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OTT

Streaming media players in 40% US Internet homes by 2017

By Q1 2017, 40 per cent of US Internet homes will have a streaming media player, bringing the total number of homes with these devices to 39 million, according to an NPD Connected Intelligence Connected Home Forecast.  At the beginning of 2014 only

January 27, 2015

Verizon encouraged by OTT TV prospects

Fran Shammo, EVP and Chief Financial Officer of US telco Verizon, has suggested that conditions are favourable for the planned midsummer launch of its OTT service. Speaking during Verizon’s Q4 2014 Results Earnings Conference Call, Shammo declined to disclose as to too much what we it was going to do, but said that if you […]

January 26, 2015By Colin Mann

Exclusive programming for BBC iPlayer

Following on from the success of BBC iPlayer exclusive content in 2014, Victoria Jaye, Head of TV Content for BBC iPlayer, has announced 16 titles to kick off 2015. On Friday 13 February, nine original comedy shorts will go live on BBC iPlayer to mark Valentine’s Day. Nine comedians have created a short Funny Valentine […]

January 26, 2015

BBC serves up BBC Taster

The BBC has revealed BBC Taster, an initiative to develop its latest ideas for digital content and emerging technology. Taster will feature early and experimental concepts from across TV, Radio and Online, enabling the BBC to explore the future of content with audiences and offer them something completely new to try, rate and share. Taster […]

January 26, 2015

Elemental selected by TVB

Elemental Technologies, asupplier of software-defined video solutions for multiscreen content delivery, has announced that Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB), Hong Kong’s largest independent broadcaster, is using Elemental software to process and manage live linear broadcast channels in real time for its OTT content delivery service. Regional Elemental partner Mediatech is providing training and overseeing integration and […]

January 26, 2015

Netflix: Pirate Popcorn our biggest competitor

Netflix has said that piracy is one of its “biggest competitors” and, in a letter to shareholders, singled out the torrent-sharing app Popcorn Time as a serious rival. The Popcorn Time app allows users to browse a catalogue of films and TV shows, select one for more information, and then begin streaming it after a […]

January 23, 2015

Wuaki.TV eyes European expansion

Spain-based streaming company Wuaki.tv has revealed plans to launch its service in The Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland, Portugal, Denmark, Norway, Austria and Sweden during 2015, following the platform’s launch in France, Italy and Germany in 2014. Since Wuaki.tv was acquired by Japan’s Rakuten in 2012, its key aim has been to use Spain as a launching […]

January 23, 2015

Amazon offers Transparent for free

In celebration of two recent Golden Globe wins, Amazon will make all ten episodes of its original series Transparent available for free on Janaury 27th. Transparent, which is typically available exclusively to Amazon Prime members, recently took home the Golden Globe for Best Musical or Comedy Series, while its star, Jeffrey Tambor, earned the coveted […]

January 23, 2015

17% US ‘likely’ to be HBO OTT subs

Research from Parks Associates suggests that 17 per cent of US broadband households are likely to subscribe to an OTT video service from HBO. Among these likely subscribers, 91 per cent are currently pay-TV subscribers, and roughly one-half would cancel their pay-TV service after subscribing to this HBO OTT service. The research firm reports

January 22, 2015

Netflix wants 20 original series a year

Netflix aims to debut as many as 20 original series per year, Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos has told NATPE. “I think that we probably can launch around 20 original scripted shows a year,” he said. Netflix’s success with launching original series – particularly shows such as House of Cards and Orange Is the New […]

January 22, 2015