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Complimentary Webinar Tomorrow, July 8th: Demystifying Open vs. Closed Internet Video Distribution Platforms
Please join me for a complimentary webinar tomorrow, July 8th at 11am PT/2pm ET, as Colin Dixon, senior partner at research firm The Diffusion Group, and I debate the topic of closed vs. open Internet video distribution. Colin and I have both been watching closely all the different devices that are bridging online video to the TV. There are many different devices and many different approaches.
One key difference is the idea of "closed" vs. "open." In the "closed" experience only certain content is available, while in the "open" approach anything that's available on the Internet becomes available on the big screen. There are pros and cons to each approach. Which is more likely to ultimately succeed? Colin and I will do our best to demystify the issues and forecast what's most likely to work. There will be plenty of time for audience Q&A. Please join us for this timely complimentary webinar!Categories: Events
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Best Buy's "Movie Mode" Mobile App is Part of New Promotional Trend
When I got home from my long holiday weekend I noticed a huge promotion on the cover of the Best Buy Sunday circular for its new "Movie Mode" app (see below). The app was featured with an offer to buy the new Sprint Evo, but it works on other Android devices as well as iPhones and certain BlackBerry models.
Categories: FIlms, Mobile Video
Topics: Best Buy, Droid X, Evo, Sprint, Verizon
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More Than $247.1 Million Was Raised by Private Video-Related Companies in Q2 '10
Q2 '10 was another strong quarter of financings for private video-related companies, with at least 18 companies raising more than $247.1 million according to public sources I track. Once again the group was dominated by technology-focused firms rather than those involved with content. The biggest recipients of funding in the quarter were Tremor Media ($40M), Zenverge ($30M) and Vidyo ($25M). The Q2 '10 total tracks well against past quarters of $175.4M (Q1 '10 - U.S. only), $150.1M (Q4 '09) and $180.9M (Q3 '09) as investors clearly continue to be bullish on the video sector. In the past 5 quarters, investors have poured almost $814M into private U.S. video-related companies, which is impressive in light of the narrow window for public offerings.
In addition to the private financings, there was also plenty of deal activity in the video space in Q2 '10. This includes (in order of date announced), the remains of Veoh being sold to Qlipso, Juniper Networks acquiring software company Ankeena Networks, Nielsen buying video analytics firm GlanceGuide, ActiveVideo Networks adding network game developer TAG Networks, KIT Digital rolling up video asset manager Benchmark Broadcast Systems, Google acquiring Norwegian real-time video provider Global IP Solutions, Sonic Solutions buying DivX, Akamai adding mobile services platform Velocitude and RGB Networks acquiring mobile video encoder RipCode.
Following are the investments that I tracked during the quarter, the date disclosed and new investors identified if applicable. Links are provided to the companies' press releases, or to relevant media coverage if none could be found (note that I haven't verified media coverage with companies themselves). If I've missed anything or you find an inaccuracy, please post a comment.
Categories: Deals & Financings
Topics: Deals
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Hulu Plus Should Drop the In-Stream Ads Immediately
I activated my 7-day Hulu Plus trial last evening and spent some time with the new subscription service on my Mac. The overall navigation and video quality was excellent, consistent with the high standards Hulu has set from the beginning on Hulu.com. I particularly liked how Hulu has chosen to display the many episodes of past seasons. They are listed by title in reverse chronological order, with run-time, original airdate, length, and the ability to add to your queue well-displayed. For shows with multiple past seasons Hulu Plus lets you drop-down to see particular seasons as well.
Net, net, though I haven't spent a ton of time with it, my first impressions are generally positive, except for one major, major thing: Hulu Plus programs carry the same full in-stream ad load as programs on Hulu.com. In my "7 Quick Reactions" post earlier this week, I called this out as both a big surprise, and also a key detraction from the service. Now that I've experienced the ads, I can say even more emphatically that Hulu Plus must relinquish the ads.
The biggest problem with the ads is that they are discordant with consumer expectations for a paid subscription service. The right comparables for Hulu Plus should be premium cable channels like HBO, Showtime and Epix, and a DVD/streaming service like Netflix. In the former, you'll routinely see cross-promotions for other programs, but you'll never see a commercial break. In the latter, aside from previews, you never see any ads at all.
