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VideoNuze Report Podcast #73 - Aug. 27, 2010
Daisy Whitney and I are pleased to present the 73rd edition of the VideoNuze Report podcast, for August 27, 2010. We're back after skipping last week due to Daisy being on her exciting first book promotion tour.
In this week's podcast, Daisy and I dig into the speculation surrounding Apple's plan to offer 99-cent TV program rentals from ABC, Fox and NBC and a $99 "iTV" device. I think the pairing could be quite tempting. Daisy, on the other hand, isn't as enthusiastic. She's a current Apple TV owner and aside from the potentially reduced price of the iTV, doesn't see what the excitement is about. Meanwhile, Apple has invited media to an event in San Francisco next Wed, Sept 1st, where we all may find out what Steve Jobs has in store. Listen in for more.
Click here to listen to the podcast (12 minutes, 56 seconds)
Click here for previous podcasts
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Cisco's Kip Compton Explains ExtendMedia Acquisition
This morning Cisco announced it intends to acquire ExtendMedia, whose OpenCASE software is used by multiple pay-TV operators and content providers for video content management and three screen delivery. I've been following Extend for years, and it was a portfolio company of Atlas Venture, where my former consulting partner Ahmet Ozalp (who's now the CEO of Telenity, a mobile services provider) led its investment. For more on Extend, see this VideoNuze interview with Extend's CEO Tom MacIsaac, who was brought in 18 months ago and was previously CEO of Lightningcast, an early online video ad network that was acquired by AOL.
This morning I asked Kip Compton, Cisco's GM, Video and Content Platform about the deal and its implications, and Extend's founder Keith Kocho what it means for the company. Following is an edited transcript.
VideoNuze: Why is Cisco acquiring ExtendMedia?
Kip Compton: We're seeing a market transition to IP video with our service provider customers which is driven by their desire to reach consumers on all different devices and wherever consumers are. We believe Extend's technology and team are one of the leaders in the industry and will fit well with our efforts to deliver IP architectures to our customers.
Categories: Deals & Financings, Technology
Topics: Cisco, ExtendMedia
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Over 88% of Hulu Plus Content is Already Available for Free on Hulu.com
A new analysis of all the content available on Hulu Plus reveals that over 88% of all the full-length TV program episodes available in the $10/mo subscription service are already freely accessible on Hulu.com. For clips, it's almost 98%. Research firm One Touch Intelligence found that out of 28K+ episodes on Hulu Plus, just 3,345 of them can't also found on Hulu.com. Two-thirds of these incremental program episodes are sourced from Hulu's broadcast TV network partners/owners, ABC, Fox and NBC.
In fairness, Hulu Plus has been live for less than 60 days and will no doubt will be adding more content down the road. But for now the high proportion of free availability diminishes the Hulu Plus value proposition for Hulu.com
users considering an upgrade. In addition, the relatively small amount of incremental episodes risks inducing churn, particularly for heavy users most familiar with the service, as they come to realize much of what they've paid to watch is actually available for free. Compounding the problem, Hulu Plus viewers see the same quantity of ads as do free Hulu.com users, so there's no ad-avoidance benefit to subscribing either.
Categories: Aggregators, Broadcasters
Topics: ABC, FOX, Hulu, Hulu Plus, NBC, Netflix
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Webinar Highlights - Indie Online Video, Syndication and Brand Integration
On Tuesday, VideoNuze and The Diffusion Group hosted their fourth webinar in a 2010 series of six sponsored by ActiveVideo Networks, with this one focusing on "Demystifying Independent Online Video and Syndication Models."
The webinar featured informative and timely discussion/Q&A with Richard Bloom, SVP, Business Development for 5min, and Jim Louderback, CEO of Revision3. The focus of the discussion was on business models for success in independent online video with a specific lean towards syndication. Both Jim and Rich honed in on how syndication helps solve the difficulties with finding eyeballs and building audience in the fragmented broadband video landscape.
