available across Verizon’s FiOS footprint by the end of the month.
Initially users can download for purchase or rent more than 1,400 movie titles on Flex View, with the amount of content growing to 2,000 titles by year-end.
In 2011, the telco plans to triple the number of titles to more than 6,000, including TV shows for rent or purchase. The service also will be expanded so that FiOS subscribers also can utilize Flex View to access their personal photos video, music and other content. Read more