Topfun Media, Internet based VoD service in Czech Republic and Slovak Republic and SeaChange International’s On Demand Group (ODG) have announced a multi-screen deal to provide transactional video-on-demand (TVOD) and subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) services in Czech Republic, Slovak Republic and other countries in the region. On Demand Group VoD services will provide Topfun’s Internet, mobile and TV customers with unprecedented [...]
IMD, the media logistics specialist, has published an independent research paper outlining the shortcomings of current VoD advertising workflows and setting out its vision for helping the market as it grows. This follows an in-depth review undertaken amongst major media owners, including Channel 5 and Sky. As the number of connected platforms and the audience for VoD continues to increase, [...]
A study looking at the implementation of the European Commission’s Audiovisual Media Services directive has revealed that VoD revenues in the European Union are growing, but currently account for less than 1 per cent of total TV revenues. The report, which covers the period to end-2011, also reveals that overall TV sector revenues of aroun €77 billion have been flat [...]
Italian commercial broadcaster Mediaset has extended its on demand subscription TV service, Premium Play, on the iPad, initially available on Wi-Fi and later also for 3G. The application can be downloaded for free from the App Store and will permit access to live TV content, as well as to library and on demand material. Premium Play was previously available on [...]
Hulu should require viewers to have a cable subscription, Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes suggested at the company’s Q1 2012 earnings report. “We think Hulu authenticating makes sense,” he added. “We think Hulu is heading in the right direction now and it might continue to be viable.” HBO Go is having “a significant positive impact” on Time Warner’s business and [...]
Digital content ownership ecosystem UltraViolet has been boosted by the ‘disc-to-digital initiative’ launched mid-April by US retail giant Walmart, according to senior industry executives and Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes. Speaking at Digital Hollywood in Marina Del Rey, California, NBC Universal digital distribution VP Michael Aaronson admitted to having made his first Electronic Sell Through (EST) purchases under the scheme. [...]
Alongside its quarter results, BSkyB has announced the acquisition of Acetrax – a service that offers on-demand movie rental and purchase for connected devices. The purchase of Swiss company Acetrax will further boost Sky’s OTT activities and further strengthen relationships with connected device manufacturers and content providers, says BSkyB. Acetrax already has apps on Samsung, LG, Panasonic and Toshiba internet [...]
With Hulu reportedly planning to move toward requiring users to prove that they have a pay TV subscription, CBS says it will take another look at potential content deals with Hulu. “We will take a look at it under the authentication model,” said CBS president and CEO Leslie Moonves, who has in the past questioned the wisdom of fellow media [...]
The conflicted loyalties of Hulu shareholders – they are all major content players reliant on pay-TV distributors – may result in it becoming a ‘TV Everywhere’ service only available to those with an existing pay-TV account. The New York Post reports that the plan lays behind Providence Equity’s decision to sell up its 10 per cent in the service. Disney, [...]
Findings from the US’s Digital Entertainment Group’s First Quarter 2012 Home Entertainment Report indicate a continued stabilisation of the industry, underscored by promising gains in Blu-ray Disc, with steady increases in electronic sell-through (EST) and VoD spending, and modest growth in sell-through. Overall consumer spending was up 2.5 per cent compared to the first quarter last year, driven by a [...]