Categories: Advertising, Events
Topics: 5Min, ActiveVideo Networks, Revision3, TDG, Webinar
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Samsung Snags Wozniak, Others for First "Free the TV" Developer Day
Samsung is putting some celebrity technology muscle behind its recently announced $500,000 "Free the TV Challenge," snagging Apple co-founder
Steve Wozniak to participate in a fireside chat at its first developer day in San Jose next Tues, Aug. 31st. Joining Woz at the event will be Pandora founder Tim Westergren, Geek Squad founder Robert Stephens, ESPN CTO Chuck Pagano, CNET editor at large Brian Cooley and high-level Samsung executives. Attendees will see demos and gain training on Samsung's SDK.
Samsung is making an aggressive play for new apps suited specifically for connected devices and TVs. Two weeks ago, Samsung director of content Olivier Manuel told me in an interview that Samsung believes it already has a 60% share of connected TVs which it sees having huge growth ahead. Samsung also recently began a high-profile ad campaign with the slogan, "Now there's an app for that."
The battle for TV apps is just getting underway and this fall we'll see more announcements, from Apple, with its rumored "iTV" device, Google, with its Google TV device and plenty of others. As a dominant CE provider, Samsung will be in the middle of the action.
What do you think? Post a comment now (no sign-in required).
Categories: Devices
Topics: Free the TV, Samsung
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Is Apple Planning to Pair 99-Cent TV Show Rentals With Its $99 iTV?
Bloomberg is reporting that Apple is in "advanced talks" with CBS, Disney and Fox about making available TV programs for 99-cent rental. The programs would be offered within 24 hours of when they aired and once rented, the viewing window would be just 48 hours. It's not clear whether the iTunes rental model would be targeted only to Apple's "i" devices, or if it would be more widely available. If the program deals happen, could it be that Apple is planning to pair availability of 99-cent rentals with the unveiling of its $99 iTV device at its rumored Sept. 7th keynote event?
In my earlier post, "Pondering the (Potential) Impact of Apple's New iTV Device," I speculated that the iTV device would have little impact on the pay-TV ecosystem, since major cable TV networks and pay-TV providers will resist Apple's attempts to reinvent their business models. However, I suggested that Steve Jobs could have a trick or two up his sleeve for the iTV's launch. Sure enough, 99-cent broadcast TV rentals, announced just weeks prior to the Fall TV season kickoff, would be a very good trick indeed.
Categories: Broadcasters, Devices
Topics: Apple, CBS, Disney, FOX
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Clicker's iPhone App Goes Live
Clicker, the online video guide and social check-in service, had its free iPhone app go live today, which it had previously announced last month as part of its
Clicker Social launch. The app allows iPhone users to search iPhone-compatible videos, take advantage of the Clicker Social features (comment, rate, share, check-in, follow friends, etc.), create and manage playlists for later viewing and check their account.
By way of comparison, I've played around some with the Clicker Android app on my Droid X. I've mainly focused on the search/discovery features, which are Clicker's key differentiator vs. other services that offer check-in for TV shows. It's incredibly handy, though the big issue for now is the limited assortment of videos actually available for viewing on the Droid X, which does not yet support Flash.
Still, as more videos become available (particularly the Netflix and Hulu Plus Android, sooner rather than later hopefully), a unified mobile search experience like Clicker offers is going to be even more valuable. The DVR/playlist function also offers another tantalizing glimpse into how multi-platform interactivity will work (set here, record there, watch somewhere else). Clicker also says an iPad app is in the works for early October. Lots of good stuff ahead.
Categories: Mobile Video, Social Media, Video Search
Topics: Clicker
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Webinar Today: Independent Online Video and Syndication
Please join The Diffusion Group and VideoNuze today at 11am PT/2pm ET when we will present the fourth complimentary webinar in our 2010 "Demystifying" series, with this session's focus on demystifying independent online video and syndication models. The series is exclusively sponsored by ActiveVideo Networks.
TDG's Colin Dixon and I will be hosting and moderating the webinar, which will include guests Jim Louderback, CEO of Revision3, and Rich Bloom, SVP of Business Development for 5Min. Jim and Rich will each do short presentations and then we'll have moderated Q&A followed by plenty of time for audience Q&A.
Jim and Rich will cover what's working for their companies and what's in store for the broader online video industry going forward. If you're an independent video producer, or part of an established media company looking to succeed in the online medium, this webinar is for you!
Click here to learn more and register about this complimentary webinar
Categories: Events, Indie Video, Syndicated Video Economy
Topics: 5Min, ActiveVideo Networks, Revision3, TDG, Webinar
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