-
PBS Enhances Video Search for Thousands of Its Videos
PBS is announcing this morning that users of PBS.org can now search transcripts of 7,000 free videos available on the site using filters such as program title, producer, local PBS station, airdate and content format across a range of programs including Nova, Frontline, American Experience, PBS Newshour and others. Users will be able sort and share their search results with others. The search feature is enabled by RAMP, which is creating and managing the videos' metadata.
Categories: Broadcasters
-
HBO GO Launches on iOS and Android Devices: A Necessary But Insufficient Step
Today marks the "official" launch of HBO GO - the premium cable network's authenticated TV Everywhere service - on mobile devices running iOS (iPad, iPhone, iPod) and the Android OS, although it has been technically available since late last week in the iTunes App Store and Android Market. HBO signaled May 2nd as the date of availability in a teaser video posted last month on YouTube, and I'm guessing a press release will be forthcoming.
With the iOS/Android rollout, HBO has taken a necessary, but insufficient step toward improving its standing in a world that has grown dramatically more competitive in a very short time. HBO GO, which is only available to HBO subscribers, and even then, only to those whose pay-TV operator has a deal to authenticate HBO GO, is narrowly focused on delivering more value to those who have already chosen to subscribe to HBO. As HBO co-president Eric Kessler told the NY Times in February, "It's about enhancing the satisfaction and continuing the life cycle of the subscriber."
Categories: Cable Networks, Devices
Topics: Android, HBO, iOS, Netflix
-
5 Unexpected Things That Happened This Week in Online Video
Happy Friday! Each day this week seemed to bring another unexpected head-scratching moment related to online video. I suspect I wasn't the only one reacting this way. Following is a recap of the week's top 5 (actually 4, plus 1 tongue-in-cheek). Read on and see if you agree.Categories: Miscellaneous
-
1. Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes Flip-Flops, Now Admires Netflix
Certainly top on this week's unexpected list was Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes' newfound affection for Netflix, expressed in an interview with Charlie Rose at the Tribeca Film Festival (see below video, starting at the 4:40 point). Until now Bewkes has been withering in his derision for Netflix, famously comparing them to the Albanian army, and all but saying HBO would only offer its programs for streaming on Netflix when hell froze over.
But this week Bewkes totally flip-flopped, saying things like he looks at Netflix with a certain sense of "fondness," "Welcome brother" to the subscription business, "You've gotta admire them," "They've done a bold thing, a good thing in many ways," "They're offering a subscription service that is very valid and effective" and "They've got a lot of interesting stuff on there mostly that's available in other places but that's no criticism."
Categories: Aggregators, Cable Networks
Topics: HBO, Netflix, Time Warner
-
2. Netflix Tamps Down Cord-Cutting Fears
Another unexpected item this week was Netflix dedicating a section of their Q1 '11 report to tamping down fears of cord-cutting that have been aroused due to Netflix's own staggering growth. To my knowledge, Netflix has never suggested in the past that it would prompt cord-cutting, but it has periodically positioned itself as a competitor to pay-TV services. Now however, Netflix is firmly embracing a "we're supplemental to pay-TV" positioning.
Categories: Aggregators
Topics: Netflix
-
3. YouTube Getting Back Into the Hollywood Movie Rental Game
This week also brought unexpected news that YouTube is seeking to license movies from top studios for online rental. Hmm, somebody please explain to me how YouTube thinks it can create a differentiated offering relative to what's already available from iTunes, Amazon, Vudu, etc. because I don't get it. Plus, just a few weeks ago it seemed like YouTube was placing its bets on original web-only content, which felt like a viable strategy. Now YouTube wants back into Hollywood. It's hard to see how this will have a happy ending with so many options already available.
Categories: Aggregators, FIlms
Topics: YouTube
-
4. Comcast Gets Hit Shows from FOX and ABC for Xfinity TV
This week brought yet another twist in the intriguing relationships between pay-TV operators and broadcast TV networks, as Comcast announced deals with both FOX and ABC to add recent episodes of over 20 hit shows from the networks to its Xfinity TV video-on-demand line-up. The move is a solid step forward for Comcast, giving it access to all 4 major broadcast networks' programs, a first. This is also content that isn't available on Netflix, providing another good differentiator.
Categories: Broadcasters, Cable TV Operators, Video On Demand
-
5. Will Richmond Actually Appears In a Video
Ok, this last one is a little tongue in cheek. Since launching VideoNuze, I've taken my fair share of ribbing for not showing up in any videos myself (though why readers are interested in that is still a bit of a mystery to me). The dry spell ended this week, as I joined with my partner Marc Sternberg to release a short promotional video for the ELEVATE: Online Video Advertising Summit on its site. Yes, it's unexpected to actually see yours truly in a video, but there it is. Many thanks to our friends at HealthiNation for making the video possible.
Categories: Events
Topics: ELEVATE
VideoNuze Posts
Connect with VideoNuze
Exclusive News Roundup
- Disney and Charter Strike Surprise Deal That Adds Hulu and Returns Axed Cable Channels to Lineup The Hollywood Reporter
- TikTok and Meta want a piece of YouTube’s TV success Tubefilter
- YouTube adds an AI Overviews-like search results carousel TechCrunch
- Streaming Enters New Phase Of “More Stable Growth” As Ad Tiers Gain Traction & Subscriber Churn Reduces Deadline
- The Mainstream News Battle Hits YouTube: How Fox News, CNN, MSNBC Stack Up The Wrap
- Google Cuts Google TV Budget as Company Focuses on YouTube and Gemini Cord Cutters News