Categories: Advertising, Aggregators
Topics: Hulu Plus
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VideoNuze Report Podcast #66 - July 2, 2010
Daisy Whitney and I are pleased to present the 66th edition of the VideoNuze Report podcast, for July 2, 2010.
This week Daisy and I discuss Hulu Plus, which was launched earlier this week. There has already been a lot written about Hulu Plus, with most early users reporting favorably on the user experience. I just activated my 7-day trial and gave it a whirl last evening. Reactions are here.
Click here to listen to the podcast (15 minutes, 59 seconds)
Click here for previous podcasts
The VideoNuze Report is available in iTunes...subscribe today!Categories: Aggregators, Podcasts
Topics: Hulu Plus
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Complimentary Webinar: Demystifying Open vs. Closed Internet Video Distribution
Please join me for a complimentary webinar next Thurs, July 8th at 11am PT/2pm ET, as Colin Dixon, senior partner at research firm The Diffusion Group, and I debate the topic of closed vs. open Internet video distribution. Colin and I have both been closely watching the myriad initiatives to bring online video to big-screen TVs. There seems to be no end to the number of devices and consumer electronics manufacturers jumping into this exciting space.
Yet there are plenty of differences in the approaches players are taking. Some are offering a relatively "closed" experience with only certain content being made available. On the other hand, some advocate for a wide open approach - meaning anything that's available on the Internet should be available on the big screen.
Is one approach better than the other, and will one meet with more success? There are a host of questions surrounding this debate and Colin and I will do our best to demystify the issues and forecast what's most likely to work. There will be plenty of time for audience Q&A. Please join us for this timely complimentary webinar, sponsored exclusively by Active Video Networks!
Learn more and register now
Categories: Events
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Revision3 is Achieving Unaided Advertising Recall of Up to 99%
When Revision3, the independent network of online video programs, has surveyed its viewers, it has discovered that 99% of them are able to identify
at least 1 of its advertisers. That incredibly high level of unaided recall is due to having its program hosts integrate advertiser messages in the middle of its programs, according to Revision3 CEO Jim Louderback, who I interviewed last week. Jim will be a featured speaker at NATPE's upcoming LATV Fest (VideoNuze readers get $200 off registrations). Following is an excerpted transcript.
VideoNuze: Revision3 is producing a lot of shows now. Tell us how you decide what new shows to launch?
Jim Louderback: It's a combination of things. We start by asking our viewers what kinds of shows they'd like to see. We scour the Internet - places like YouTube, Vimeo, blip, etc. - to find things that fit with our brands and our 18-34 male target audience. And we apply filters of what we think will work. For example, people told us they wanted a show about movies and so we were able to find a couple of guys in Florida who were making a cool show. We talked to them and refined the program - Film RIot, a little and it's been a big success. Our goal is to combine community with a topic our audience is fascinated by and hosts who are authentic and passionate.
VN: What are Revision3's top 2-3 successes?
JL: Our biggest shows are Techzilla - which is 2 geeks who are passionate about technology; Diggnation - 2 guys talking about social news; and Scam School - built around the concept of using magic to scam drinks off your friends. AppJudgement is doing well as is the Digg Reel, among others. They all come from different places but they've all developed audience and community.
Categories: Advertising, Indie Video
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Move Networks Lays Off Entire Staff
Move Networks has laid off its entire staff today, with only CFO Jamie Harper remaining, I've learned. Move, which had raised approximately $70 million to date was once a high-flyer in the online video space, powering ABC, Fox and other premium content sites' video.
However, as I've written, with advances in adaptive bit rate streaming from competitors and plunging delivery pricing from CDNs, Move shifted away from
this market to instead become a white-label solution for companies looking to deliver multichannel lineups exclusively through broadband infrastructure. This followed its acquisition of Inuk Networks.
Move was apparently trying to raise another $30 million but this didn't come to fruition. Move is the third big crater in the online video space, following Joost and Veoh. I've left a voice mail for Jamie Harper and am also digging around for additional details.
Update: Move has posted a press release which says the company "intends to retain a financial advisor to assist the Company in evaluating strategic alternatives, including a possible sale of the Company." The release also confirms that Roxanne Austin, CEO and President has stepped down, and says that Marcus Liassides will be elevated to President. More updates as they happen.
What do you think? Post a comment now (no sign-in required).Categories: Technology
Topics: Move Networks
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